Resource Center OLLibrary
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liens, a large part of which we repudiated from the first; of
which fact they were aware; upon which they could not obtain the
property and in the deed which they were compelled to give it is
stated we do not agree to pay. Our former suit cost us about $300.
The worst thing done by the man who proved traitor was in the
disruption of the society. We now have a Sunday school numbering
thirty-five; a fair congregation, a ladies aid society and a class
numbering eight.
Hooper -- The pastor planned a surprise
for the Presiding Elder. If the surprise was a partial failure the
pleasure was not. That new, nicely-planned, well furnished
six-room parsonage, nearly out of debt would cause the eyes of any
Methodist preacher to sparkle. Other things on Hooper charge are
very much like the parsonage.
Mapleville -- A new organ at Maplegrove;
another at Jamestown; the last cent upon all church property paid:
Sunday school organized and public worship established in a new
neighborhood, all indicate the upward, onward trend in this new
and prosperous charge.
North Bend -- It has not by any means
been all sunshine and song at North Bend. Yet of each there has
been a measure. One of the best love feasts of the year was there
and one of the largest congregations this presiding elder ever saw
in that place greeted him at his last visit.
Omaha, First Church -- An elegant house
of worship; every facility for religious work, and complete
organization do not always bring immediate great results. We need
not disguise the fact, our immense debt is an immense burden. It
rests however upon heroic shoulders. It will be borne until it is
removed by honest payment. The Epworth League has established a
mission Sunday school and has also maintained services in a very
needy part of the city just north of the Union Pacific bridge.
Here there have been a number of conversions.
Castellar Street -- Soon after conference
our pastor joined another denomination. The work however has been
maintained; of late there has been a spirit of revival, and we
believe the out-look is more hopeful than it has been since the
beginning of our work in this place.
Hanscom Park. -- Tbe present church
building which we thought quite a gem five years ago is now ready
for a transfer to some other field. An adjoining lot, costing
$2,600, has been purchased and now upon this enlarged site is
enclosed one of the most commanding church edifices in Omaha. The
people expect with songs, prayers, thanksgivings and sermons to
move in this fall. Hanscom Park stands in the front rank. We are
not sure but some of her enthusiastic people would say she was a
little in the lead in Omaha district.
Monmouth Park -- The long day of doubt,
struggle and fear is past. Self-denial, patience and work have
been rewarded. Very soon, not to say now, this will be one of the
desired charges because it is one of the important and prosperous
churches.
Seward Street -- The damage done to the
church building by a storm
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has been repaired. The people became a little aesthetic; they
desired better music. This desire has been gratified by the melody
which flows from the seven hundred dollar vocallion. Their pastor
received word from Bishop Thoburn that he was wanted in India. He
responded to the call and this loyal people said amen. Now they
want another man equally good with the departing missionary.
South Tenth Street -- About $500 has been
expended in repairs upon church and parsonage, each being now in
excellent condition. While a somewhat difficult point at which to
maintain our work, it is nevertheless one of great importance and
one blessed with a faithful constituency.
South West -- This vigorous young church
has pursued her work with the same kind of zeal, earnestness and
faith which have characterized her from the beginning. If there be
better material in any church, we know not where it is.
Trinity -- That $360 missionary
collection indicates more clearly the condition of things in this
prosperous church than can any feeble words of ours. In missionary
contributions, Trinity easily leads the district, we presume the
conference, and with steady, elastic steps, moves onward.
Wesley -- One hundred average the last
quarter in Sunday school; hall used for worship entirely too
small; purpose to build a house for the Lord taking shape; all the
departments of a Methodist society in running order; will do very
well, we think, as a result of history running back but little
more than a year and a half.
Papillion -- At an expense of over $400,
the parsonage has been transformed into one of the most convenient
and elegant in the district. All the church property is in good
shape, and but a small debt on the parsonage. We never knew
Papillion to be in better spiritual condition.
Purple Cane -- The house purchased for
parsonage was moved and fitted up for occupancy soon after
conference. It is out of debt; all current expenses met;
benevolencies not forgotten. This is a country charge with a
strong society, a grand field of its own and yet pushing on in
Methodist fashion for the salvation of those about them.
Richfield -- Our beautiful church has
been dedicated free of debt; our society well organized; Sunday
school in excellent condition and we believe all things indicate
this as one of our very desirable charges in the near future.
Richland -- Not all things have been all
we could have desired all the time during the year, yet the
history is something like that of the good man, "the latter end is
the best." At different points at the regular services there have
been penitents seeking Christ. Nearly $100 has been paid on
parsonage debt.
