The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-10-04
Marshall People Recognize No
Denomination In Welcome.
CATHOLICS VIE With OTHERS
All Citizens Help to Enter
tain Visiting MethOdists.
Especial Telegram.l

4
conference today voted to hold its next
session in Fairmont. Rev. Quigley is
pastor of the, church there.
Delegates to the general conference
were elected as follows: Ministerial,
DIR. H. c. Jennings, Rev. F. NJ. Rule,
Dr. F. B. Cowgirl.
Lay delegates: Harry Woods, AM
boy; Mr.. Mitchell, Austin; f. o. Weld,
Worthington.
P. H. Kelly of Eagle Lake is at
tending the conference.
The bishop today admitted a class.
Marshall, MIMI, Sept. 27.-Mayor
Odell, in his address of welcome to the
Minnesota Methodist Episcopal confer
ence, in session here, said that de-
nominational lines were broken down
in entertaining the body, a number of
the members of the conference being
entertained in Catholic families. This
announcement was greeted with APP
plause, and Bishop Goodsell, in his
reply, expressed appreciation of this
evidence of brotherly feeling, and
promised that no demonstration should
surpass 'the people called Methodists"
in breadth of Christian affection.
The Methodist conference voted up
on and defeated all the proposed
amendments to the constitution of the
church.
OF these the most important pro-
posed by the general conference was
request for authority to elect
negro bishop for the colored members
of the church. This was voted down
by 90 to p. The proposition to re-
duce the number of delegates to the
geenral conference was defeated by an
almost unanimous vote.
Another was memorial sent out
by the New York East conference to
the general conference, advocating the
election of presiding elders by the
members of the annual conference in
stead of having them appointed by the
bishop as now. This question led to
a lively discussion 1t was claimed
the time had come for more demo-
cratic method in the church, that it
was. in keeping with the spirit of
the age; that the presiding elders were
the advisers of the bishop and there
fore should be selected by the confer
ence. The bishops and high officials
opposed it as they do not want to
lose their authority, and others feared
the introduction of politics in the con-
ference whenever there is nedd of
change. The amendment was defeated.
A good part of the morning session
was taken up with the reports OF
presiding elders. From every district
substantial progress during the past
year was reported.
For the Mankato district Dew. DIR.
Kerfoot reported that several new
churches Had been built during the
year, that there was an increase of
400 in the membership and that the
salaries of most of the pastors in the
district had been raised.
For the Marshall district, Dr. Cow
gill reported four new churches, and
He said poor crops in the southwest
ern part of the district had retarded
progress somewhat in that portion of
the territory under his supervision.
For the Winona district DR.. Rule re-
ported that salaries of pastors had
been generally raised and that there
had been gain of 45S in the mem
bership. Several mems clubs had been
organized Four pastors had died dur
ing the year.
DIR. Stout made the report for the
st. Paul district and said there had
been four new churches built, and a
total increase in membership of about
$780,
The reports summarized showed
much progress during the conference
year and were regarded as highly sat
isfactory by the delegates.
The Methodists have taken this city
by storm Four hundred strong, they
are to be seen on every street. The
people have opened their homes. to en-
terrain members, irrespective of de-
nominations-Cat Lutherans, as
well as other churches are vieing with
each other to care for the ministers.
Never before has there been manifest
ed such Christian courtesy and friend
ship among all churches as is seen IN
this city of Marshall.