The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-13

conference that a check for $685.
had been Received from the Meth
odist Book Concern, which would
be used for the aid of superannu-
ated clergy, this amount being the
apportionment to this conference
out OF the profits Of the Book Con-
Germ.
DR.. Sanford P. Archer, superin-
tendent of the Kankakee district, in
behalf of the superintendent Of
the four districts embraced within
the conference presented a join:
report which told of the progress
made in each district during the
year.
After the dispatch of routine
business adjournment was AIKEN
for lunch. the conference reassem-
bling at 80 O'Clock this after
noon. The missionary sermon was
preached at 3 O'Clock by Rev. J. A.
Pitman. kapkakee.
Rev. Gl,ner's Sermon.
Delivered with force and power,
and inspirational in character, was
the message last night OF Rev. u.
2. Gilmer. Macon. commemorate
ing the 50th anniversary of his or
dination, aud a half century Of SER
vice in the territory embraced by
the Central Illinois conference.
Last years conference requested
him to address this session and
gave its initial session to honor his
long service.
Prefacing< his remarks with the
statement that during his long
years of ministry he had taken but
one vacation of four weeks, that
being occasioned by Illness. he said
that although some might have ex-
expected him to indulgeSu reminis-
Ncences he did not propose to do SO.
The men he could mention in
such a backward look, he explain
ed, would be but names to most of
those present. "But perhaps some
might like to know how a man feels
after preaching the gospel for so
years." he exclaimed. Some say
that religion is largely matter of
emotion and Imagination. After
my service l am prepared to say
it is not. Years ago | preached
many things which / believed per-
sonally, but now l only preach OF
those thirgs which ! know"
He said that God had given the
greatest job which could be given
the redemption of men, to the big
Eest and strongest organization in
the world, the Christian church, a
task which would be accomplished
through redeemed humanity work
ing for humanity.
All things being given to men,
meant ownership, he said, and own
ership meant that one could shut
other men out from what was his,
or could change what was his
as he pleased.
In the former sense, the gift OF
all things was not bestowed, he
said, but 1t was in the latter sense,
and all things were given to men
he affirmed, that they might change
them and make them what God in
tended them to be.
World Grows Better.
"And what changes had been
wrought in material things" he re-
marked. II can remember when
Chicago was q town Of less than
10 1000 people, when Peoria was a
hamlet. when Rock Island was
hardly thought Of. and when we
drove from Bloomington to Meta
mora and found the country be-
tween q vast wilderness" The
world, he maintained, had been
changed for the better in material
sense by the church"
"Ten years ago We would have
baukrupted the language in order
to describe the foolishness Of the
man who would venture to prophe-
81 that in q decade autocratic SOW
ereignty would cease to be, but we
have seen . kingdom and an en-
pire perish in q day.
Neither diplomacy nor educa-
ton kept rs out Of war;" he as
serted. ~and the nation that was
goddess though educated, and
which Assailed the Bible az the
word Of God waA defeated and
humbled.
"There Is no famine in Christian
lands and the church with it's hos