Schuyler -- We are not sure that Schuyler
is not a little too well satisfied with herself. Good church
property, recently nicely carpeted, in good condition, good
preaching, good Sunday school, good congregation; moving along in
a good way and doing a good work. A little more of the
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aggressive spirit would be a good thing. There is no backward
step at Schuyler.
Scribner -- If some of our people move
away, those of us who remain must work the harder. That is the
spirit and that is the way they have been doing things the past
year at Scribner. Five years have passed since the present pastor
received his first appointment to this charge. Every year till now
they have requested his return. The presiding elder thinks the
Bishop had better embrace this opportunity to send them another
man. There are no debts upon church property.
South Omaha -- A subscription of $1,200
taken to pay off the whole church debt; about one-half of it due
and paid; the parsonage brought down to a level with the church,
enlarged and painted; a good revival; a membership approximating
three hundred; the pastor's salary increased $200; a live church
with no drones indicate a few facts past and present.
Albright -- A heavy wind some time ago
blew down our steeple. The fragments have been gathered up and the
purpose formed to erect in more substantial manner. This part of
the city has not grown so rapidly as expected but the society is
true, courageous, persevering. Of late there have been some
valuable accessions. All the business is brought up to date in
business shape. Albright is living and proposes to live.
Springfield -- With quiet, earnest,
successful work, Springfield has pursued the even tenor of her
way. We believe every department of church work has received its
measure of attention. Methodism, worked methodically, tells in
Springfield as elsewhere.
Valley -- Our work has been raising in
Valley surely and healthily for the last three years. But we wish
to give notice that this presiding elder will not recommend
another transfer within three months prior to the session of
conference, unless the collections or a large part of them have
been taken.
Our visiting deaconesses have continued to do
earnest and blessed work during the year. In every place where
they work the results are visible in Sunday schools, congregations
and spirituality. The Methdist hospital is not by any means
confined to Omaha district in its work or support but is located
within our bounds. We give a brief report recently published by
Bro. Ball in the Omaha Advocate.
"We are young but look at what we have done in
the first year of our existence. Have received contributions from
the different churches, and citizens and members of other churches
over thirty-two hundred dollars in cash, and in provisions and
other things very useful in the running of the same, to the value
of not less than seven hundred and fifty dollars. Have cared for
three hundred and thirty patients of which about one-third was
charity. What we most need is a united concert of action in
raising of funds throughout all Methodism for three hundred and
fifty miles in each direction from Omaha. We cannot have a
hospital in every city in this
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territory and, therefore let us lay aside the sin that so
easily besets us in these things and let us subscribe liberally
and pay promptly the amount set opposite our names, looking unto
God who giveth all things that are good, and in this way we can do
great good for the kingdom of God upon this earth, and fulfill
that mission that Christ came to establish." -- B. R. Ball.
[We bespeak for Bro. Ball a cordial
reception wherever he may go to solicit funds for the hospital.
The work being done by this hospital and Deaconess' Home cannot
but commend itself to all. To know it is to be in sympathy with
it. -- ED.]"
While the Omaha Horne Missionary and Church
Extension society has not accomplished great things, it has made a
commendable beginning. The first installment of the Williams' Loan
Fund, together with interest amounting in all to $160, has been
received. It is now loaned to Castellar Street church at six per
cent. Most of the Omaha churches have taken a collection for its
treasury and the meager salaries of several of our brethren at
mission points have been supplemented thereby. We are learning by
experience and by studying the methods adopted in other cities. We
expect this society in the not far distant future to greatly help
us in our work. T. C. CLENDENING.
Grand Island District.
To the Bishop and Members of the conference:
DEAR
BRETHREN -- The ministers of Grand Island
district, with one exception, went cheerfully to their respective
fields of labor immediately after the adjournment of last
conference, and have wrought faithfully and in most cases
successfully throughout the year.
No deaths have occurred in the families of any
of our preachers during the year, and no serious sickness except
in the case of D. T. Alcott of St. Edwards, for which we wish to
join the brethren in devout thanksgiving to our Heavenly
Father.
Our venerable Bro. Alcott broke down in health
last February, since which he has not been able to preach, but
from time to time has given assurance of the sufficiency of God's
grace to sustain and comfort under the severest trials.
We regarded it almost a calamity to be left at
the close of the last session of our conference with ten charges
in the district to be supplied, and among them some of the most
important ones. But they were all furnished with pastors in due
time, except Elba.
