Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1907-12-05
OUTLINE !. .. METHooissa.


Conferences Minutes, just issued, Con-
tain statement Of Yearly Growth
and Record Of Funds Devoted to
Education and Other Purposes BY
That Church n the Stats.
The minutes Of the proceedings Of
the Dakota conference Of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church have just been
issued in book form. showing what
was accomplished at the session held
at vermillion Oct 16 to 81. The ses-
sion was the most successful held IN
the twenty-three years that the con-
ference was organized. the first meet
ing being held at Yankton In le
when Bishop Warren presided. At
that time there were but 1850 mem
bers Of the conference, and each year
there was q gain in membership until
In 1889, when 1t was 1896 The year
following 1t fell or over 5000 and did
not get back to the 10000 mark until
1894. The next year the membership
dropped 500 and kept losing until
1896. when the number again went
to 1929. since which year the mem
bers have been increasing steadily
every year until at the present time
the numbers reach 1902, increasing
636 in the past year.
One Of the strong features OF the
conference Is the missionary work.
and the appropriations made for that
part Of the religious work amounts
to $7,400. In giving to educational
projects the conference of ministers
and the lay delegates exhibited the
greatest amount Of self-denial. When
the condition of Dakota Wesleyan
university was set before both branch.
es OF the conference showing that It
was necessary to raise a certain
amount Of money In order to secure
the $4,000 that Andrew Carnegie had
offered as the last payment on the
100000 endowment fund, the giving
was exceedingly generous, the minis
tiers pledging over 1900 and the lay
delegates raising In their meeting
over $4,000, when the ambition or
that institution was realized. As Z
further aid to Dakota Wesleyan, each
wear each district contributes GER
tain amount toward the institution,
and in making his report for the col.
lections Of 1906-1907 President Mich
olson stated that for the 1--WE districts
and outside contributions this sum
amounted to $12.546.42.
The statistics of the church are In
teresting. and show q splendid growth
and development along all lines. The
grand total Of members ID 1854. with
109 probationers; there were 954 bap-
tisms: there are 242 Sunday schools,
with 2.186 officers and teachers Of
1929 scholars: there are 1911 church.
es. an increase Of IL over last year.
the probable value OF which is placed
at $621,325: there are ITO parsonages,
which are valued at $178,700; for
building and improving churches and
parsonages $4,000 was paid and in
debtedness to the amount of $6,2S5.
The treasurer's report indicates
something Of the big money transac-
tons that the conference carries on
Missions and church extensions cost
$15,650; board Of education, freed
mans aid and Sunday schools, 1854;
local educational interests. $4.463;
Woman's Foreign Missionary society.
S4013; other benevolent interests,
$6,987; general conference expenses,
SIP: conference claimants, $1,903:
Episcopal, $879: Woman's Home Mis-
sionary society, $1s5; American BIZ
BILE society. $187, making total Of
$36.521.