Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-11

of the work and the methods followed
| in the league toward the accomplish
| ment of its ends. He pointed to the
recent attainment of the local option
| law after a long and costly fight While
The measure was pending before the as
lsembly, the people of his district, Mr.
Conger stated, joined in sending a total
| If coo kilograms to representatives at
Springfield. Y. NJ. c. \. authorities
Sunday school men and bank presi-
dents were the principal senders, and
within short time after their sending
I telegram was received from one of
| the representatives saying no further
worry was necessary as the messages
had pointed out the necessary path 10
the legislators. He mentioned the sa-
loon men term the law a most unfair
one He continued that if they desire
| l change they must show the persever-
inCe of the anti-salOOn league, devote
fcars to fighting it, spend thousands of
dollars, and perhaps they may achieve
heir point. As they do not appear
Wiling to put forth this energy, MI
Conger deemed that the league had
won permanent victory.
On Frccdmcn's Aid.
Just before the noon hour Rev NJ. G..
3. Mason, ID. D., secretary of the Col
bred FrCedmen's association and one
If the most prominent workers in the
ountry for the members of his race,
lrrivGd at the conference. having just
cached the city. Rev. MasOn's homo
in Cincinnati and he is one of the
pcakCrs on this evenings program.
He spoke in behalf of the work of his
CaSuc, principally toward the attain
nCnt of education for the southern
| negroes. He urged a ready cOntinu-
| nee of the annual children's day which
| las been generally observed in the
churches Of the country. The collec-
ions taken on this day are devoted to
| he fund of the league for the educa-
ion of the colored people. He gave
| igureS showing the extent to which the
| southern negroes are helping in their
| work. These people. many of whom
lie stated, labor for less than a dollar
| I day on the cotton farms and rice
| plantations throughout the long, hot
| lays OF the summer, gave $i,100 to the
| fund. To show the extent to which
| he work has developed, he stated that
compared TO $4,000 raised 80 years age
1t the beginning of the work, $25, $3.50
was raised last year
| He also stated his ideas of enhancing
he church membership, preferring :
strict discipline. transferring the Sun
lay school pupils from their classes tC
he church itself as regular members
rather than. conducting revival meet
ings for the purpose of obtaining adul
membership.
| Welcomed to City.
The opening. session of the confer
IencG was held last evening and was il
the nature of a reception and welcome
TO visiting ministers and delegates.
IlarSe number of the Methodist congre
cation and others were present, anC
for the occasion the church had beer
decorated, Il flag backing the speakers
stand aud the incandoscCnt lamps be
ing hung with evergreen.
| Following prayer ana a song, DIR. II
b. Williams, pastor of the church
lspoke upon the purpose of the gather
ing, gave instructions regarding The
methods of the conference and aroused
the mirth of the audience with Il few
happy expressions regarding variuu
members Of the conference and tn
speakers Of the evening. His introduc
tons of the speakers were of a humol
laughter, and the speakers retaliate
in good nature, making the welcOmin
session a most friendly one.
f.. ID. Sweeney, the oldest member c
the local charge, first addressed tn
congregation. He mentioned the fac
Of his long association with the churc
and briefly skctched the early histor
of the parish when John Douglas an
the SpencCrs We're instrumental in gi'
/ ! ing it its successful start He CXtent
4 ed a most hearty welcome 10 the Wis
4 tors because of the nature of thei
! work, which was the most honorab
! and clarifying of all duties-that {
I saving men; because of the field whic
] they occupied, it being one of the mos
! fertile and rich tracts of the entiI
country. and with a Methodist cOngr
CATION of 100000; and because of II
success which marked the last yea
when greater number were added
the congregation, more marriages pc
formed, less funeral addresses mad
Il before. He mentioned the election
: bishops which will occur in May, whe