Resource Center OLLibrary
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Whereas, The moral law contained in the
Decalogue has never been repealed or abrogated by the Gospel and,
whereas, the New Testament does not supersede, but rather
intensifies and emphasizes, by spiritualizing the old and,
whereas, under the prophets Sabbath observance was synonomous with
the laying hold upon and keeping the Divine covenant, and,
whereas, in the spirit of the age there is a tendency towards the
degredation, by desecration of the Holy Sabbath and its Divine
law, to such an extent as to call forth vigorous protests from
nearly all Christian churches and the advocates of good morals.
Therefore, be it
Resolved, That we heartily sympathize
with and endorse the many protests by adding thereto our most
vigorous protest against the opening of the World's Exposition on
the Sabbath day. That we, as citizens of this christian
commonwealth, do protest most solemnly in the name of the God of
nations, against that arrogance which would rob us of our national
birthright, the sancity of the Holy day by processions, whether
civic, military, or social; by excursions, games or theatrical
performances; by the transmission or distribution of the mails;
the running of rail road trains; the laboring on national, state
or municipal contracts.
Resolved, Also that while we will abstain
from the very appearance of evil as to Sabbath desecration, we
will endeavor both by precept and practice to make the Holy day a
delight, a day of spiritual joy and devotion as well as of
physical rest. Signed,
John
P. Roe, J. B. Priest, B. Blain.
W. F. M. S.
We rejoice in the successful work of this
society and believe it to be one of the most potent agencies for
the evangelization of heathendom. While much has been accomplished
we believe that vastly more should be done and a greater interest
should be taken within the bounds of our Conference. We urge that
all our pastors encourage and assist the ladies in holding in each
of our charges at least one public meeting during the the year in
the interest of the work. Also to instruct the people as to the
aim, work and method of this society. And as one of the means to
this end we will encourage the circulation of the Heathen Woman's
Friend and the Heathen Children's Friend.
Signed,
J.
W. Shank, W. H. Wm. R. Phelps.
W. H. M. S.
There is occasion for gratitude to God for the good Providence that has enabled the people of our frontier charges to so far provide for their preachers that there has been much less need of aid from this society in this Conference than was so clearly seen and promptly supplied last year. Commendation is due this society for continuing its work in our
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various charges, and especially for their wise and efficient
work in promoting the interests of the Mother's Jewels Home. We
welcome among us Mrs. M. E. Roberts, the General Organizer of the
Woman's Home Missionary Society and recommend that all our pastors
and people cordially co-operate with her in organizing and in
carrying forward the work of this society.
Signed.
J.
W. Jennings, B. Blain, J. Q. A. Fleharty, W. A. Davies.
Sunday Schools.
Your committee recognize the Sunday School as
an important factor in our Church economy, as a powerful agency in
the shaping of her future, and the evangelization of the world. We
therefore as ministers pledge ourselves to a more careful
observance of its needs. 1st. To the organizing of new
schools whenever practical and the use of our own
literature. 2d. To the increasing of attendance and
interest, by seeing that officers and teachers are men of God, and
by a personal solicitation have members and friends to attend and
participate in the exercises of the school. 3d. That the
imperative need of the Sunday School Union demand that we put
forth a special effort during the coming year to raise for its
work $175, the sum apportioned to this Conference. The past
history of our Conference shows that only about one-half of its
charges take collections for this cause. We therefore ask that
this conference request the Presiding Elders to apportion this sum
among their charges upon their respective districts, which will be
in accordance with the recommendation of the Sunday School Union.
Signed,
E.
E. Hosman, F. W. Mathews,
A.
W. Robinson, H. D. Brown.
Temperance.
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging,
and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." The drink traffic
is the curse of our country. Everywhere is seen its blackening,
blighting, destroying work. By it homes are darkened, hearts
broken and thousands slain. The saloon is a blot on our
civilization, the shame of this nation, and an abomination in the
sight of God. It is a pest house in which are hatched evil
thoughts, adulteries, thefts, murders, all disorders, and all
sins. It stands directly in the way of God's church. While the one
seeks to save men, the other ruins them. It defies the armies of
the living God. The saloon dominates political parties, has its
iron grip on the nation's throat, and unless the monster is
destroyed we perish. God's call has come to His church to go forth
and fight this great iniquity to its death. There can be no
discharge in this war, and as sure as God is with us and the great
Captain
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leads us on, so sure are we to win the fight. God help each
soldier of the Cross to do his whole duty. Therefore,
Resolved, 1st, That we reaffirm our
belief in total abstinence for the individual and prohibition for
the state. 2nd, That anyone who in any way aids or lends his
influence to the drink traffic, is not worthy to be a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church. 3rd, That we support that
political party which clearly shows that it is not controlled by
the saloon, and which makes no compromise with it. 4th, That
patiently and lovingly we endeavor to win to Jesus the Savior, our
brothers who have fallen by strong drink. 5th, That as
christian ministers we speak with no uncertain sound on the
temperance question. Jesus said, "I come not to send peace, but a
sword." May God give the power to use "the sword of the Spirit,
which is the sword of God." 6th, That we believe the
committee on temperance, annually elected by the fourth quarterly
conference should be an active and aggressive force in every
pastoral charge, seeking opportunities and improving every one
possible to indoctrinate the people in our Methodist position on
this very important subject. And we therefore recommend that the
pastors see to it so far as is possible that such a temperance
society be organized in their churches.
