Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-08-19
BROTHER VAN
SUCCESSFUL
Pioneer of Northern Montana Method
ism Chosen Delegate to the
General Conference.
THE UNIVERSITY PROSPEROUS
A Debt Of $4,000 Has Been Wiped
Out Since Last Conference
Incidents Of the Meeting.

Livingston, Aug. 15.-The thirt
days session of the Methodist confer
ence was full of interest and during
the day important action was taken
on a number of questions of vital in
terest to the church throughout Mon
tana. Probably the most interesting
feature of the proceedings was the
election of a ministerial delegate tc
the general conference. which meets
in Los Angeles next year. There
were number of candidates in the
field, but the contest lay between
Rev. J. w. Bennett, of Missoula. and
Rev. w. w. Van Orsdel. of Great
Falls. These two led from the start
and on the first ballot Rev. Bennett,
was short but one vote of election, and
had the three votes that were sent to
the conference by absent members
been voted, the first ballot would have
given Bennett the required majority.
Later these three votes were admit
ted, but at a time when the Bennett
forces were scattered. Rev. w. w.
Van Orsdel won on the third ballot
by one vote. Rev. Bennett was i'm.
mediately selected as the alternate.
Devotional services were held this
morning at 9 o'clock, led by Rev. A.
w. Hamer. of Shelby. At the open
ing of the conference this morning
the lay delegates were given seats OF
honor in the conference, and later
Hon. VIM. Lindsay and ]. II. Inch,
who were elected to attend the gen.
eral conference at the lay conference
yesterday, deliveed addresses which
were responded to by Bishop McCabe,
who spoke from the subject, "Rela-
tion of Laymen to the Church"
At this afternoons session J. A
Metcalf. who has been advocating the
better care of the retired ministers.
presented his plan to provide homes
for the aged ministers and their fami-
lies. He suggested that the confer
ence secure farm land for the minis
ters and arrange for them to become
to an extent independent At the re-
quest of the conference Bishop Nc
Cabe appointed as a committee TO in
vestigate Mr.. Metcalf's plan, Rev.
Jacob Mills. Rev. G.. B. King and
Rev. w. w. Van Orsdel.
A resolution was passed requesting
that the general conference appoint
a commission of Is membersto adopt
ways and means TO provide for the
proposed Yellowstone mission in east
ern Montana. The general conference
will also be asked to attach the ex-
treme western portion OF North Da-
kota, adjacent to the Missouri and
Yellowstone rivers, to the Montana
This is asked because the
location of the territory is such as to
make II difficult to handle In the Da-
kota conference.
The annual report of the Montana
was made. II shows un-
usual prosperity during the year, hav-
ing been conducted without a deh-
cheney and a debt of $4,000 being
wiped out since the last conference
met
A meeting was held this afternoon
in the interest of the Great Falls hos
pital. Il was conducted by Lucy Rid
er Meyer. of Chicago, who is princi-
pal of the Chicago training school.
In showing the rapid growth OF this
portion of the work of the church, she
stated that rs years ago the Metho-
dist church did not have single hos
pital under it's direction. Now there
are many scattered throughout every
portion of the country. The Deacon
ess hospital at Great Falls has treat
ed $50 patients during the year The
hospital has a debt fo$7,000 which
will probably be cleared up before the
conference adjourns.
The educational anniversary was
held tonight. Addresses were made
by Rev. p. w. Haynes, Prof. c. W.
Tenny and Bishop McCabe.