Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-06
CONFERENCE OFFICERS.
Gathering of Methodists at
Davenport Confronted With
Uncommon Conditions
REsTLEssNEss IN THE RANKS
A Larger Number of Moves Than Ever
Made Before In Ono Year, Is Antici-
pated-Some Notable Promotions
Glass For Admission Is Unusually
SmalI-The Presiding Elders.

Small-The Presiding Elders.
Special to Times Republican.
| Davenport, Oct. 6.-The forty ninth
session Of the upper Iowa annual con-
| ference opened Wednesday morning at
st. Johns Methodist Episcopal church
| in this city with Bishop l. w. Joyce,
d. d., LII. D., of Minneapolis, Mimi.
| in the chair. After singing and prayer
and the reading OF an appropriate
scripture lesson, Bishop Joyce. assist
ed by the six presiding elders Of the
conference, conducted the communion
Of the Lords supper, after which the
conference was organized by the cleo
| ton OF the following officers: Secre-
tary, w. H. Slingerland OF Des Moines;
statistical secretary, j. II. A. Hammer,
of Tama: treasurer, L. l.. Lockard, OF
Anamosa; secretary of conference re-
lations Il. T. Grewell. Of Hampton;
secretary OF board OF stewards, Will
liam Lease, of New Albion; postmast-
err. 3. A.. Wright, of Epworth; report-
err, Mark Masters. of Montour; rail-
| road secretary, n. A. Mershon, OF &C.
dar Rapids.
During the morning business ses-
sion, the disciplinary questions relat-
| ing to the examination Of the charac-
ter Of preachers and presiding elders,
was considered.
Several uncommon conditions con-
front the conference which have ten>
dency to uneasness among the minis
terial body. The times Of these pre-
siding elders expire by limitation, and
new presiding elders will be taken
from three Of the leading charges in
the conference to supply these places
There are many aspirants to these
places.
Some of the leading preachers of the
conference are being called to large
pulpits in other conferences. Dr..
Thompson OF st. Johns church. Dav-
export, will take one of the largest
churches In the entire denomination.
the Hennepan avenue M. r. church at
Minneapolis. and DIR. Rice. Of Iowa
City, will so to Duluth, Mimi, at
large increase Of salary. d. c. Dut-
ton Of McGregor, will become the field
agent of upper Iowa University.
There will be a larger number OF
moves in the conference than ever be-
fore in one year. In all probability
more than twenty Of the thirty-fivc
preachers on the Marshalltown district
will move.
The class for admission this year
will be small, consisting Of only five.
The class of probationers, those COM
ing into the conference for the first
time, is also small. Generally, from
twelve to twenty practitioners come In
each fall. AS a result Of this theirs
will be large number of appoints
ments Of the smaller grades left with
out pastors or they will be supplied
by local preachers.
The Methodist church Is creating
pulpits and going into new fields. The
reports Of the presiding elders this
year will show net increase In num-
bers of the churches, and some ad-
vance over the splendid record of res
cent years In benevolent offerings.
Dr. Pitner's first years record on the
Marshalltown district is a commend
able one, and the splendid record OF
the district in former years has been
more than duplicated. 1t is impossible
at this stage of the conference to get
exact figures from all of the presiding
elders, but it is certain that it will
lead all the rest.
The second day of the conference
opened auspiciously. The presiding
elders reports are partly in and lndi-
cate year of great prosperity thruout
the confer ence. l.. c. Lemon, of Uni
verstty Place, Neb., will be transferred
to this conference and probably sent TO
Iowa City.
After the reading of the report OF
Pres;d ng Fiber Magee of Cedar Falls,
district. Rev. Walter Piper Of Shell
Rock stepped forward and asked for
The pl .vilege Of addressing the confer
ence ana with a very few choice words
told Or. Magee of the high appreciation
in which he was held by the preachers
and people Of the district, and present
ed him with a purse OF $50 in gold as
4 substantial token of appreciation. The
response :: Dr. Magee was very
touching. He told of the Kindness and
good will of preachers and people and
thanked them heartily. Tears were in
many eyes and the audience broke
forth singing "Blest be the tie that
binds our hearts in Christian love-"
The address at tbs Epworth League
ANNIVERSARY by DR.. l.. c. Clark of Osag,
on "The Twentieth Century Epworth-
ian,' was listened to by a very large
congregation and was of much practical
worth
DR.. Durham of Central Ohio confer
ence leads the devotions and conducts
evangelistic services each afternoon.
He is a revivalist of splendid ability
and the great auditorium of st. Johns
church is filled to it's utmost capacity
at each of his meetings.
DIR. A. P. George, of ST. Louis, ad-
dressed the conference at 2 O'clock He
is a great Sunday school worker and
his address was filled with humor and
practical common sense.
Bishop Joyce is loved and admired
by all. His presidency is easy, and
decisions positive.
CHURCH MEETING CLOSES.
ConareaationaIists of Central Associa-