Signed, J.
W. Robinson, H. A. Barton,
William
Gorst, J. H. Frazer.
Tracts.
We, your committee on Tracts, recognize the
usefulness of our Tract Society, and note with regret the fact
that the collection of this year falls short of the collection of
last year, therefore,
Resolved, That we use our best efforts to
aid in the distribution of its literature, and that we try to
raise the amount, $175, assessed to this conference, and that this
amount be apportioned among the charges for collection.
Signed, W.
H. La Vake, J. W. Bovee, R. J. Millard.
Presiding Elders' Reports.
Elkhorn Valley District.
Another year's work having been wrought, the
time has come to give some account of the labor performed and the
results achieved. This can only be done in briefest outline.
There has been little sickness among the
preachers or their families, and but one death, that of the wife
of Rev. Bartley Blain. After a long life of usefulness, and of
patient suffering during the latter years of her life, she passed
away peacefully and in triumph last January. I only need to say
that she was a model Methodist preachre's (sic) wife.
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Eleven charges were left to be supplied last
Conference. I succeeded in supplying most of these at once; but in
the case of four there was some delay, but finally, by the first
of December I had made arrangements for all. Three vacancies have
since occurred. Rev. Bartley Blain was granted leave of absence to
visit California, and his work was at once provided for by the
appointment of H. H. St. Louis to take his place.
Soon after conference I requested Rev. H. E.
Pickle, a supernumerary member of the Northwest Kansas conference,
to serve the Bartlett * charge, which he consented to do.
Though Bartlett is a small town, it is the county seat of Wheeler
county, and the people are ambitious and appreciate good work and
are willing to support their pastor. But there was some loss by
removals and Bro. Pickle became discouraged and very much
dissatisfied with his charge and with his presiding elder. The
leading members at Bartlett became dissatisfied with Bro. Pickle,
and for reasons I deemed sufficient and which I am ready to state
fully and in detial (sic) whenever required to do so. I relieved
him of that charge on the 15th of May. I at once secured the
services of E. W. Erickson, a graduate of Northwestern University
and Garrett Biblical Institute, who came promptly and has filled
out the year very acceptably. He loves his work and is loved by
his people who unanimously wish his return.
For Osmond I secured the services of Rev.
T. P. Howard, who came to us with excellent recommendations. But
after four months' service he had the offer of $900 from the
Presbyterian church, which, compared with our $400 salary, seemed
too much of a temptation and he went over to their fold, plotting
to take along our members and all. In this, however, he failed. By
cheerfully supplying the pulpit at Osmond for several Sabbaths the
neighboring pastors saved the cause of Methodisim (sic), and by
the prompt coming of Rev. Judson Cooper, an Evanston student, our
cause has been established there. He had not been there more than
a week when he was in the midst of a gracious revival and fifteen
were converted, and these, with the number who joined by letter,
makes a class of thirty-five. I would remark in connection with
this case that it may be all right for a minister, who, as a
result of investigation undergoes such a change in his views as
puts him out of harmony with the doctrines or politiy (sic) of his
church for him to change his church relationship. But when for the
sake of better salary he changes to a church of entirely different
doctrines and polity, he deserves contempt.
John Crews, pastor of Oakdale, was
granted a vacation of three months, during which he and his wife
visited their old home in England. During their absence the pulpit
was supplied and interests of the church well cared for by D. R.
Collings.
The material progress of the district consists
in the erection of a new church at Bloomfield, Rev. F. B.
Ham, pastor, which was dedicated in May by Dr. A. J. Nelson of
California, and all the indebtedness provided
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* Town highlighting added for convenience of reader.
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for, except the church extension loan, and the first
installment of that was nearly all provided for.
