The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-09-17
THE IOWA CONFERENCE
Acts Of the Methodists in Session al
Muscatine.

morning show that during the past
year many conversions have been Sc
cured for the church; that this relig-
ious organization is fourishing in
all departments Of its work; and that
since the last session Of the confer
ence, many thousands of dollars have
been spent in church and parsonage
improvements.
DR.. j. c. Willets, presiding elder Of
the Oskalcosa district, reported that
during the year there had been 600
conversions in his division Of the con-
ference. Two hundred adults have
been baptized and seventy-fiVe chill
dren or infants, the latter being refer
red to by him as distressingly small.
In improvements, $4,000 were spent
during the year. With two exceptions
the salaries Of last year remain the
same, and an effort is being made by
the elder to secure an increase In
salaries.
Dr. Willets intimated that in some
country districts under his direction
Improvement could be made in the f.
nancial interest shown by members
of the church, and said:
"The time is ripe to lay emphasis
upon wealth to the church Of God. :
With the submission of the reports,
the character tests to which every
member of the conference must sub
NIT annually, were made. No charges
were preferred against any member.
The collections of the various
churches for missions, conference
claimants, and educational purposes,
were announced by the respective
presiding pastors, while the reports
of the elders were being received.
Rev. Frank Seeds, of the Minneso-
ia conference, p. H. Hawk, of the Vir-
ginia conference, and M. E, Reusch,
of the Michigan conference, all OF
whom have been transferred to the
Iowa conference,w were introduced this
morning.
John Robertson and G. G. Giller,
first year men, were passed in the
work which they have undertaken.
Their grades in the various branches
were read and approved and their re-
spective presiding elders spoke kind
, ly of the good work they have been
| doing.
| DR.. G. l.. Stafford stated this morn
! ing that the election of delegates to
! the general conference will probably
! be held Saturday. The Iowa confer.
ence is entitled to four regular dele,
gates and four lay delegates. The
conference will be held in Los An
geles, California. .
Muscatine, Sept 1.-THE sessions
of the Iowa Methodist conference for
1904 will be held in Sigourney. This
was decided at this mornings session
of the conference, when Sigourney
was shown the preference over OF
tumwa by an overwhelming vote.
! Rev. c. L. Tenant introduced q
resolution providing for the estab
lishment of fund to be maintained
by per capita tax, out of which tc
pay the expenses of all those minis
ters for whom the entertaining com
mittee is unable to find places during
any conference.
: Mention was then made by several
that Sigourney might consider such
action a reflection on its hospitality,
and Rev. ]. G. Willis, presiding elder
Of the Oskaloosa district, asked for a
statement from Rev. A. s. Loveall
He stated that whatever his opinion
might be on the merits of The plan, he
was not in favor of its passage al
/ that time. Bishop, Mallalieu then
asked that the resolution be with.
drawn and this was done.
1t is rumored that Rev. G. L. Stat.
ford, of the First Methodist church.
will be transferred to another district
! In case of change 1t is probable
} that DIR. w. p. Stoddard, Of Grinnell,
will be his successor. Rev. Somer.
vile, of the First church Of Oska,
loosa, is also mentioned as a possible
successor. DR.. Someryille, of Oska-
loosa, has a larger church and is pail
salary at least $500 better than is
paid here and would probably be un-
willing to make sacrifice. Presld-
ing Elder Willis, of Oskaloosa dis
trict, has expressed desire to have
DR.. Stafford in his district. DR.. Stat.
ford said to a reporter Today that he
would probably remain in Muscatine
but that no one could tell.
The following lay delegates to the
general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church to be held in Los
Angeles in 1904, from the Iowa con-
ference, were selected this afternoon
on the first ballot, the announcements
being made at $3.50 o'clock:
John Mahin, Muscatine.
Charles Axtell, Newton.
John Neasham, Ottumwa.
d. H. Payne, Bloomfield.
The Iowa conference will be asked
to pledge $4,000 between now ana
October for the educational institu-
ton Of the church, Iowa Wesleyan
university, at Mt. Pleasant, IL the
recommendation Of J. w. Hancher is
adopted as the sentiment Of the con-