Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-10-19
ANNUAL REPORT OF BISMARCK DISTRICT
Presented NORTH Dakota Methodist Episcopal Conference by
District Superintendent s. H. Danford Of Bismarck

District superintendent's report.
Bismarck district; S. A. Danford
superintendent.
Dear Bishop and Brethren
In making my second annual report
of Bismarck district I want to first
record my gratitude to God for good
health and the abiding presence OF
the Comforter throughout the year
l also want to thank my brethren
and their precious wives for their
loyalty and Christian courtesy with
out which many things would have
been impossible. I am under deep
obligations to all of them, personally
have enjoyed their Fellowship
more than l can tell and among the
beautiful things that have hung on
memory's wall are the scenes and
seasons of refreshing and rejoicing
in their homes and on their fields.
This year has been year of test
ings and these brethren have stood
the test.
RevivaIs.
Our supreme work has been to get
men saved. Methodism is revival
movement, and Holiness movement
at that; We have laid stress upon all
other necessary work Of the church
but "a revival on every charge has
been our watchword. l am glad to
report that the old Gospel has not
lost it's power. The truth as it is
in Christ Jesus is still sharper than
a two-edged sword. The Holy Spirit
has not resigned his office or ceased
his ministry to men. God still hears
and answers prayer. When people
pay the price God still saves and
sanctifies.
We are humbled in the dust, how
ever, that we cannot report more con-
versions. We feel that the lack is
in us God help us to get in tune.)
but We are glad that our year has
not been'a barren one. Charges re-
porting revivals are: jamestown, La
Moure. Douglas, Cakes, Glendale.
Ashley, Linton, Bismarck, Driscoll,
Underwood, Napoleon Mandan. Daw-
son, Pingree, McClusky. Turtle Lake,
Beach, Oakdale. Camp Creek, Het-
finger. Shields, Guelph, Douglas, Ster-
ling, Moffit, Dale and many school
house points where we have no name
for the place as charge.
Some of these places like Bismarck,
jamestown and some others reported
over a hundred converts. others from.
fifty to seventy-five each and some
others a smaller number. AS nearly
as l can Judge of numbers from the
reports given to me by pastors and
evangelists there has been from 1900
to $4,000 hundred people converttd,
reclaimed or sanctified in the district
this year in revival and tent meet
ings. The results may, not show on
membership as much as expected for
many of the converts in many places
were church mmbrs. 1t is surprising
how many church members will con-
TESS hat they have never been con-
verted when they get into an old
fashioned revival Of religion.
Camp Meeting.
The Jamestown Methodist camp
meeting continues to be the heart
throb of revival work in our part Of
the state, as we'll as sort of reli-
gious clearing house." This year
was the greatest meeting held on the
grounds. About 500 people tented on
the grounds, among whom was AZ
preachers, while the attendance some
days went over 1000. The altar was
filled at the opening service with
leaguers, it being the closing service
Of the League convention as we'll as
the opening service of the camp meet
M Tho >yir ki1o hsrh ~
and higher till the last night when
the last service closed in a blaze
of glory. Probably 200 people were
saved. Old time power and old time
results were wonderfully in evidence
throughout the meeting.
This is a Methodist camp meeting
straight down the middle of the road,
teaching and preaching nothing but
the Gospel and in the terms Of the
Methodist church enunciated by the
Wesleys. $4,000 was subscribed on
week day afternoon for the work
next year. $1,000 worth of new tents
and equipment was bought by the
trustees and Is now in storage in
our own building at jamestown. Some
of the most prominent and wealthy
laymen in North Dakota are on the
camp meeting board OF trustees. So
the future of the feature of our work
looks bright. We are incorporated
under the laws of North Dakota, as
Methodist camp meeting and pains
have been taken to safeguard every
point where others camps have failed.
S. A. Danford is president; J. G.. Nor
rison, treasurer; F. H. Farrand, secre-
tary; w. r. Movius. chairman of
trustees, and o. L. Anthony superin-
tendent of the grounds
Local Preachers.
The camp meeting and REVEALS
have brought to the surface calls to
preach and to deaconess and mission
work in great numbers. have IL
censed> ten new local preachers and
as many exhorters, and am sending
three girls away for deaconess train
ing. This is as it should be. have
always contended that we must de-
velOp our preachers on the field in
order to succeed. Four of these local
preachers came from one charge and
some of them will take work this
fall. Revivals will solve the problems
of pulpit supply. Eight splendid men
stood up in camp meeting this year
and said God had called them to
preach. I got some of the best men
on the district that way in years