Our Presbyterian friends had sixteen members at
Elba and we had but four. Their missionary thought it
impracticable to support both churches in the village, and as they
had the larger nucleus to begin with, he requested us to allow
them to occupy the territory alone. As the other points which we
expected to unite with Elba to form a circuit were al-
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ready occupied by the United Brethren, we consented, and no
pastor was sent to Elba.
Owing to insurmountable difficulties we were
compelled to make a change in several of our circuits. We found
that by uniting Fairview, Archer, Palmer and Gage Valley
into a circuit, with a little missionary money it would support a
pastor, and A. V. Wilson, a student in our Nebraska Conference
seminary, was appointed to supply it. Another student, L. R.
DeWolf, supplied Chapman.
H. D. Brown of Puget Sound conference, who was
recommended heartily by Bishop Newman, was appointed to
Greeley in March, where he has done a good work in building
up all the interests of that church and congregation. We now have
Greeley station and Greeley circuit as a result, the latter
supplied by A. G. Bartholomew, a supernumerary member of the
Nebraska conference.
Two of our supplies gave us trouble, one from
Ohio, who, though well educated, proved worse than worthless, whom
we excused, and the other was an impostor who had been employed on
this district for the preceding five years. His removal
precipitated it very unpleasaut (sic) rupture in our church at
Genoa, but with the assistance of Dr. Pillsbury and J. W.
Jennings, each of whom served as pastor of the church for a short
time, our church was restored to order, and under the care of R.
C. McReynolds of the West Nebraska conference, who has been
supplying the charge since, the church is doing well.
E. C. Harper has experienced great difficulty in
correcting the blunders of this same nondescript who preceded him
on Clarks charge, and while he cannot on that account
report as favorably the various interests of that work, yet the
charge has a very hopeful outlook for the future.
Dr. D. K. Tindall of Central City has had
a disagreeable year owing to misfortunes that have come to
individual members of the church, but under his wise management
the church is likely to regain her usually prosperous
equilibrium.
H. A. Barton has been sorely tried in his
pastorate at St. Paul the last year, owing mainly to the
removal of it large number of his members, among whom were some of
the very best families of the church. This is felt all the more
because of the failure of crops in 1890 and the year previous this
beautiful church was built, greatly straining the financial
ability of the congregation. Only the greatest courage could
endure such a strain and in so magnanimous and royal a way
entertain this conference.
Many of the charges of the district are still
struggling under embarrassing church debts. Most of this money is
due our Church Extension society, and although the rate of
interest is low, in many cases these debts are discouraging to our
poor churches.
Our North Nebraska Conference seminary has
expired "sine die," and may it not be hoped that with it all
strife from every quarter whatsoever?
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The preachers who chance to be appointed to
the pastorate of Dannebrog and Cairo and
Cameron will find unfinished subscriptions for building
churches on those charges, the one commenced by Robert Brotherton,
the pastor of Dannebrog, and the other by Samuel Cates, the pastor
of Cairo and Cameron.
J. B. Leedom has been abundant in labors in his
charge at Columbus, and the reward of this toil is the
liquidation of a debt of $670 of several years standing on the
church, and the building of a commodious new parsonage which will
be ready for occupancy by the middle of October.
N. A. Martin's congregation at Fullerton
rejoice in the fact that the long-standing debt of over $700 has
been paid this year and $75 of repairs put on their comfortable
parsonage.
William Worley has built a barn, improved the
parsonage and painted and otherwise ornamented the church at
Albion.
Lewis Campbell of Cedar Rapids, in
addition to having a glorious revival and putting over $300 worth
of books and periodicals from our Book concern into the homes of
his people, has painted and otherwise improved the church.
J. A. Dooley has purchased a good parsonage at
Silver Creek, which has been a great need in that charge.
The Lord graciously poured out His spirit and a very blessed
revival and the conversion of about fifty souls was the
result.
W. H. La Vake, who was appointed pastor at
Wood River about three months after conference, from St.
Joseph, Mo., conference, has been unusually prospered. In addition
to paying the long-standing debt against the church they have made
extensive improvements in both church and parsonage.
George H. MacAdam, pastor at Trinity, Grand
Island, has been blessed with signal prosperity all the year.
The conversion of souls, a high degree of spirituality in all the
services, a steady, persistent effort has resulted in paying over
$1,000 of the floating indebtedness and providing in subscriptions
for the balance of the $2,500 of the floating indebtedness against
the church.
