The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-09-29
This Mornings Session.

light unto their unfortunate brothers.
This Mornings Session.
The morning session opened with q
song service. There are a good many
voices in the congregation and the ole
church rang with the melody of sc
many male voices.
Bishop Merrill of Chicago, gave the
opening prayer, followed with scripture
reading.
Rev. H. f. Alderman of Plainview
preached the conference sermon. He
dwelt upon the atonement of sin, and
beseeched his brethren to be true to
their convictions regardless of the SEN
timents of the times.
| This was followed by the commun-
ion service, presided over by Bishop
Merrill of Chicago, assisted by Presid-
ing Elders, F. NJ. Rule, Winona; j. F.
Stout, ST. Paul; Frank Doran, Marshall
and Peter Clare, Mankato, and was a
solemn and impressive feature of the
morning session This service was clos
ed by repeating the Lords Prayer.
Dr. Frank B. Cowgirl, secretary of the
conference gave the roll call. Presid-
ing Bishop W. F. Mcdowell, who is in
Oregon will not arrive until tomorrow
and DIR. Merrill is presiding pro tenn.
1t was voted to elect by reclamation,
and Dr. Cowgirl was reelected secretary
as was also Rev. Morse, for statistical
secretary, and Rev. Quigley, treasurer.
1t was voted that the sessions of the
conference begin at nine o'clock
and adjourn at twelve o'clock.
Mr. Hart, an agent for the Methodist
Conference Insurance company, spoke of
the necessity of insurance upon church
property
Speak Highly of Bishop Merrill.
The following resolution was intro
duced and adopted by rising vote:
Whereas, Bishop Merrill, during his
stay among us as our first resident
bishop greatly endeared himself to the
hearts of the members of this confer
ence. and
Whereas, his presidency of this con-
ference on three different occasions was
eminently wise, fair and brotherly, and
Whereas, he has given to the church
thirty-two years of service as an effici-
ent bishop which service is followed by
his voluntary retirement, and
Whereas, this is the first time in the
history of our church that superan-
nuated bishop has been called upon in
the temporary absence of the regular
ly appointed bishop to ipreside over an
annual conference, therefore be it,
Resolved, That the members of the
Minnesota annual conference hereby ex-
press to Bishop Merrill our high appre-
citation of the eminent services he has
rendered to the church, our love for him
as bishop and as a brother, our great
delight at his presence with us today
in the full strength of his four score
years as our temporary presiding offic-
err. and our eternal prayers that the
richest blessings of our Heavenly Faith
er may rest continually upon him and
upon his family.
G. H. BRIDGMAN,
H. c.. JENNINGS.
j. F. STOUT.
Rev. Julius Smith of Burmah, India,
spoke fervently in behalf of the Indian
Jubilee mission, and detailed the de
plorable condition of those benighted
people in the far east. Five years ago
Iethodism was unknown in the Phil
lipine islands, now there are $4,000 con-
verts to this denomination.
Reports of Presiding Elders.
Presiding Elder Clare read the report
for the Mankato district which showed
steady improvement along all lines
of work. No deaths have occurred dur
ing the year in the pastors families.
Tent meetings have been held in various
places and one thousand persons have
been converted and restored to mem
bership.
Pay Preachers Salary in Advance.
Presiding Elder Doran gave an inter
esting report of the excellent work done
in the Marshall district. He spoke of
the splendid condition of the church at
Marshall and said that last year they
voted to pay all bills monthly and this
year they pay the PASTORS salary
monthly in advance. He referred to the
small salaries received by some pastors
and hoped the day was not far off when
no minister of the gospel would be
asked to preside over charge for less
than 5000 and a parsonage. He at
tributed the splendid conditions in his