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Warnerville is a very small charge and
we are few in numbers and our people are not rich. The district of
country in which it is situated desires our presence and needs our
ministry and they have been supplied by the pastor of Norfolk
during the year.
Wayne is one of the most pleasant places
of which to write on the district. It is beautiful for situation,
it has the most members, and in Wayne church was held the largest
communion service of the district, or of my term of office here.
Rev. H. H. Millard is happy in being the pastor, and the church is
happy in a fine revival during the year and the consequent growth
of the church. Unity and love prevail. Peace and good will bind
the hearts of pastor and church in one bundle of love. Happy is
the church that is in such a case. Let no one aspire to be pastor
at Wayne, for the people have chosen their man and he is the
present pastor.
Wisner, this year, has been served by
Rev. F. M. Clark, whose service I was fortunate in securing at the
first of the year. He is a candidate for admission on trial into
the traveling connection.
West Point this year was joined to Wisner
and both served by one man, Rev. F. M. Clark. We shall not he
harmed as a church at West Point, for there is not enough of
Methodism there to furnish material for a disaster of respectable
magnitude.
Winside itself is feeble. Two points of
the work have a respectable Methodist following. One, Carroll is a
very fair class. One at Grace church is very respectable in
numbers but can hardly be counted more than that until a grade of
morals (I do not say religion) is reached so that cattle shall not
be placed in cars on Sabbath afternoon. Bro. Bothwell has labored
faithfully and is tried and true.
Revivals have been general during the year.
Nearly all parts of the district have felt the power of God
resting upon the people. To name all the places visited by the
Holy Spirit in mighty power, would include all the principal
charges on the district. Deep heart work; no fanaticism,
superficialism, but vital godliness; turning the hearts and
practices of wicked men into the ways of holy living. I believe in
the old time conversions, pungent conviction, deep penitence,
Godly sorrow for sin and the noontide of salvation, and such has
been the blessed character of these outpourings of the Holy
Spirit. Saved by a mighty deliverance by One mighty to save,
strong to deliver, blessings on His name! It is the right thing
for me to say that, that mighty man of God, Rev. N. L.
Hoopingarner, has a multitude of souls on
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this district as seals to his ministry. Our aggregate of conversions this year will exceed a thousand souls.
Rev. A. Johnson has preached at school houses
on the Indian land, organized classes, and now the societies are
ready for a man from Conference. The work will be named
Flournoy.
Rev. W. G. Beels has organized a very prosperous
class at Hoskins, a station east of this place on the Norfolk
branch of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha R. R.,
which will be the head of another circuit to be called Hoskins or
Norfolk Circuit..
At Bega, north of Stanton, we have some members,
which with some other available points will make a good work.
Arizona should be rehabilitated as a separate
work, and include that was in the bounds of the Homestead work.
This will give us thirty-six appointments on this district is it
now stands.
The number of members on the district. at the
beginning or this term, as returned, was eleven hundred and
forty-nine. There are now 2855, a gain of 1706.
Suffice it to say, we have had quite one
thousand converts this year, or a number in this last, single
year, nearly equaling that of the entire membership six years ago.
Then we had twenty churches upon the same territory as the
district then was constituted, we have thirty-five, an increase of
fifteen. Then the district had nine parsonages, now we have
twenty-one, an increase of twelve. It must be remembered that in
the matter of new buildings, both of churches and parsonages, that
the new are much more valuable than the old, from two
considerations. The first of these is, the new buildings are made
of better material, are more commodious, are modern in their
construction, and cost in money more than those built when the
people were poorer than now, and to which some people still cling,
although the conveniences are poor and the room inadequate. Some
of these places have no justification in clinging to those
superanuated churches and parsonages, save penuriousness. and that
is no justification whatever.
Another and equally as important a consideration
is that the new churches and parsonages are substantially clear of
debt.
The debts encumbering the church property of
this district six years ago were tremendous. There was scarcely a
church or parsonage free from debt. Those debts have been paid as
far as possible: much means and toil, and care have been expended
on this district by the preachers in paying debts contracted by
other men who received the glory, while those who followed have
done that thankless task of
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paying old church debts for which they gained more ill than
good will. May the end speedily come to the generation of church
debt begetters.
