The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-10-13
ARE MADE

Reports of the Work on
the Charges.
Wednesday a. m., promptly at $3.50
o'clock the twenty-sixth annual ses-
sion of Dakota Conference convened
in the Methodist church, with a large
attendance of pastors and some lay
men In the audience.
Bishop Neulsen assumed charge of
the Conference and devotional exer-
cises were held. The Bishop conduct
ed the Lords Supper, in which he
was assisted by the district superin-
.tendents.
The formal business session began
with the election Of officer. Rev. G..
+. Noteon was made the secretary for
the eleventh successive term. Rev.
j. M. Hunter of Northvill treasurer,
and Rev. A. w. Thurston, Of Elan
dreau, statistical secretary. Appoint
ments OF committees we're made to
serve through the session.
After the organization Of the Con-
ference and some of the details of
the business had been completed Bish-
op Nuelsen called for the reports Of
the districts through their superin-
tendents. This occupied the time un-
til the noon hour. The various re-
ports indicated a very healthy condi-
ton in Methodism throughout the
state, and showing that the pastors
on the different charges were giving
of their best to build up the church
in the state.
The WATERFOWL District.
District Superintendent Graham in
opening his report placed this as
lastly and sixthly-the end OF his
term in this district and in which he
reviewed much of the work that has
been done and showing the increases
that have taken place. He paid a
very high tribute to his predecessor,
Rev. Duane Rifenbark, and that II
he could retire with a portion of the
love and esteem In which Mr.. Rifen-
bark is held by the Watertown dis
trict he would count himself fortu-
nate. In the six-year term sixty-ive
men have served on the charge, twen-
ty Of them being supplies, four Of
them have Joined the Conference,
making so members in the Confer
ence. The number received into the
church on probation was 1107, by let
ter 1907; removed by letter 734, re.
moved by death 1877, making a total
of 1443 members in the district. Debt
paying has been going on until fifteen
charges have been cleared Of their
debts, and splendid progress is no
ticed in many of the towns on the
district. In the matter Of increase
the membership of the district Is 30
per cent larger; missions 1873 per
cent; salaries now aggregate $780,
600; churches %. and there are now
600 pastors on the district. In his
successor Dr. Graham said that he
would be glad to have a man appoint
ed who would give the children a
chance.
The Huron District.
District Superintendent Hager conf
pletes his sixth year on the Huron
charge to which he "a appointed by
Bishop Hamilton. The membership
800, mostly by personal effort. The
Superintendent spoke of the work Of
the Sunday school as being good and
growing into larger numbers. while
the Ladies Aid Societies are putting
the unorganized brothers to shame by
their great work in helping the church
in every possible way. The Epworth
League is accomplishing much more
than was anticipated. Five new par
sonages have been built at a total cost
of $4,000; a church at Harold at
$4,000, ready for dedication, and one
at Blunt that has been dedicated
costing $1,000. At Pierre a $4,000
church is under way. Other church
es have been improved and enlarged.
This is the review of the six years CO
the charge: Home and foreign mis-
sions, $4,000; total b~enevolence, ST.
900; value of church property $14O,-
900; parsonages, $4,000; pastoral
support, $4,000; membership, 2,7OO;
Woman's Foreign Missionary contri-
buttons, $500. These figures rep
resent in many cases a double In
crease since 1904. DR.. Hager spoke
with especial reference to the Pierre
charge, which is paying a salary to
the pastor of $1,700, his met all be-
nevolence claims upon them and have
assumed the debt of $4,000 for the
new church and parsonage.
The Aberdeen District.
The report from this district was
made partially by Geo. F. Hopkins and
his successor, Rev. James s. Hark-
ness. The work on this district has
been enlarged in the way of new
buildings, notably the Aberdeen
church at a cost Of $4,000; North
willie remodeled and rebuilt the church
at a cost Of $1,000; Mellette and sew
eral other churches have made good
improvements which u n i.to good
figures when the sum it totaled up.
The district has advanced each year
in pastoral salaries, in value of church
and parsonage property, and IN
church membership during the time
Mr.. Hopkins was identified with 1t. Su-
perintendent Hardness tourned in a
fine report in addition to that of Mr..
Hopkins, and made reference to near
~ all Of the towns on the district as
doing something great in the advance
ment OF membership, pastoral salar-
les and for church improvements. He
stated that six towns had increased
the salary of their pastors to $1,000
a year, and in towns that we're not
very large. Superintendent Hardness
made a fine report of the auxiliary So
cieties of the church, in the way Of
the Ladies Aid Societies, Epworth
League nd the Sunday schools. (