The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-09-20
OSKALOOSA DISTRICT.
Report Made to Conference by Pre-
siding Elder Willis.

The following report of the Oska-
loosa district for the year ending
sept. was made to the meeting of
the Iowa conference held in Grinnell
by Presiding Elder J. C. Willis. The
excellent showing is source of pride
for all concerned. The report is ap-
rended:
"Dear Father and Brethren: In
grateful recognition of our Heavenly
Fathers love and care throughout the
year and with heart OF love to all
my brethren, both of the ministry and
laity, bring to you my fourth report
of the Oskaloosa district. II has been
a busy year N the salvation of souls,
the enrichipG OF Christian experience.
the development Of character AMI the
advancing OF the tempora, interests
Of the cLuIcE.
Evangelism.-The year has been
filed with much eyangelistic effort
and am pleased to bring you tidings
of great joy over redeemed souls.
believe that every pastor has re-
ported to me personally some CONVEX
sions this year. In every instance the
work has been done without the aid
of outside help, except two. With a..
due regard for that class of men who
claim to be called to the work Of an
evangelist, l can but rejoice that tho
pastors of Oskaloosa district have
proven themselves to be worthy evan
gelists and have not in any large
measure felt the need of this outside
help and Influence.
l regret that cannot give in detail
the number of converted in the dis
trict this year. The failure Of the
pastors reports to reach me in time
is the cause of this. We started out
with the slogan 1000 souls for Christ
this year and l am confident that the
number far exceeds that. With our
present impetus next year ought to
witness a great turning to the Lord.
In our tent campaign this summer
some glorious things have been
achieved. From all the meetings help
with the tent conversions have been
reported, except at Malcolm. Meetings
were held at Madison on the Sonora
Ct, Malcolm, No. Z, school house
southeast of Grinnell six miles, Rose
Hill, Lynnville and at Reasoner. The
meeting at No. Z was perhaps the
most remarkable so far as results
were concerned, where in two weeks
were had 40 conversions and at the
close of the meeting class organized
with 81 charter members. This ought
to make for us strong addition to
the Ewart Ct. There are many COM
munities within the district like that
that need this special kind of evangel-
ism from which some of our weaken
ing circuits may find recruits and add
ed strength.
Another meeting of which l ought
to speak in this report was held in a
school house three miles south OF
Oskaloosa. At the beginning of the
year a delegation of laymen came to
me and wanted that l should send a
minister into that region, but / had
no one to send. After few days
they went to Sister S. F. Keel, a de
voted member of Central church, to
come to them and hold a series OF
meetings. After a few days she con
scented to do so. The result was sim
ply marvellous. At the close Of foul
weeks of service she reported to me
that there had been "a conversions
then asked Bro. Somerville to organ
ize them into a Methodist class,which
he did with GO charter members.
Membership.-From the foregoing
words as to the evangelistic move
ment it is to be naturally expected
that many additions have been made
to the church membership. One pas
tor reports to me 81 conversions and
80 of these coming into his church
still he will report a decrease Of II
in membership. He has given OF
church letters this year.
Class-meetings.-It is delight tc
report an actual increase in the mum
Der of class meetings held during the
year. With reyivals within every
charge there has been a growing de
sire for the class meeting.
Epworth League.-1ne number Of
Epworth Leagues remains practically
the same as last year. In some there
has been marked advance, while in
others there seems to be out little
I life and they are content to live on al
the same poor dying rate"
Sunday Schools.-I know Of no new
Sunday schools organized during Tie
year, but without doubt the attend
ance is increased upon the whole. Ev
cry school is supplied exclusively with
our own literature and all except five
report that they are organized into
missionary societies; in many, how
ever,the organization does not amount
to much more than one monthly offer
ing. A very few failed to observe
Children's Day but with these omitted
the Children's Day Offering ought tc
show a splendid increase If the report
in the Fourth Quarterly Conference il
an index.
Benevolences.-From reports giyer
in the Fourth Quarterly Conferences