In this necessarily brief resume of the
condition of Norfolk district I have endeavored to delineate to
you as far as it is possible in words to picture it the image that
is so vividly impressed upon my own mind. In my experience as
presiding elder (I wish to state an unvarnished fact) I have never
known a superior body of men, than those who now manage the
Norfolk District. As to ability in the pulpit they will rank with
any like body of men, I have known anywhere. There are men in the
ranks of these preachers that can easily and creditably fill any
pulpit in this conference, or in this state. As to loyalty to our
church they are as true as the needle to the pole. As to fidelity
as ministers of the Everlasting Gospel, they are faithful and true
beyond all challenge and criticism. They are a noble band of
christian heroes, serving the Lord with steadiness of purpose, and
singleness of heart such as the Master delights to see. To be
numbered with them, and to be one of them is in honor as rare as
it is imperishable. To be their leader, respected and loved by
them is a privilege of which there are but few that come to men in
life, and fills the heart of him possessing it with a joy too
sweet for words, too big for the years of this brief life, but
that broadens into the scope of an eternal gladness. And brethren,
there is naught remaining for me to do but essay the impossible,
that of voicing in feeble words the tides of affection whose
resistless currents fill all my heart. God bless you my brethren
in the Lord, and your wives and your little ones." The Lord bless
you and keep you: The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be
gracious unto you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and
give you peace." Farewell.
Grand Island District.
J. E. MOORE, P. E.
It is with very great pleasure that I report
the past year, as decidedly the most pleasant and prosperous of
the three years of my official connection with Grand Island
District. In every department of the work there has been manifest
growth. Every preacher and his charge have abundant reason for
rejoicing that a merciful Providence has blessed both with a large
degree of prosperity. I join with them in sincere thanks to God,
but that few of the families of our members and none of our
preachers families have been visited by death or any serious
sickness. The brethren have been diligent and faithful in their
work. and the results bring credit and praise to them.
Special attention has been given to the
correction of the imperfect
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titles to our church property; to the organization of our
Sunday Schools according to discipline; to the conformity of our
forms of worship; to the recommendations of General Conference.
Our love feasts and class meetings, as well as the singing of our
own hymns, with a view to inciting to an acceptance of our
distinctive doctrines and experience of a free and full salvation,
have been emphasized with no little advantage to our people.
Albion Charge, with Wm. M. Worley as
pastor has had a year of encouraging prosperity. The church and
parsonage have been improved and beautified, free from debt. A
very blessed revival crowned a series of meetings. The
congregations are large, prayer and class meetings are well
attended and spiritual, the Sunday Schools and Epworth Leagues are
very prosperous, and Bro. Worley is happy. Here resides the widow
of the late Thomas Thompson of precious memory. Modest and
beautiful in her christian life, all honor to her husband and an
ornament to the church.
Albion Circuit was one of the seven appointments
left to be supplied. A young man was appointed and agreed to go on
the charge, but failed to get his parents' consent, and the
appointment was left without a preacher until spring, when W. R.
Phelps took it and has done well.
Archer, another appointment left to be
supplied has been served by T. P. Donnely, who was appointed to
Chapman at our last Conference. Under his leadership a six-roomed
parsonage has been built at Archer at a cost of about $600.00,
almost free from debt. A new church costing $1,400 at Palmer, and
the old church at Fairview was removed to a new site three miles
away -- in the centre of a good community, fitted up as good as
new, and free from debt. On this church an old church extension
debt of long standing has been paid. This work of our brother was
the supplement to two very excellent revivals. One at Palmer in
which there were about seventy-five conversions, the other at
Fairview with good results. In the bounds of this circuit live the
children of Wesley Wilson under the guardian care of their
grandfather who is wisely managing the small amounts you annually
allot them as conference claimants.
Belgrade to which Peter De Clark was
appointed by Bishop Warren, and who was relieved on account of
sickness at his own request, has been served by R. M. Henderson
whose reappointment to the charge has been requested.
Brayton Circuit has been supplied by L.
R. De Wolf, a young man 19 years old, whose work has been greatly
blessed of the Lord. He has had a revival at each appointment. and
a new church edifice is almost completed at Enfield.
Cairo has been supplied by C. F. Haywood
who has strengthened
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the work by adding two preaching places, Bluff Center and
Abbott. making territory sufficient to support a preacher when
properly developed.
