The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-03-21
SURVEYS WORK
OF METH0DISM
IN DISTRICT
Annual District Conference
Adjourns After Three Day
Session in Mandan
BISHOP SMITH PRESlDES
Missionary from North India
and American Indian Chief
Address Meeting

Last evening the Annual Confer
ence of the Bismarck District of the
Methodist Church, in session at Man
dan since Wednesday evening, ad-
journed after completing compre-
hensive survey of the work being
done by the district churches both
locally and abroad in the foreign
field.
With Bishop II. Lester Smith pre-
March Is with an evening session
in which the twenty pastors and
thirty lay delegates were welcomed,
and addressed by DR.. j. b. Crippen,
the only District Superintendent
which the Methodist Church has in
Georgia, on social, religious and ed
ucational conditions among the
Southern whites.
Thursday mornings session was
devoted to the organization and APP
pointment of committees and to five
minute talks by the pastors.
At the afternoon session five Of
the visiting pastors addressed the
conference on their special fields of
interest. The Rev. Victor Phillips of
Linton gave a statement Of condi-
tions among the foreign speaking
people in Emmons County where he
is located, Of the need of religious
work among them, and how the
churches are trying to meet that
need.
Speaking on the subject of en-
creasing the Number and Use of Lo-
cal Preachers" the Rev. j. d. Cav
thorne Of Marmarth pointed out the
widespread use in England of these
laymen preachers who travel in cir
cults through the smaller commune
ties, and urged their adoption in
America, particularly in rural sec
tons where established churches are
scattered.
Mrs. O. L. Anthony of Beach, who
has developed probably the best Sum
day School in the district, next spoke
of her personal experiences in her
work, after which the Rev. Frank
Smart, Chippewa Indian chief, dis
cussed the religion of the American
Indian, his customs, ancient rites
and ceremonies. The Rev. A. l..
Lane of Mott delivered the closing
address of the afternoon on can
Evangelistic Church." emphasizing
the necessity for welcoming all
classes, and of drawing no social
lines, if the church is to be power
full and an evangelistc force. 4,
After dinner served at the church
by the Ladies Aid Society and a
song service led by preachers sex
tet, the Rev. Ernest E. Tuck, mission
airy home on furlough from North
India, spoke on factors .hamperin
midas progress, such as the caste
system, the appalling iliteracy, and
the social customs. He also COM
mended the mystic spirit, if not the
principles, of the Hindu leader,
Ghandi, who, he declared exercised
tremendous influence over the peo-
pie. Bishop Paul Jones also spoke
on Reducing the Spiritual Death
Rate" the subject of a previous ad-
dress at Bismarck.
oCSSIOH was uc-
voted to a discussion Of the subject,
"Giving Definite Shape and Form to
the Spiritual Life of Our Young Peo-
ple," the Rev. ID. S. Mcclure of I'm
derwood handling the phase of Sun
day Schools, Epworth Leagues, and
young peoples organizations, while
the Rev. Oscar Swenson of Cleve-
land discussed home life and par
entail religious influence as a neces-
sary factor which was breaking
down.
State Sunday School Superintend-
ent, the Rev. c. A. Armstrong, talk
ed on the work of the Sunday School
Association, and Of two tendencies
apparent in Sunday School work to-
day. namely, the getting together of
churches in their programs of child
instruction., and the increasing en-
phasis on the teaching function of
the church. The Rev. E. P. Robertson