Imperial Valley press., 1913-10-03
Methodists Are
In Conference

The formal opening of the annua
convention of the Southern California
conference of the Methodist Episco.
pal church, at Long Beach, Wednes.
day, was attended by about 275 mem
bers, and perhaps half that many Of
the lay delegates.
Preceding the business session
Rev. F. Watson Harmon, d. D., OF
Drew Theological seminary, delivered
the first of series of evangelistic
addresses, the theme being THE Min
ister's Message" He also led the
conference devotionals, after which
the sacrament of the Lords Supper
was observed. Bishop Hughes was
assisted by Rev. John Inwood, super
intendent of the Fresno district Rev
f. NJ. Larkin of the Los Angeles dis
trict; Rev. Alfred Inwood of San
Diego; Rev F. NJ. Mather of Pasa-
dena; Rev. H. |. Rasmus of Loug
Beach, and Rev. Vernon McCombs IF
Pasadena.
Organization of the conference
followed and after the roll call the
conference elected as officers Rev. +.
J. 1nwood conference secretary; Rev
O. W. Ranius of Rialto, statisticiar
Rev. f, Ray Moore of Long Beach,
treasurer, and w. f. Fenk of Los
Angeles, railroad secretary.
Rev. George A. Hunt, young pas
tor, was designated as conference
postmaster. w c. Geyer, |. l.. Spen-
Ger and n. j. Burton were named as
members of the board of stewards.
The most interesting and yet SOY
rowful part of the morning program
was the annual memorial service, over
which DR.. Ezra Healey presided One
member of the conference died during
the year, DR.. John l.. Pitner of Fresno
and death took three ministers wives,
Mrs. Mary Jarvis Lawrence of Los
Angeles, and one of the victims Of
the Empire Day disaster; Mrs Ada
Burge, wife of Rev. A. J. Burge of
Santa Monica, and Mrs. J. Y. Cooic
wife of Los Angeles pastor
Rev. Clyde Crist of Los Angeles
gave an impressive memory for Dr.
Pitner, who joined the California con-
ference in 1898, and who was respon-
sible for two important features Of
Southern California Methodism-the
Missionary and Evangelical society
and the Methodist camp meeting or
ganization, now located at Hunting
ton Beach. He was former pastor o.
the Westlake church, Los Angeles, and
was afterwards for a full term dis
trict superintendent of the San Diego
district.
Superintendent Larkin gave the
memoir of Mrs. Burge, Rev. S. J. Tay-
lor for Mrs. Lawrence, and DR.. Healey
for Mrs. Coole.
| Wednesdays session was mostly
routine and the real work of the con-
ference began Thursday, when dis
ciplinary questions were taken up, the
passing of young men just entering
the ministry and who must pass con-
ference examinations, and the ordina-
tion of deacons and elders. Yester-
day afternoons session was devoted
to anniversary celebrations Of the
Board of Home Missions and the
Home Missionary society, the after
noon being taken up with an address
by DR.. a. B. Leonard, secretary o;
the Board of Foreign Missions o.
New York, DR.. Leonard appearing in
stead of Rev. Robert Forbes, who Is
ill in the north.
DR.. Leonard devoted his talk prin-
cipally to the growth of the negrc
part Of the church, there being n
present 100000 communicates. H
also spoke of the growth Of the
Board Of Home Missions and Churcl
Extensions, which has spent $20,0O0.-
600 in the work and at present is
spending $1,OOO,OOO' yearly in churcl
extension work. Wednesday the
First church was packed to the doors
by those eager to hear an evangelis-
| tic service conducted by DR.. Harmon
The conference has started out aus.
piciously and all who have arrived
are comfortably located. About 15(
persons are quartered at the Hote
Virginia, a number are at other no
tells, and 200 are being cared for At
/ nriua To honnac