The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-20
CONFERENCE TOOK
ON NEW LIFE
Rescind Action Taken Some
Years Ago-Would Make
Cash Beneficial
GREAT NEED SHOWN
IN r REPORT
Discusses Plans That Should
Be Worked Out in Caring
For Endowment
GREAT NEED SHOWN
IN KARR'S REPORT

The floor Of the Methodist confer
ence was the scene this morning Of
a battle of words in which nearly
q score Of ministers took part. The
controversy was precipitated follow.
ing a talk by William H. White with
reference to the fund accumulated
from a half section Of land left to
the church twenty-five years age for
the superannuate fund. Mr.. White
suggested that the board Of trustees
had been Handicapped by the action
Of the conferences from handling
needy cases and thought some action
should be taken, giving the board
more liberty. He reported that the
land was now worth $4,000 and he.
as trustee Of the board, had loaned
out $1,000 Of accumulation making
report showed that 5000 had been
loaned out to needy preachers during
the year past.
Rev. F. H. Farrand Of Dickinson
was on his feet at once and declared
that the conference had not been
acting legally. that the land and fund
was left for the benefit Of the super
annuates. This started the ball roll
ing and the action Of the conference
fund was tied up indefinitely was at
tackled by DR.. H. P. Cooper of Cas-
selton. DR.. Cooper declared emphati-
cally and with some heat that he be-
lieved 1t was time for the confer.
ence to rescind their former action
and see that the income from the
fund was used. not for accumulation.
but for needy cases at h present
time among conference claimants. He
declared that one former member Of
the conference had been picked up
on the street and died in jail because
that was the nearest place and that
his death was due to p%rtvation.
DR.. g.. j. Moore took the ground
that this man, Rev. Mr.. Witham, had
been helped to the extent Of $500
from the fund. DR.. Cooper replied
that Mr.. Witham had been helped
but not before he had been forced
security for the return Of the $500.
Fle declared that he didn't believe
a superannuated minister should be
forced to leave what little estate he
had in the way of ar insurance pol
icy encountered to get not a loan but
what was his just due. Rev. c. E.
Vermilyan thought that the confer
ence had been laboring under a de-
fusion and that DR.. Cooper's motion
thought that If the conference had
taken action tieing up the fund 1t was
the province Of the conference to take
action to use 1t as 1t should be used.
He declared emphaticaly that not one
farthing of the money could be used
for any other purpose than for the
superannuates and conference claim
ants.
A motion was then made to Law
this was seconded. The presenter of
the motion thought Mr.. White had
accumulated a splendid fund and that
he should be allowed to continue his
work.
Danford Opposed.
DR.. Danford thought that IL the
money had been used as originally in
tended 1t would have been FILTERED
away long ago. DR.. Cooper denied
ing away Of the money but simply
to spend the income according to the
will by which the money was left to
the conference. Rev. James CRAIG
Of Lisbon declared that the confer
ence had been acting illegally and
thai he was in favor Of DR.. Cooper's
motion. Superintendent vermilya re-
iterated his claim that there was
nothing 10 rescind II the conferences
had been acting illegally.
The bishop was finally able to get
the motion to lay on the table put.
Or. Cooper requested a standing vote.
Six voted to lay on the table. Super
tntendent Vermilya then moved to
amend DR.. Cooper's motion to rescind
former action so far as concerned the
income. Secretary Alex Karr of the
conference claimants fund at once
called attention to the fact that the
motion did not touch anything but
the principal. DR.. Cooper accepted
the amendment and this motion was
carried.
Afternoon Session.
This afternoon the anniversary Of
the board Of conference claimants wal
held. DR.. Jos. B.. Hingley DELIVERING
the address Of the afternoon follow.
ing which at the joint session of the
clergy and laymen the report Of Sec.
rotary Alexander Of the conference