Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-10
CONF ERENCE To
MEET HERE SOON
BIG GATHERING OF METHoDlsTS
CALLED BY BISHOP FRANK
N. BRISTOL.
WILL TALK COLLEGE
General Indications Are That Some
Action In Iowa Wesleyan Matters
Will Be Taken Up BY
Delegates.
WILL TALK COLLEGE


The Iowa conference of the Method
list Episcopal church will meet in extra
session in Ottumwa on Thursday, Feb
ruary IT, This call has been made by
Bishop Frank M. Bristol of Omaha.
The gathering here will be held on
the day after the mid-year meeting of
the trustees of Iowa Wesleyan college
at Mt. Pleasant and it is apparent that
matters pertaining to that school will
be seriously discussed by the confer
ence while in session.
To Resume Action.
The Mt. Pleasant Daily News consid-
ers the meeting here one of two new
moves in the college situation. That
paper says:
THE second move is the resumption
of negotiations of the consolidation of
Iowa Wesleyan and Parsons college.
1t may be said that the successful Is.
sue of the campaign for added endow-
ment for Iowa Wesleyan fixes its 10.
cation here and that the Ottumwa
proposition is a dead one. The posi-
bility Of Iowa Wesleyan going to Fair
field for consolidation with Parsons Is
also now removed from the realm of
possibility. The only matter now open
for discussion Is the removal of Par
sons to Mt. Pleasant and its consolida-
ton with Iowa Wesleyan.
"It is said that the financial situation
of Parsons College is quite as critical
as was that of Iowa Wesleyan before
the endowment campaign and 1t has
the further disadvantage of not having
a large contributing constituency such
as the Iowa conference. 1t is also said
that the sentiment of Fairfield Is not
so favorable to the college there as 1t
might be, Fairfield turning its atten-
ton to manufacture with great success
and profit. It is said that quiet can
vass of Fairfield by those interested IN
Parsons college, met with such ind11-
ference that regular canvass for the
school was abandoned.
whether Parsons will agree to con-
solidate with Iowa Wesleyan or wheth-
err the Presbyterian influence Of the
state would insist that it consolidate
with some other Presbyterian school,
is not known but gives rise to great
deal of speculation.
l. g. Alt May Raise More. ,..<'... 49,.
! SERIOUS consideration is being given
to the proposal that Mt. Pleasant and
Henry. county raise it's program from
the $500 900 which it. has already sub
scribed to $150,000 and that the Iowa
conference outside of Henry county
raise its program from $15O,OOO to
$250,0O0. This would settle for all
time to come the possibility Of Iowa
Wesleyan ever leaving this place and
would increase the income to a point
where the school could at the very
outset take its place with the best
schools Of the country. &C.,. ...
"There seems to be no doubt that
Iowa Wesleyan is due for a general
shaking up, readjusting and general
housekeeping. This Is the open and
resolute declaration from every author
itative source. The first move will be
to overhaul the financial end of the
school and introduce an up-to-date az
gressive business system of managing
the great financial end of the bust
ness ..
To Strengthen Faculty.
"The faculty will also be given a
thorough searching and weak places
are bound to be strengthened from
top to bottom. Larger demands are to
be made upon the teaching force in
the way of punctuality at classes,
bringing down to strict minimum the
dismissal of classes, demanding that
instructors be thoroughly prepared to
meet their classes, that students be
brought under stricter discipline and
more respect for the rules of the
institution and other general reform.
ing all along the line.
Much to Be Done.
There is much to be done and
much of it will be a disagreeable and
thankful but necessary task, but Mt.
Pleasant with $150,O0O invested in that
school and its future so important to
this city is going through its local