Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-29
DISTRICT sUPERlNTENDENTs
MAKE REPORTS OF suesrAN.
rlAL GROWTH.
DISTRICT
ORGANIZATION PERFECTED
AND ACTUAL WORK BEGUN
No Active Minister in Conference Has
Been Called by Death During Past
Year-Larse Class of Young Minis.
ters Takes Examination.-Weloom-
ing Session Held.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Mason City, Sept 29.--The fifty
fourth session of the Upper Iowa an
nual conference of the Methodist Epis-
copal church convened this morning In
the Methodist church. Bishop j. r.
Berry, of Buffalo, n. Y. presiding. The
first half hour was given TO a special
prayer and conservation service. Bish-
OPP Berry spoke for several minutes In
a very Impressive manner, following
which the sacrament of the Lords
Supper was administered the bishop
being assisted by the district super
iptendents and the local pastor, Rev.
w. w. Carlton, d. u.
Rev. W. II. Slingerland. OF Des
Moines. was reelected secretary. and
Immediately called the roll of the con-
ference, nearly $50 full members and
probationers responding The roll call
of the dead was made, the conference
standing with bowed heads The names
OF the ministers deceased during the
year being j. NJ Rankin. C. n. Wheat
ana IT, r. Manning, none of whom
were In the active ranks of the CON-
ference. This is the first time i'm many
years that the roll Of the 200 men or
the conference has been called that
there has not been the name of some
member in the active ranks announced
AS deceased.
t. r. Potter was elected Statistical,
secretary: F. Fl. Lynn was re-elected
conference treasurer; A. d. Stevens
was elected secretary OF the commit
tee on conference relations: l.. n
Stubbs was elected secretary of the
board OF stewards; C. w. Cleveland
conference postmaster: w. F. spry.
conference reporter, and j. A. Hammer
publisher of the conference minutes.
Reports by Districts.
Rev j. w. Bissell. district super,n-
tehdent OF the Cedar Falls district and
Rev. q. T. Gruwell. of the Cedar Rap-
lus district, presented their reports for
the years work. DR.. Bissell reported
5oo conversions in his district for the
year, the benevolences increased over
last year. $4,000 spent in church i'm
provements and $1,000 of old debts
paid. He also reported serious diff
hculty in the maintaining. of the
weaker charges.
Rev. Mr.. Gruwell reported upwards
OF 400 conversions, an Increase over
last year in the benevolences. n total
of $4,000 spent in church building and
improvements. the leading item being
the new Trinity church of Cedar RAN
ids. costing 100000.
DR.. j. b. Albrook, of the Cedar Ran
ids district, reported 5O2 new members.
an advance of $500 over last years Of
fering for the benevolences, a total OF
A,7OO in church improvements, old
debts paid to the amount of $4,000 and
preachers enough to supply every
charge on his district for the coming
year.
Dr. r. w. Pitner of the Marshall
town district, reported 974 new mem
bers. the magnificent sum of s1s.sOo
for the benevolences, which amount Is
far ahead of any year of the six of his
superintendency. He also reported
$25,O00 in church improvements prom
inent In the list of improvements be-
ing Rockwell, s$715; Sheffield. s715:
State Center. $500; Gilman. s1.5OO: Ell
dora, $1,000: Marshalltown, sl1 500.
New churches built during the wear
being Albion. $4,000: and Gilman.
$1,000 The total amount of Indebted
ness paid during the year was $4,000
DIR. Pitner also gave a summary OF his
six years work in which he reported
4,ls5 conversions. church improve
ments. $92.019: debts paid. $4,000:
current expenses, sS0.242. benevolences.
s95,l44 and ministerial support. s239,
251, making total Of the mapniicc,4