Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-10-25
Report of Methodists
of Bismarck District
Superintendent S. A. Danford Tells Of the Work during 'ne
Past Year.
Past Year.

God for what we nave, however, anu
take courage.
Probably the most isolated and
hardest worked man has been Broth
err Van Horn, who has literally been
| pastor OF the entire Bertiold reser-
yatior The railroad is coming III
there this fall, however, and churches
can be organized and take on form.
Tho quarterly meetings have been
! seasons of refreshing this year as
neyer before. The Fathers" made
no mistake when they planned to
make the quarterly meeting a great
spiritual upllft to the charge. Our
country churches have the advantage
in this over the large churches. Ihs
| cid fashioned love feast has q pecu!'
lar power and charm for she Wor-
simmer of today in the country. Much
is being Sal about cne problem OF the
country churches. l have decided that
many Of our remote country churches
have more real prosperity than the
towns aid cities. The greatest prob
lem CT the average church today is
lack of spiritual power and TOO great
love for the things of this world. Tbs
baptism with the Holy Ghost will
solve them all and fill empty peWs,
Our second and third quarters were
largely devoted to evangeilstlc WORK
on the field and at the camp meet
ings and league convention at James
town. Seasons of refreshing attend
ed US every place and have seen
several hundred people saved or sane
tihed at quarterly meetings during
my incumhency OF the superintendent
office, The fourth quarterly this year
was the climax Of the quarters. we
believe the fourth quarterly confer
, ence is the climax of all the confer
ences. For common USE, greater than
the annual and greater than the gen
eral conference. With its more than
a hundred thousand quarterly confer
ence members, it is the footrock, the
foundation Of all official bodies n
| conferences of Methodism. In the
fourth quarterly conference this year
we thanked Goi and took courage and
organized for the coming year.
With o~ftice-bearers, in many cases.
as fully called Of God as the pastor;
with careful aDd prayerful attention,
we have more than planned-we have
organized for a great year of service
unto victory. If the fourth quarterly
conference is but a tiresome asking
OF prescribed questions, with little
time spent in the review Of the tinan-
cial matters, Of the charge taen the
Lord ave commission, Tor we sure
" have disappointed Hin, and Only
planned for small things! The fourth
quarterly conference is a revelation
Of many things. There the pastor, II
q successful pastor, shines and
proves himself master of his position.
! His year wifi be reflected through
the reports that are given. The spirit
and power of the years work is felt
until every part of the conference IS
thrilled with interest,". This live church
has searched out the n called 70
special work. The quarterly confer
ence gives the authority to exhorteTs
and local preachers this live church
will find the young men called to the
Office of the ministry. After his prep.
aratio5n, this quarterly conference
recommends him to the annual confer
ence. The annual conference awaits
his coming, and in due time he VIII
transact business of The general con-
ference.
| am more convinced than ever that
God raised up Methodism to spread
Scriptural holiness and if we let Him
fiji the s'machine" with spiritual life
it will take THE world. Our ranks
were broken by the sudden death OF
our beloved comrade and brother. Da.
vid J. Lane, of Mandan. His death
was very sudden-all that love and
! skill could suggest for relief was OF
I no avail, and often assuring the de-
voted watchers that he was resting
in comfort of the blessed Gospel he
was not--for God took him. "A suit
able memorial will be read by his sue
cessor, Brother Hedtke. Bros. Reid
and Bennett were laid aside for a few
weeks by sickness, but are reporting
for business again. Sister Hallett has
also been sick. Personally, l have
enjoyed the year, had good health and
feel as eager for the task as when
entered upon district work as a pre-
siding elder a decade ago. l have
preached over two hundred times
Travelled over twenty thousand miles,
been in several wrecks, both of train
and auto, came ont without a scratch;
with faith triumphant and a heart OF
cheer. I have tried to be a friend to
every pastor and have felt the touch
OF their friendship. They have done
the WORK and are entitled to the cred
| ii, for whatever Of good has been done.
In thu grea, accounting I believe they
| will hear the "well done spoken Ito
the faithful.
! will conclude in the language Of
the Epistle of the Hebrews:
"Now tie God of peace who
brought again from the dead the
Great Shepherd Of the sheep with the
blood of an eternal covenant, even
our Lord Jesus, make you perfect in
| every good thing to do Hi1 will, work
ing in you, that which is we'll pleas.
iEg in His sight, through Jesus Christ;
to whom be the glory for ever and
ever, Amen"
Respectfully submitted,
S. A. DANFORD, Supt.
TWO WEEKS TO ELECTION TIME
THEN WINTER COMES COAST
ING ALONG.
A few tons of Coal in the bin, and
a little firp.nlaco wood ni1od IN in