Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-02
UppGR IOWA CONFERENCE FEELS
rrFEcrs OF GREAT WORLD
WAR.
MAY CONSOLIDATE
SMALLER CHURCHES
Few Younger Men Entering Ministry
ahd Many Have Been Called to
Army Y. N. c, A. and Other War
Ssrsiee--6ishop Hughes Warmly
sIcou,ed-conferenee Opens at
Clinton.
special TO Times-Republlcan.

Special to Times Republican.
Clinton. Oct. 1.-THE sixty third ses-
sion of the Upper Iowa annual con-
ference Of the Methodist Episcopal
church convened in this city this
morning at s: so o'clock. Bishop Matt :.
Hughes, of Portland. Ore, presiding.
One hundred seventy members re-
sponded TO the roll CALL The confer
ence stood with bowed heads while the
names of its members who have died
during the year were called-the de-
ceased members being, a. W. Sml'h'
of Beamar; 3. A. Alexander. of NC
Gregor: Hiram Bailey. Of kenwood
Park: r. w. Coates. OF Long Beach,
Cal; J. B. Jones. of Marion, and Jacob
Hurrell of Glendale. Ariz.
Following the devotional services and
the sacrament of the Lords Supper,
which was conducted by the bishop, as
sisted by the local pastor and the four
district euperintendents, the conference
was organized and the business OF the
morning was taken up. DR.. w. H.
Slingerland, of Des Moines, was re-
elected recording secretary: T. P. Pot
ter Of Upton, statistical secretary; I.
J. Eiwick, of Conrad, treasurer; :. c.
Britnall Of Edgewood, publisher; c. W.
Cleveland. of Standwccd, postmaster.
and w. NJ Lemon, of Dubuque, confer
ence reporter.
DIR. NJ. ]. Locke. pastor of the local
church and his splendid membership
are proving royal hosts to the many
ministers and their wives. very
urgent invitation was extended to the
wives of the ministers to attend this
session of conference and an unpre-
cedented number are in attendance.
Hearty Welcome For Hughes.
Bishop Hughes is receiving most
hearty welcome by the members Of the
conference. Though bishop Of the
Portland area, he is an Iowa product,
his father being a Methodist preacher
and presiding elder in the Iowa con-
ference for many years. HIS brother
Ed also is Methodist bishop who pre-
sided at the Marshalltown conference
six years ago. Bishop Hughes is known
as a great thinker and an eloquent
preacher as wen as an administrator OF
exceptional ability. The members OF
the conference are therefore looking
forward to a week of speedy dispatch
Of conference business as well as one Of
great addresses and inspiration.
Great Scarcity of Ministers.
There will be a greater scarcity OF
ministers this year than usual, due tc
the fact that several have already gone
as army Y. NJ. c. A. workers and chap
Iains, and also due to the greatly in
creased cost of living. which will cause
- 1r~r oh 70 M
tors. Ministers who have been ap-
pointed during the year to places in
the army Y. NJ. c. A or other army
positions are W. A. Hanscom, OF
Northwood; H. H. Todd. of Hansell:
A. W. Henke. Of Waverly; c. r. Keagy
Of Lyons; W. D. Elfrink, Of Montour;
D. e. Ellinwood, of Andrew; H. F,
Mercer, Of Comanche; Keith Lemon. OF
Oasis; E. B. Morton. of Ryan; Leigh
Soule, of Ossian: T. S. Cleworth. OF
Clermont; c. E. Gilbert, Of Epworth.
Over 5000 boys from the churches
and Sunday schools of the conference
are now in the army. The walls ofHthe
church where the conference is being
held are completely covered with serv-
ice flags, the stars thereon representing
the more than 5000 boys. OF this large
number over forty are sons Of the
preachers of the conference.
May Unite Charges.
\ An effort is being made to unite some
OF the charges and make circuits OF
them so as to take care Of them with
pastoral oversight until the war is over
Some of the stronger churches are
Offering, as a war measure, to give VI
their Sunday evening services and let
their pastors serve nearby smaller
churches Sunday afternoons and eve
nings. At the beginning Of the con-
ference session it is reported that there
10 a shortage of eighteen or twenty
preachers.
War subjects will be discussed al
most every day during the weeks SEES
sion. DR.. Franklin Rail. of Garrett
Biblical Institute, Evanston. ILL.,, will
speak three successive afternoons, his
subjects being 1.-The Democracy OF
God False Hopes and True" and
"Christ and the Great War" Bishop
Hughes will lecture Friday night or
4 America and the New World Condi-
z lions" and Bishop Henderson. of De
troit, Mich, on Sunday evening, his
subject being patriotism and the
4 War;
President c. P. Colegrove. of F'ayette
win give the address at the morning
devotional hour on Thursday, Friday
and Saturday, his subjects being
y aCMrigtion Conversion-Fact or Fable,
aGO 70 and Teach" and 1.-THE Forgot
ten LESSON in the Life of Jesus"
Two Of the prominent ministers Of
4 the conference are transferring t.
strong pulpits Of other states. DR.. j
w. Holland, who has been pastor a,
U Cedar Falls for the past five years