Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-08
MISUNDERSTANDING
Ranks of Methodists Depleted
by Stepping Aside of Some
of the Veterans
MANY CAUSES CONTRIBUTE
Several Go Into Other Conferences
One Minister to Become a Banker
Proceedings of the Upper Iowa Con-
ference at Mt. vernon-coIeee Fac
ulty Reception.
MANY CAUSES CONTRIBUTE
Special to Times Republican.

! SDeClal TO IIOGS-ReD n.
| Mt. Vernon, Oct. S.-Yesterday, the
| first day of the Upper Iowa conference
thru. The afternoon was given over
entirely. to missionary thought, Rev
George III. Birney. of Cedar Fails
preaching the annual missionary SER
mon. He chose for his subject "a
Kingly Program" The sermon was one
of the best missionary sermons
preached at a session of the Upper
Iowa conference for many Years past.
Rev. N. Pye. of Charles City, had
charge of the service.
At 1880 o'clock last might was held
the anniversary of the board OF Sun
day schools. The address was given
by Rev David G. Dowlrey, who is cor
responding secretary of the board. DR..
Dow1ley created more enthusiasm In
behalf of Sunday school work than has
been done by any corresponding secre-
tary in many years past.
AT $50 O'Clock the entire conference
repaired ito the main building of the
local college, where the faculty of Cor
nell gave a reception to the bishop and
members of the conference. The mem
bers of the faculty constituted the re-
held at the literary society halls. The
wives of the faculty members served.
the luncheon. The occasion was
counted an exceptionally enjoyable one.
An unusually large number of men
in the active ranks of the conference
are stepping aside this year for various
which adds seriously to the
dearth of preachers caused by the
fewness of young men entering the
Several Retire From Conference.
j. G. Van Ness, for the past six
years superintendent of the Cedar Rap
ids district. steps aside on account OF
throat trouble; o. NJ. Sanford, of
leaves the conference and
takes work in northwestern Canada:
P S. Slocunl. of Monticello. becomes
principal of Epworth Seminary; G. r..
Shear, of State Center, takes the cash
ier,ship of a bank ait Rockford, Iowa;
]. II. A. Hammer, of Epworth, is forced
to step aside for recuperation; G. p.
Reeder, of Dysart, is forced to quit for
The same reason. H. G. Crawford of
Greeley, steps aside to other work, and
Jonathan Relph, of Owassa, is to try
the realities of farm life.
Eight men go out of the conference
10 take work in other conferences. They
are j. e. Wag.fi b. e. Dutton, c. A. I
Parkin, c. a. Felt. G. w. Smell. G. 7.
Ensign and C.sJ. Triem. Only four men
come from other conferences to this.
They are r. A. Barnes, Harry White,
G. A. Anderson and H. J. Hyresa.
May Reduce Districts.
There is considerable sentiment |
among the members of the conference
n favor of decreasing the number of
districts. There are now six districts +
n the conference and 1t is proposed I
% have but four. One of the presiding
elders of the conference has proposed |
hat he step aside so as to help in
making the decrease possible. Accord |
ng to the proposed plan the conference
will be divided into as nearly four |
qual parts as possible. the lines of
livision as to territory for the two
colleges in the conference to remain
practically as they now are.