The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-09-23
viii Be Meeting Of Greatest
Conference In MethOdiSm
Bishop Anderson Of Cincinnati,
O., Will Preside
Some Figures Concerning
Churches In This District

On the morning of Tuesday, Sept.
29, the Northwest Ohio conference of
the Methodist Episcopal church,
which has the honor of being the
largest conference in Methodism will
convene in the First Methodist Epis
copal church at Canton, for its annual
session to continue for about a week
Bishop w. F. Anderson, of Cincinnati,
will preside. This conference has
held it's place of first among the con-
ferences of the church since the con-
solidation of the North Ohio and East
Ohio conferences into the present
body. This conference now has S55
churches and an enrolment of $4,000
members. The value of the church
buildings in the conference is esti-
mated at $7,149,SO0.
One of the ministers of the church,
in calling attention to the place which
Methodism occupies in Ohio, said:
1T has been said that Methodism is
greater than the Methodist Episcopal
church. 1t has made home for it.
self in every land under the sun, and
there are many branches of the fam
ily." The Methodist Episcopal church
has a membership of 1907 1889 in the
United States. Ohio is noted for many
things, and, in addition to the fact
that Ia out of the 69 bishops, who
have served in the state Of Ohio, it
must be admitted that the Methodist
church is an important factor in her
book will show. Until year ago,
Ohio had five annual conferences, the
East Ohio, North Ohio, Central Ohio,
Cincinnati and Ohio conferences. The
consolidation of two of these made
the body which meets next week. The
consolidation of two others has been
under way recently.
In addition to the Central Ger
man conference, part of the member
ship of which is in this state, and the
colored Methodist organizations, there
are in Ohio 1924 churches, valued at
about SIG, 100000; $40 parsonages, val
ued at about $2,225,O 1, 253 minis
ters in full connection and on trial,
and 537 lay preachers; membership
of 100000; 1900 Sundal schools, with
$4,000 members, 1900 young peo-
pies societies, with 10000 members.
The Northwest Ohio conference is
divided into 10 districts, each district
being under the supervision of a sup
erintendent These 10 district super
intendents, with the bishop, compose
tho cabinet, which meets in executive
session every day, arranging the as
signment of the pastors for the CON-
ing year.
On Friday and Saturday, Sept 26
and 81, the lay conference will mee>
at Canton, this being composed OF q
layman from each pastoral charge.
The lay delegates with the ministers,
will make up total of about 1000
delegates.
For the first time in the history of
the conference, the work of looking
after the comfort of the delegates Will
be largely on the "self-entertaining
plan" under the direction Of confer
, ence commission and the local
churches. Each of the churches will
contribute certain sum and the pas
tor himself set sum. and equal enter
tainment is given the various pastors
in attendance.
Bishop William F. Anderson of Gin
cinnati, who will preside at the con-
ference, was born in Morgantown. W..
Va, April %, 1860. He entered the
ministry in 1887 in the New York con-
ference. and filled many important ap-
pointments. He was secretary of the
board of education when he was made
bishop, at the general conference in
1908 at Baltimore.