The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-04-06
BISHOP HERE
TO CONDUCT
CONFERENCE
Head of Chicago Area to
Speak on Plan for Unifica-
ton of Church Ministers
Meet by Districts.
EXAMINATIONS HELD

Thomas Nicholson, DID,, LID,
bishop of the Chicago Methodist
area, arrived in Richmond Tuesday
morning to preside at the seventy
seventh session of the North Indiana
conference, which opens Tuesday
evening with reception at the Grace
M. E. church. While in Richmond
Bishop Nicholson and his cabinet Will
have headquarters in Parlor five of
the Westcott hotel.
During the conference Bishop Mich
olson will make several addresses.
{ On Tuesday at $50 p. m. he will de-
liver an evangelistic address. We'd
nesday at $50 a. m. he will give
brief address on Sacrifice as an Ele-
ment in a Successful Life" Wednes-
day and Thursday evenings Bishop
Nicholson will deliver evangelstic ad-
dresses and he will give the devo-
tional message each morning.
On Friday during the session of the
Layman's association and the Lay
electoral conference, Bishop Nichol-
son will talk on THE Proposed Plan
of the Unirication of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and the Methodist
Episcopal South Church"
Ministers Hold Meetings.
Minister'S of the conference met
Tuesday afternoon by districts with
their superintendent Each minister
was requested to have his report pre-
pared so that 1t might be put in its
final form and presented to the bishop
Wednesday morning. Often the de-
lay in reports has caused a delay in
the conference, and because of the un-
usual amount of business at this ses-
sion reports are wanted as soon as
possible.
Because of the centenary, there has
been a change in the blanks, and the
conference Tuesday was a means of
schooling the ministers in the new
reports.
Wednesday morning reports Of the
district superintendent will be heard,
among them being that of the Rich
mond superintendents, DR.. Somerville
Light. The conference will be organ
lied and Tuesday at 4 p. m, commit
tee meetings will be held. A large
majority of the delegates are expect
ed to be in the city for the reception
Tuesday evening.
Examination Is Conducted. .
Tuesday morning DR.. w. T. Arnold
chairman of the board of examiners,
with the board, conducted the exami-
nations of new ministers.
Twenty-six young ministers took the
examination, and 10 applied for admis-
sion to the conference, and will take a
four years course. Sixty are now
J taking this course.
Addresses of welcome will be deliv-
cred Tuesday evening in Grace church
by William Dudley Foulke, DR.. Som
erville Light and Fillmore F. Riggs
Bishop Nicholson's address will be
given at $50 p. m.
Professor w. W. Sweet of DePauw
university, gave the history of Meth
odsm at meeting held in the Grace
church Monday. evening. Professor
Sweet is an authority upon the subject
and has written several books upon
different phases of it.
Professor Sweet brought with him
an interesting document in the form
of the record of the minutes of the
western conference from 1S00-1S12.
There was no Methodism west o1
the Allegheny mountains during the
revolution. Francis Asbury came tC
America in 1771 as a missionary o.
John Wesley During the Revolution
all of the missionaries with the excep
tion of Asbury returned to England.
Wesley Sent 1t Over.
see that English Methodism would
not be brought to America so he de
vised a plan for the movement to bt
carried to America "Methodism il
America began when she gained
her independence" stated Professor
Sweet
Wesley sent three missionaries tt
join Asbury and the Methodist Episco
pal church was founded with Asbur!
as the head.
Methodist circuit riders were sen
out and as the people crossed tn,
mountains and settled along the front
! iers they were followed by the circu
riders. The speaker attributed to the
wise scheming of Wesley and tn,
splendid executive power of Francis
Asbury the large Methodist population
in the Mississippi valley.
In 17SS the first Methodist confer
cnce west of the Allegheny mountains
was held From 1S00-1S12 the western
conference was held each year in Oct
obcr. The old Methodist church il
tenterrille is regarded as the brit
place OF the North Indiana conference
During the conference this week
trip will be made to the church ant
short services will be held there. Th
conference WHICH met Ill luiS CuuICl
in 1912 was made up of all the Method
ist churches in Indiana
Professor Sweet described tn
people of the olden times and TIL
hardships which the Methodist circui
riders had to endure in order to ge
the gospel before the people.
Following the lecture, members o
the audience were permitted to exam
inc the original document Of the con
ference minutes.
Following is the program for Tues
day evening
1880 p. m.-Reception to the con
ference.
Address Of Welcome.
In behalf of the Richmond district
DR.. Somerville Light, district super
intendent.
In behalf of the city of Richmon,
! Hon. William Dudley Foulke, LII. L
In behalf of Grace Church-F. F
Riggs.
Response-Bishop Thomas Nichol
son.
fcontinued on Page Nine)