At Crawford Valley on Plainview circuit,
Rev. E. E. Hosman pastor, a Baptist church was purchased, removed
three miles to an eligible site, enlarged and repaired and
dedicated by the presiding elder the first Sunday in January. The
people themselves provided the entire $1,300 needed, declining to
call on the church extension board for either loan or
donation.
On the North Neligh charge a frame
building has been purchased, moved into Savage, replastered and
repaired at a cost of $200, and makes a parsonage of five
rooms.
At Creighton, Rev. C. M. Griffith pastor,
a parsonage to contain seven rooms is under contract, to be
completed this month at a cost of $1,082 and will be by far the
best parsonage on the district and the equal of any in the
conference.
Besides these, repairs and improvements have
been made on church and parsonage property at Neligh, Oakdale,
Newman Grove, Creighton, Pierce, and other points. But the
most noteworthy progress has been along the line of debt-paying.
At Creighton debts to the amount of $850 have been made or
provided for by interest hearing notes. At Plainview, Rev.
E. R. Adriance pastor, an old debt of $750 has been paid. At
Ewing a debt of $400 has been paid, Rev. E. T. George
pastor. At Elgin, Rev. F. George pastor, a debt of $400
provided for. O'Neill, Meadow Grove, Pierce, Oakdale, Stark
Valley on Plainview charge, and other points have paid or
provided for all or part of their indebtedness. At Lindsay,
on the Newman Grove charge, a subscription of $750 has been raised
to build a church, and also on the Paddock charge a
subscription of $500 has been raised to build a small church.
Two district conferences have been held, both of
which were well attended and very profitable. It was the privilege
of the second to recommend for admission on trial five most
excellent young men.
The indications are that we will make a handsome
advance in our benevolent collections. For while no charge has
retrograded, several have made large advances. This is not because
of any change in the people, but owing to a change of preachers I
have observed that good benevolent collections follow some
preachers but seem to have no affinity for others.
With two exceptions the preachers went
cheerfully to their charges, have wrought faithfully and in most
cases efficiently. Their preaching has been in demonstration of
the Spirit and in power. Revivals have attended their labors and
not less than four hundred souls have been converted. There were
revivals of special power and results at Neligh and Creighton and
four mid-summer revivals at Niobrara. Osmond and Bloomfield have
been among the marked features of our work, but the climax of our
spiritual work was reached at our camp-meeting, which was held at
Oakdale. Rev. N. L. Hoopingarner, the evangelist, conducted the
altar services and preached each evening. He was assisted by the
preachers of the district
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and some visiting brethren. From the very first service to the
last God was with us in mighty power, and many christians entered
a higher spiritual life while nearly one hundred souls were
converted.
New work is rapidly developing, Creighton having
grown to a point where she must be made a station; the country
appointments will have to be formed into a circuit; Battle
Creek, that has hitherto been a hopeless field, is emerging
into a bright day of prosperity under the labors of Wm. Slothower,
and will build us a church this year. The reservation mission is
rapidly growing in population and we need a live young man there
with $150 missionary money to back him in his work. With this
brief and imperfect statement of the work done and results
attained,
I
respectfully submit this report.
DAVID
MARQUETTE.
Omaha District.
Within the twenty-six charges as arranged at
last conference upon the edifices and all save three the property
of our church. We have forty Sunday schools of our own, besides
which there are several union schools sustained in part by our
people. Our Epworth Leagues number twenty-three, supplemented by
nine of junior character.
To keep us company within our territory are six
German, two Scandinavian and two African Methodist Episcopal
churches.
Arlington -- At Arlington our church
building has been enlarged, papered and carpeted at an expense of
about $500 all of which is paid.
Nickerson -- The church at Nickerson was
dedicated soon after conference. The last penny of debt is paid.
In both of these cases there is illustration for great
encouragement, as to what a few people can do when they have a
mind to work.
Elkhorn -- The pledge made by the good
people of Elkhorn city in case their pastor was returnd (sic) has
been fulfilled. The church debt has been reduced, with prospect of
speedy, entire removal. The success of Methodism in that German
town is evidence that it can succeed anywhere if properly lived
and worked.
Fremont -- Without egotism or ostentation
we present the society at Fremont as a model Methodist Episcopal
church. In every good word, and work she has a part. In one good
work of interest as wide as the conference, and of great
importance, she has given the larger part of sacrifice work, and
money. In the early part of the year there was an excellent
revival and some forty accessions to the church.
Gretna -- The faith expressed in our last
report that the civil court would award to us our church porperty
has been honored. Our antagonists being driven from their former
ground, now claim to have bought up our debts and have sued us
upon them. Those debts are the same
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