Dr. Pillsbury has succeeded in placing a loan on
the First church, Grand Island, of $5,000 at 7 per cent,
which with $1,000 of building and loan shares, soon available, and
subscriptions that they consider good to pay all else, puts the
debt of that congregation in an easy condition for the
present.
The labors of F. A. High of Cushing have
been crowned with excellent revivals, as have H. D. Foote's of
Belgrade. R. M. Henderson of Albion circuit has had
a pleasant year, while W. A. Davies of Scotia, working so
far from his family, has had a year of loneliness and
discouragement.
Special attention has been given to the use of
our own literature both in our families and in our Sunday schools
by the pastors, and the result
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is a large increase in the sale of the publications of our Book
concern. Attention has been directed to our order and discipline
that has stimulated particular observance of our laws and usages
where they have been obnoxiously lax heretofore. More care has
been required on the part of local preachers in preparation for
and examinations on the prescribed course of study for them, which
has resulted in not renewing the licenses of several; some of
these have lightened the ship by jumping overboard, with no
disadvantage to the rest of the crew.
Prominence has been given to our distinctive
usages-the love feast, class-meeting, religious instruction to
baptized children, the organization and maintenance of our own
Sunday schools, Epworth and Junior leagues, the use of our hymnals
and the observance of our disciplinary forms of worship.
We held a district campmeeting at Genoa, which,
though impromptu in its arrangements, was by no means a
failure.
Our district conferences are becoming better
attended by the traveling, and local preachers, and the work done
is eminently satisfactory.
The benevolent collections, with a few
exceptions, have all been taken as the reports will show, and in
many cases all the apportionments met, and in nearly all cases the
missionary apportionment has been met in full.
The financial condition of our people is still
embarassing. Our territory has not recovered from the losses
occasioned by the crop failure of two years ago, yet our people
are liberal, and in most cases the salary of the preacher will be
paid in full.
There is general harmony between the presiding
elder and the pastors, and between the pastors and their
charges.
The evangelistic work on the district has not
been all that might have been desired, although many af (sic) the
brethren have had precious revivals n (sic) their charges. There
have been about 500 conversions and about the same number of
accessions from probation.
Our altar fires have not gone out, but do they
glow like they should?
Are not 500 conversions on Grand Island district
too few? Great Leader and Lord, baptize preachers and people with
the Holy Ghost and with fire!
Respectfully
submitted,
J.
E. MOORE, P. E.
Norfolk District.
DEAR
FATHERS AND
BRETHREN: I come to you with my fifth
annual report for Norfolk district with great pleasure and a
strong sense of gratitude to God for His great goodness and mercy
abiding within me. I impart to you the history of the past year on
this district with great cheerfulness, for I am sure you will
rejoice with me in the knowledge of the prosperity that has been
ours throughout its course. At the beginning we had thirty-one
circuits and stations supplied by twenty-three men appointed by
the
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Bishop. Eight places to be filled as best I could. Brother
Boyce, supernumerary, came to our help and has rendered good
service at Humphrey. Brother Bargelt, of Upper Iowa conference,
consented to go to Wakefield, but only lived until the middle of
the conference year when he rested from his labors. Brother Odell,
of Missouri, accepted the Decatur work and has wrought well
throughout the year. Rev. C. D. Day returned from the Wyoming
Mission to his mother conference, and is at Pilger. Warnersville
was attached to Norfolk temporarily, and thus was looked after
with gratifying results by Brother Jennings. Rev. W. E. Northrup,
of Garrett, has supplied Coleridge since the school year closed.
Brother Norris was transferred by Bishop Newman from the Missouri
conference and stationed at Sioux City and Covington. Thus the
vacancies have been filled. It was certainly very fortunate for
our church that "The Lord of the harvest sent forth laborers into
the harvest," for so the work has zone forward. To speak more in
detail:
Rev. J. R. Gearhart was sent to Allen,
the initial letter heading the appointments of this district. He
has been faithful and true, preached the Gospel, and souls have
been saved, and he has built a parsonage. This is Parsonage No.
1.
Beemer was served well this year by
Brother Hobson, who removes to University place to receive the
benefits of our own Wesleyan University there. Bancroft was
supplied by Rev. J. H. Frazer, whom I changed from Pilger in the
middle of the year. A faithful man and the Lord is with him. He
has built a fine parsonage there, which is parsonage No. 2 on this
district.
Blair is one of our desirable places, and
has been ably and faithfully served by Rev. H. H. Millard, and is
stronger and better every way than ever before.
