Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-22
DR. .R.B. WILLIAMS
is GIVEN OVATION
Retiring District Superintendent of
This City Presented With Purse
of Gold at Conference.
HAS SERVED HALF A CENTURY
Gift Given After Report That Stirred
Methodist Convention With
Striking Thoughts.
Especial to The Argus.)


Peoria Ill. Sept 22.-Rev. r. r.
Williams. y. n. of Rock Island. super
lntendeut of the Rock Island district.
stirred the session of the Methodist
Episcopal conference at the First NJ
+. church Yesterday morning with his
striking report. in which he made A
plea Tor the advancement of Meth
odism.
Methodism can come back. Metho-
dism will come back This the sense
OF old-time evangelistic fervor. The
day of culture teaching and ESSAY
writing preachers must quickly close
Men are needed who will work. preach
and pray for conversions from begin
2lng 20 the close Of each year. We
nave held our own and gained some.
nut IN no Just proportion to POSSIBLE
ties, were some of the striking
thoughts gathered from the annual re-
port of Rev. Williams. who has signi-
ned his intention 10 retire from me
ministry.
His report was literally frightened
with flashes of wit and stories that
drove home the pleas he made for ad-
vance.
Following Dr. Williams report. Rev.
Henry Brink of Colona, a warm friend
and ministerial brother Of DR.. VIII
Iiams for the past 43 years, spoke
words OF love and appreciation for DR..
Williams, and in behalf of the mini
Sters OF the Rock Island district pre-
scented the retiring superintendent
with a well-filled purse of gold.
The presentation was followed by a
remarkable ovation and the delegates
Joined in the singing of "BIest Be the
Tie That Binds" The pastors arose
and crowded to the altar to clasp the
of
lection. Tears filled most eyes and
hearts were strangely touched in this
semi-Official farewell to the splendid
veteran Of a half century.
According to the report of DR.. T. E.
Newland, superintendent of the Peoria
district, which was submitted to the
convention yesterday, the Peoria
Methodist churches showed decided
gains in the membership during the
past year. In his report he said that
the district had gained I'LL new mem
Ders- The kankakee district reported
a gain of 754 and the Galesburg dis
trict $50. The report also showed that
the ministers were TO receive an in
crease in salary during the ensuing
year. The average pay for the year
viii be $1,357.
An effort is also being made to get
the entire church behind a movement
for the enlargement of the Deaconess
hospital. which has been crowded of
late. Rev. Mr. Newland in his report
stated that it had been crowded since
the doors were opened
The afternoon session Wednesday
was marked by three outstanding fea-
lures.
At 2.3O o'clock Miss Bertha BruD-
neT greatly thrilled and pleased a
large audience by her selections on the
pipe organ.
AT O'Clock the annual missionary
sermon was delivered by Rev. 0. p. /
Graves, D D.. of Onarga The annual
sermon is a time-honored institution.
dating from the earliest days of Meth I
Odlsm- It is the custom to choose the /
most capable men of the conference /
for this work. Rev Graves proved /
clearly his rank as big preacher yes /
terday- In mastery sermon marked /
by originality. large, clear vision (
scholarship and elOquence, DR.. Graves ,
pleased and inspired his audience.
AT 4 O'Clock DR.. w. j. Davidson. /
professor Of the Garrett Biblical Insti- /
tute al Evanston, spoke on the sub /
Ject, The Church and. the Young PeO- 4
pie Dr.. Davidson is a man of vision
and attainments. His unusual success /
IN the pastorate, plus his ability to
teach, led 10 his appointment to the .
department of practical theology at
the Garrett institution.
Or. Davidson opened his address
by showing that there is no needfuI
conflict between recue evangelism and
educational evangelism. Then he
showed that the church is weak in that
IL has become adult conferred to the al
most utter neglect Of childhood and