Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-10-14
.CHURCHMEN BUSY
MANY CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
OF STATE HOLD ANNUAL
MEETINGS
CLERGY and IAITY meet
AND DISCUSS MATTERS OF I'M
PoRTANcE TEMPORAL
AND SPIRITUAL

Sioux Falls-Various church organi-
cations throughout South Dakota have
been holding important sessions dur
Ing the past week, and others are in
session this week.
At Huron the Methodist conference
has been in session and the reports
received from there indicate mat the
meeting has been one of the most i'm
portant ana helpful Of any ever held.
The attendance was large and the re-
ports of pastors Of the work over the
state was exceedingly gratifying show
Ing a most phenomenal growth anu
general prosperity.
New churches have been erected at
the White Lake and Pukwana charges
and also at Farwell and Iowa. Par
sonages have been erected at Kenne-
beck, Springfield and Bijou Hills At
Dallas $4,000 church is under way.
A $4,000 church was dedicated at VAL
ley Springs and at Sioux Falls, Jor-
dan church has completed a $4,000 par
sonage. A new church is being pro-
jected at Wakonda At Madison the
debt on the $4,000 church recently
erected has been entirely liquidated. In
the four year pastorate of A. D. Thi-
badeau the membership has been near
| ly doubled and one OF the finest
churches of the state erected.
l w. j. Graham reported hi sdistrict
at Lake Preston new $4,000 church
has been erected and the parsonage
improved at cost of $1,000.
A new parsonage has been erected at
| White Rock. E. o. Machemer and O.
E. Boyce have done splendid work in
temperance work during the year.
At Layne a $4,000 church was dedi-
Gated, G. o. Bullock, pastor and at
Miranda $4,000 church under the
leadership of Fred Rawlinson. Parson-
ages have been erected at Blunt and
Wolsey.
Rev. G. F. Hopkins reported the
work of the Aberdeen district. New
churches have been Built at Liberty
on the Hecla charge and at Claremont.
Selby is building a new church to cost
about $4,000 Aberdeen expects to dedi-
cate $4,000 church on November g.
The matter of divorces was consider
ed at some extent. No minister can
be employed by the Methodist denom-
nation in South Dakota, viii is ~
vorced or who marries Divorce, ex-
cept for scriptural limitation. Bishop
| James l.. Nuelson of Omaha. who was
elected to the office in 1908, by the in
| fluence of the German Methodist CON
| ference vote, won many friends by
| the manner in which he conducts the
business of the conference. He is a
man of rare executive ability, keen
perception, and we'll equipped in every
way for the important office SO admir-
ably filled by him. The bishop is a
comparatively young man, but has had
marked experience for one of his years.
| He is rapidly growing in favor and is
esteemed as one of the brightest men
In the Methodist denomination of this
country. Among other notables present
1 were DR.. Edgar Blake, assistant gener.
al secretary of the Sunday school
union. DIR. S. F. Kerfoot, president OF
1 the Dakota Wesleyan university, at
Mitchell; G. E. Hagar, of Huron; G..
| F.. Hopkins of Aberdeen, and W. T.
/ Graham of WATERFOWL; j. c. Shepherd
| Of Sioux Falls and r. O. Dobson of
Mitchell district superintendent who
| took active part in the deliberations of
/ the conference.
DIR. Hay of Deadwood, Mr.. Royce and
DR.. Dolliver, district superintendents
| of the Black Hills mission; j. B. Trim
| BILE, missionary secretary in the north
1 west; Dr. Hoagland Of Mitchell, Dr. c.
M Stuart, editor of the Northwestern
/ Christian Advocate, together with
ministers from adjoining conferences,
were also present at the7conference
Dr. Nicholson for some years presi-
| dent Of Dakota Wesleyan univers;sy
now secretary OF all the many educa-
/ tional institutions in the Methodist
Episcopal church, presented the work
! Of his departments. He told of the
work of the Dakota Conference in the
large per capita collections which
/ they gave to their own local education
/ al work This fact he used as an in
i spiration to many of the large confer
ences of the church, who are only now
/ beginning to do what the Dakota
i Methodists have been ooing for the
4 last five years. DIR. Nicholson shortly
expects to make a tour Of the schools
1 OF the Methodist Episcopal church in
i the south.
A greater Observation-Disclosures mis-
4 sionary rally will be held in March
1910, at Mitchell.
"A committee was appointed from the
conference to meet with one from the
Black Hills, to consider the advisa-
bility of erecting Methodist hospita'
j for South Dakota
Rev. G. T. Notson, secretary of the
1 fund for providing $4,000 endow:
ment fund for the veteran ministers
/ widows and dependent children has al.
ready provided more than thai
1 amount.
Plankinton Bonds recently voted
here for the improvement and exten.
sion Of the municipal Waterworks sys
tenn have been purchased by resident,