C. M. Griffith has done a good work on Cedar
Rapids charge, building and dedicating a $1,700.00 church at
Pinnacle Hill, with all the debt, including the church extension
loan, more than provided for.
Central City under the pastorate of J. W.
Robinson, has enjoyed a year of excellent prosperity. The old
Tabernacle has been removed from its out of the way site, and put
in good repair on the convenient lot by the parsonage, they having
improved the parsonage, paid about $400 of old debt and new,
leaving the congregation practically out of debt. The
apportionments to benevolences have been more than met, and the
quarterly Conference request the reappointment of the pastor for
another year.
Chapman was supplied by Bro. Donnelly for
the first half of the year, and by A. L. Kellogg the last half.
This church has been ceiled inside and otherwise repaired at a
cost of about $100.00, all of which is paid or provided for. The
outlook for Chapman is better than it was a year ago.
Clarks Circuit has had a year of
prosperity, under the leadership of their pastor J. H. Vogt.
Columbus has prospered under the pastoral
leadership of J. B. Leedom. Their new parsonage has been completed
and occupied, and $300.00 of the $900.00 cost, has been paid. Five
hundred dollars of the old $750.00 church extension debt on the
church has been paid. The church has been painted and otherwise
improved. Our venerable brother D. T. Olcott and his saintly wife
live in this city, and their presence and pious prayers are a
benediction to the church and a help to the pastor.
Cushing Circuit has been served a second
year by F. H. High. This charge has built a $600.00 parsonage and
paid for it, after paying the last dollar, the trustees were
surprised to find remaining in the treasury in money about $13.00.
The circuit has paid for benevolences about 300 per cent more than
the apportionment. The Sunday Schools have been organized
according to Discipline, the Epworth Leagues are flourishing and
the charge has had a blessed revival.
Dannebrog Circuit has been supplied by H.
D. Foote. He has a church building nearly ready for dedication at
Warsaw, one of the appointments, that will cost when finished
$1,800 to $2,000 and it will be paid for.
Fullerton has been under the pastorate of
W. R. H. Pillsbury. N. A. Martin was appointed to Fullerton and
Dr. Pillsbury to First Church Grand Island, but after due
consideration and consultation, it was thought to be for the best
interest of all concerned to change
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these two pastors. Fullerton has been favored with a revival in
which about one hundred were converted. All the apportionments
have been met in full and the parsonage has been improved by
adding a kitchen and cistern at a cost of about $80. The quarterly
Conference requests the reappointment of Bro. Pillsbury as pastor
for another year.
First Church Grand Island meantime has
had a revival in which there were forty conversions. From further
removals and other causes this church has suffered intensely the
past year, but under the wise management of the pastor, Bro.
Martin, the future of the church seems more hopeful. They have
paid over $1,400.00 of their embarrassing church debt, including
accrued interest. We believe that by a little temporary aid from
our Missionary Society it will be on its feet and prosper in the
near future. They have an enterprising and clean official board,
and though a little discouraged, have a good degree of
sticktoitiveness. We bespeak the prayers of the whole Conference
for this church.
Trinity Grand Island has been steering
among breakers these three years past, but is now out of danger.
She is sailing in deep water and on a quiet sea. This is largely
due to the indefatigable labors of G. H. McAdams, who has led this
people to their present victory. This year they have had a
precious revival, have perhaps the largest Epworth League in the
Conference it not in the state: they have paid the interest on
their church debt, and $4,500.00 on the principal. They have a
large Sunday School, a large prayer meeting, large congregations,
and are exerting a great influence for good on our goodly
city.
Genoa with R. C. McRenolds as pastor has
had her share of prosperity. They have provided for the balance of
their church extension debt on the church, and completed one of
the best parsonages in the district, in which the pastor has been
living for three months. This charge has had a good revival the
past year.
Greely has one of the most pleasant
congregations in the district, served by C. 0. Lanison. He has had
a good revival, has all departments of his work thoroughly
organized. There is a universal desire for his return as their
pastor.
Prairie Island has been served by a
pastor of the Nebraska Conference, but they are clamoring to get
back to us.
Platte Center has been served by A. V.
Wilson as pastor, who found a judgement in the hands of the
sheriff against the church, and an order for execution, he took
hold of the matter and by the aid of generous friends and our
District Conference he succeeded in satisfying the judgement, and
inspiring courage in the people, who at first requested his
removal but now wish his return. He has added Mon-
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roe, a new vigorous town, and Burrows, a school
house appointment, to the work. The outlook for the future is more
hopeful.
