The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1907-09-12


ington. Wenatchee ought to become
place for big conventions OF the fu-
ture. 1t cannot expect to receive
all of the conventions of the state
and would not expect them. But
there is every reason to believe that
Wenatchee can have her share OF
these conventions as soon as the
town has large enough meeting
places and large enough hotels to
accommodate the number OF people
which a state convention necessarily
brings TO city.
"Wenatchee as convention city"
has been talked of for several years
by those who are watching the trend
ofHyents relative to the development
ofythe Great Northwest.
Methodist Convention Next rear
The first organization to choose
Wenatchee as a meeting place for a
state convention is the Methodist
church At the last general confer
ence held few days ago in Spo-
kane it was decided TO hold the con-
ference next September in this city.
SbedhluS vi lilt VI tl1t
event, Captain Fred McDermott, one
of the pioneer Methodists of this
section gives the following inter-
view:
''The selection of Wenatchee by
the members of the Conference OF
the Methodist church inst closed at
Spokane as the place for the meet
ing of the next annual conference
signalizes new beginning in things
for which Wenatchee is to become
famous.
'sHenceforth. if orr citizens but
choose tn push it. Wenatchee may
become the convention city.
The Pioneer Church.
Some special significance attaches
also to the coming of the Methodists
to this point in one body. The Meth
odist church has been the great pio-
neer church of the west. and 1t has
been the pioneer church particularly
of this locality The first organic
1tion was formed at Waterville about
twenty years ago and church
erected which was the only church
at that time in the territory that
is now included in Chelan. Douglas.
Okanogan and parts of Ferry, Lin
coin and Adams counties.
THAT church stood for long
time as the sole representation of
substantial religious influence in
region that was commonly reported
TO be desolate and barren and over
run by outlaws.
sIn Waterville the fact that the
reople before ever there were child
rem to Justify building schoolhouse
were putting up church was her
aided afar, and had certainly great
influence In encouraging many peo-
ple of a right sort to head their
wagons that way Directly out of the
Waterville church some seventeen
other. Methodist classes in Central
washington ard Northern Washing
ton have arisen. 1t has been
Mother of Churches in this great
region. At Waterville the names of
Father White, Blewett and Crisp.
and later of such stalwart and force
ful churchmen as NJ. r. Brown.
Rracken E. KountZ, and F. B. Utter
are we'll remembered. these men be-
ginning with Brown, are the men
who carried the wora of church or
ganization into all the adjacent dis
tricts outside of Waterville, We
uatchee, Chelan, Okanogan and A
wide erea to the south and eastward.
Now there are nearly q score of Meth
Rotlist ministers and many others of
Aother fiourishing denominations To-
Gated throughout this territory that
was then served by each of these
men. successfully, alone.
'"That Wenatchee should in these
short years have come into being
and spring into such Importance as
to draw to itself an annual confer
ence involving the assembly of sew
eral hundred ministers. high church
officers. and lay attendants is splen-
did testimonial of the rapid and
amazing advancement of this region
and this city Indeed. il viii nc
doubt, come as great surprise to
many that Wenatchee was chosen.
Very little was said publicly in ad-
vance about it. But Wenatchee had
friends among the Methodist minist-
ers. those that have been mentioned
and Others. Presiding Elder Mintzer
was friendly to Wenatchee. 1t was
ne, really, who proposed it. The
word was passed around. here. there
and elsewhere. and, at the right mo-
ment Rev Kufus. just concluding
q long and successful pastorate here
was enabled to press the button and
give this prize of such significance
and such wholesome and certain
benefits to Wenatehee.
Congratulations and preparations
for next year among all church peo-
r,e and all the citizens are in order'