Coleridge, as I before mentioned, has for
its pastor Rev. W. E. Northrup, who has served it diligently and
the brethren and community all clamor for his return.
Craig -- Rev. J. Charles, pastor. How
shall I write the record of this year to fully do it justice?
Revivals at Alder Grove and at Bethel, such as those
we read of in the days of the fathers! Mid-summer revivals! The
harvest on! Grain cutting in full blast! God's spirit resting upon
the people far and near, in such power that all else is abandoned
in eager searching for salvation! They left all to meet the Lord,
and the Lord, it is always true of him, blessed be his name, met
them, in saving power, in wonderful ways of mercy, in tides of
salvation, so that the shout of victory filled all the land.
Dakota City -- Rev. D. W. McGregor, born,
reared and educated in Canada, yet the most utter Yankee of us
all! The work has grown, we are at peace, the people love the
pastor, and much more the pastor's wife and babies, and taken all
in all, it is a lovely place in our district. The
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pastor by way of improvement has built a good horse-parsonage,
or barn, during the year.
Decatur has been served in a faithful way
by Brother Odell, as is before mentioned. The people are anxious
for his return.
Homer -- Rev. H. W. Conley, pastor, has
gone along as well as could be expected in the face of the
difficulties to be overcome. Sickness and impassable roads
hindering the work for a large part of the year in a very serious
manner.
Humphrey, as has been before stated, has
been looked after by Rev. J. W. Bovee.
Kennard is a small circuit. Rev. A. J.
Young is pastor. The enemy of souls in the guise of seven-day
Adventists, has warred against the people and Sabbath of our Lord.
In this way he has led some astray. He has built a good parsonage,
which is No. 3 on this district.
Leigh. -- Solomon wrote, "There is
nothing new under the sun," but some things are new to me, and the
perfidy of one of the men whom I had brought into the conference
and helped in my poor way, such as was exhibited at Leigh this
year, is a new experience to me and one I do not care to repeat.
To deliberately and secretly conspire with our rivals and make
terms to betray our interests, at the same time when our church is
affording him food and shelter for his family and himself, is an
act of such heartlessness and base treachery that I am glad to
drop the consideration of the malodorous subject. The final
disposition of this case is with the conference, and to the
conference I most gladly surrender it.
Lyons is one of our ablest charges and
should be one of our most advanced charges in all the enterprises
of the church. If it be not so, it is not because of lack of
fidelity and industry on the part of the pastor, Rev. J. B.
Priest. He has served for three years and will be received if he
should be sent forth. He has built a good church at
Liberty, a country place connected with the circuit. A
finer country than that of Lyons circuit is not in Nebraska. This
church is No. 1 for this district for this year.
Madison has the ministrations of Rev. J.
L. St. Clair, one of the veterans of the conference and the ranks.
The year has been one of peace.
Norfolk, although not at the head in
alphabetical order, is not by any means the last or least in all
other things. No debts on church, parsonage, preacher, bishops or
presiding elder, with one hundred and eighty-three members in full
connection, thirty-five on probation, a grand revival during the
year, a unanimous call for the pastor's return for the fourth
year, and many other things of like kind all tell the gratifying
tale that the pastor, Rev. J. W. Jennings, is happy in his office
and that the people are also happy in the possession of such an
incumbent.
Oakland was served by Rev. A. L. Mickel.
It is a small field and has been cultivated with great industry by
its pastor.
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Pender has for its pastor Rev. J. W.
Miller. Early in the year he organized our Sunday School upon a
Methodist basis and carried out other reforms of like character,
which have resulted in great benefit to the church. A debt of
nearly seven hundred dollars has been paid and thrift is seen
everywhere. A new church is well forward toward completion at
Pleasant Valley. Altogether this has been a good year for
the circuit. Church No. 2, Pilger, is new work now in
charge of Rev. C. D. Day, who is a member of this conference but
was working heretofore in the Wyoming mission. Brother Day has
done very excellent service, built a commodous (sic) parsonage at
Pilger and his people unanimously ask his return. This is
parsonage No. 4 for this year on this district.
Platte Center is a place where we never
had anything, and at this date I boldly affirm we retain
unqualifiedly the same status. We own a church there if the debts
thereon were paid. It is a monument of building just for the sake
of building.