St. Edwards has been served by J. A.
Dooley who expects to transter to one of the Illinois Conferences.
This charge has been blessed with a good revival. A new church has
been projected at Mt. Pleasant, an out appointment. and
$600.00 on the books in good subscriptions, and an application for
$150.00 donation and $250.00 loan with which to build a $1,000 or
$1,200 church has been procured.
St. Paul with H. A. Barton has had a
blessed revival. Spiritual prayer and class meetings, large
congregations, and for the third year has a good prospect for the
future.
Scotia has been supplied by J. M.
Dressler who though hindered by sickness in his family has served
the church acceptably and done a good work.
Silver Creek has been served very
acceptably by A. L. Mickel whose report will show a year of
faithful and efficient service. Old debts have been paid, the
church building has been painted without, and papered and
otherwise improved within. The appointments in the Nebraska
Conference which have been attached to Silver Creek to strengthen
it, will hereafter be supplied by their own preachers, leaving the
Silver Creek preacher more time to do more much needed missionary
work, within our own territory.
Wood River has had for their pastor W. H.
La Vake who for the second year has toiled hard and faithfully.
The charge has had a good revival, over fifty were converted and
added to the membership. Bro. La Vake has decided to go to Utah as
a missionary. While we shall miss his friendly face, he will be
followed with our prayers for prosperity in his work, and for a
speedy restoration of his health.
This charge is among the desirable half stations
of this district, where we have an enterprising membership and
wide awake official board. This is the residence of our beloved
Bro. and Sister Worts, who are spending the closing years of life
ripening for the Master's more precious service on high.
The preachers planned well for their benevolent
collections. They took subscriptions which in most cases, more
than met the apportionments, but, the extensive drought, partial
crop failures, and the commercial disturbances have disappointed
them in their collections, yet the reports will no doubt show a
creditable increase over last year.
At our Ministerial Association held in Central
City our Nebraska Wesleyan University was discussed freely by N.
A. Martin and others. A member of the University Faculty was
invited to be present, and Prof. Lowe came. It was gratifying to
note the continued loyalty of Grand Island District to our
prospective University, and to our unification plan. The preachers
heartily approve the selection of Dr.
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Isaac Crook to be the general-in-chief of the educational
forces in Nebraska, and will heartily support him with students
and money. The sentiment is general that the selection of Dr.
Jennings as financial agent of the University is a wise
selection.
The spiritual life of both our preachers and
people, has been greatly quickened by the two camp meetings held
at Central City and Genoa. The preachers of the district planned
the one at Central City and arranged for a permanent annual
District Meeting. Our expenses amounted to about $150.00, all of
which was promptly paid. The meeting will long be remembered as
the starting point to a blessed christian life by many precious
souls. The Genoa camp meeting under the auspices of Bro.McRenolds
and his church was one of great power and of excellent
results.
The six new church edifices finished and on the
road to completion, and the four new parsonages, do not hamper the
people with burdensome debts. But have been entered into by the
people as a matter of necessity and with commendable liberality
and heartiness.
There have been about 800 conversions and
accessions on the district during the year and in many cases other
churches have shared in the benefits of the revival.
We close our report with hearty congratulations
to these worthy ministers, many of them sun browned and carrying
the scars of battle, and to their consecrated and earnest churches
upon the results of their years' work, in the cause of the great
head of the church.
May His benediction and the joy of His holy
spirit be their abiding heritage.
Elkhorn Valley District.
DAVID MARQUETTE, P. E.
It is always a pleasure to be the bearer of
good tidings, and as I have little else but good news to bring in
this my third annual report, I find it a pleasing task, and am
truly greatful (sic) to the great head of the church for what has
been wrought. By the loyalty and zeal of the 1,400 full members
with which we began the year's work. and the faithfulness and
efficiency of the pastors and evangelists who have assisted them,
and above all by the presence and blessing of the great head of
the church, nearly 1,000 souls were led to the altars as seekers,
and I feel safe in saying that over 700 of these equal to one-half
the full number, were converted, and 600 have united with our
church. many joining other churches.
The victory having extended all along the line,
and the note of triumph coming up from nearly every charge, I will
state briefly and
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