Ponca -- At the middle of the year I saw
fit to make an exchange between Brother Johnson of Ponca and
Brother Linn at Winside. The church here had a debt
aggregating $1360, owing to the disaster which befell the new
church in 1885. That blessed Church Extension Society, the child
of Divine inspiration, gave us aid to the amount of $700 which
stimulated the waning energies of our people and fired their souls
with stalwart confidence of success. A day was fixed upon for the
dedication of the church. One hundred and twenty-five dollars more
than was needed was obtained, and the people were giving when the
collection was closed. I have been at many dedications but that of
Ponca church exceeded in free, generous, hearty. Christian-giving,
anything of the kind I ever saw. Our people could hardly realize
that their burden was lifted and their debt paid. To quote
Chaplain McCabe, "you could tell a Methodist by the smile on his
face two blocks away, and his eyes blazed like two towns on fire."
W. H. Linn is pastor.
Randolph is fortunate in the possession
of two railroads, a church and parsonage, a new church at
Belden (No. 3 for this district for this year,) Rev. G. A.
Luce for their pastor and Mrs. Luce his wife. In three years this
man from the Granite state has built four churches and a good
parsonage without any debt save that to the Church Extension in
two cases. The churches will average $1800 each and cheap at that.
The parsonage is a commodious, two-story house of seven rooms.
Facts will talk for themselves.
St. James -- Five years for Brother
Carter here. Grand, good, blessed ye are for St. James. I wish I
had an hour to tell you how the fifth year was the best of
all.
Sioux City and Covington have been
under the spiritual oversight of Rev. G. W. Norris, transferred to
this conference from the Missouri conference by Bishop Newman. He
has wrought in this hard field of labor.
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He has been alert and succeeded admirably in many things.
Stanton -- A seraph's pen might find no
more fitting task than in recording the worth of this church and
its surroundings. Favored is the pastor of this attractive field
of labor. It is a year whose bright record is chronicled on high.
Would that such churches were multiplied in all our borders. The
conference secretary is the shepherd of this flock of the
Lord.
Rev. H. C. Dayhoff has served the Tekamah
charge this year with great acceptability. It has grown steadily
since his coming to this work until now. A bolt of lightening
splintered the church spire late in the season, but is now
repaired and it is better than before. Tekamah is now on solid
foundations and well equipped for the future.
Vacoma has for its pastor Rev. Wm.
Esplin, who has been all example of fidelity and self denial in
his pastorate on this charge. An unusual revival took place at
Vacoma, by which a large number of souls splin is one of our most
valuable men.
Wayne has had a year of excellent growth.
It has been under the watchful care of the Rev. Dr. Myers, whose
house has been too small for his congregations all the year. The
people come to hear preaching and on the high tide of prosperity
at Wayne. It is one of our best places.
Wisner has struggled this year with the
difficulties to which it is no stranger. Rev. J. H. Brooks has
demonstrated his stick-to-it-iveness in a most remarkable degree.
Has endured unto the end of the year, and doubtless will be saved
from a similar experience in the year to come.
Winside -- A new and promising and
prosperous work of three preaching places, with as many churches
and no parsonage. Rev. J. H. Johnson is the pastor, new in the
work and alone in the field, which is the world. He intimates to
the presiding elder that he will be thus alone not much longer, a
prospect upon which all his brethren will congratulate him most
heartily.
A new circuit will be formed in Cedar County of
which Oliver's Grove will be a part, where a revival was
begun under the labors of Brother A. C. Butter of the St. James
work. Brother Carter came of course to his aid and was upon his
field. Together these two wrought mightily, for the Lord was with
them. Scores were converted. A new church has been built and
dedicated and with a new town on the Omaha R. R., and two more
school house appointments will constitute a new work. This is
church No. 4 on this district. A new work along the Missouri River
to be called Homestead comprising, three places of
preaching will be formed to be supplied by Rev. A. L. Gray.
And thus hastily we scan the gains of this year
and glance casually at the returns. Four new parsonages, four new
churches and hundreds of
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converts to the Lord. Finances have been close in too many
cases, much smaller than could be justified. Like brave men the
preachers have filled their places, have done their work, met the
enemy of men, and the shout of triumph rings out along the lines.
The wives of these good preachers have been as brave, and good and
untiring as Christian wives and mothers have ever been in any age
or any land. There is no grander church than ours, I am sure,
there are no grander men than those preachers, that there are no
nobler, choicer spirits than their wives, is a settled fact, and
that the choicest and the most select band of those noble heroes
and heroines is to be found upon the Norfolk district, is conceded
by all. Respectfully Submitted,
J.
B. MAXFIELD.
© 1999, 2000 for NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller