Decatur Democrat, Volume 1, Number 1, Decatur, Adams County, 4 April 1899 — Page 2

DAILY DEMOCRAT. .CONFERENCE EDITION. EVERY MORNING BY LEW G. ELLINGHAM, Publisher. For Week 15 cents, in Advance. Tuesday Morning. April 4. GREETING. It is not with the usual timidity that we greet you this inuring dressed in the garbofa morning daily. Neither is it from choice or for the purpose of increasing our now very limited stock of worldly goods, but more for the desire to contribute our mite in impressing the visiting ministers and others and the outside world in general with the importance of the fact that Decatur is a live town, one that is living in the present century and not in an ancient or past decade. This is the prime object together with the fact that a gathering together ot so much prominence and learning as is contained in the annual conference of the North Indiana Methodist Episcopal Church, where thousands of people mingle together for spiritual and moral gain, and in which the public is always an attentive listener. Therefore, in order to fulfill our mission as a newspaper wc will for one week endeavor to publish a special conference edition of the Democrat, hoping in the meantime to be of some mutual benefit in serving the public and in up-holding the profession of the press. The Democrat. John Wesley, once said “Music by a quartette of artists is not Methodistic. Let all the people sing; not one in ten.” Decatur is one of the finest resi deuce cities to be seen any place at any time. Do not forget to show your friends around. Chicken is regularly on the bill of fare during these conference days. If there is one failing a preacher has, it is his strong appetite for chicken. First missionaries to Buenos Ayres were confronted with a strange difficulty. They were not allowed to preach in the Spanish language which was the people’s language.

ft© ® k! | ...Remember | | jnffl ; We are Headquarters for I I I ..Bicvdes.. I I I WE HAVE THEM FROM B I A LOW PRICE TO II the highest grade. II ALSO FOR • • • • p I i S I I Hardware, | | v i g I I Buggies, <- I | | Carriages. I I ' I H DON’T FORGET W WE HANDLE B | St Davis I | ■ | || SEWING MACHINES. || | Schafer, Son j I & Loch. I i 1

The first Methodist in Indiana was Nathan Robertson, who came to Charleston in 1791). and the first class formed at Gassaway, near Charleston, where the first chapel was built in 1802. The Virginia Conference of 1809 was called the “Bachelor Conference. There were present eighty four preachers, only three were married. Its Bishops Asbury and McKendree were also bachelors. But providence and time changeth the affairs of man, especially if he be a minister. It is believed that the mortgage exemption law passed by the late legislature will reduce the tax valuation in Jay county at least .8500.000. This will have to be made up of a large increase in the valuation of lands unless a great deal more personal property is found than has in recent years l>een turned in by the assessors. Portland Sun. Through some grievous error the impression has gotten broadcast that an admission fee will lx 1 charged to the regular sessions of the conference. This is wholly untrue. Any person is welcome to attend any and all meetings, morning, afternoon or night, without money and without price. Even the customary collections will be abolished, leaving you free to attend without fear of any emergencies that might draw upon your bank account. One of the most literary and enter- j taining features of the week will be the lectureof Rev. William A. Quayle. D. D.. pastor of the Meridian Street: Church. Indianapolis. The subject is “Jean Valjean, the New Hero.’ Rev. Quayle, is one of the most noted men in the ministry of the middle west ' and has won fame on both the pulpit and lecture platforms. His appearance at this time is highly appreciated by every one who is afforded the opportunity of hearing him upon this. subject. Credit and praise beyond measure 1 of expression is due the executive I committee for their tireless efforts in arranging for the care and comfort of the more than 490 visiting minister. I church dignitaries and others who are already present and will take an 1 active part in the working of the conference now at hand. The work of j the executive committee has been | cumbersome in the extreme, but they I have labored faithfully and performed ; their work well. Nothing has been ; left undone that would add to the | comfort of any guest. The committee is composed of Rev. W. H. Daniel, John H. Lenhart. Jeff. Bryson, A. J. Smith, John Niblick, John D. Hale and George W. Woodward.

1 FORT WAYNE PRESBYTERY. Arrangements Made for a Pleasant Meeting Here April 17-18. As the Ft. Wayne Presbytery meets at Decatur on Monday evening, April 17. it will be interesting to our many readers to give a short sketch of its work and magnitude. Ihe PresbyI terian church is representative in form ' of government, Ixung divided into four | separate bodies, Ist, the General AsI sembly, which meets annually; 2nd, ■ State Synod, which meets annually; ; 3rd, Presbytery, which meets semiI annually and may be called in special ■ session; 4th. the church session, which ' meets upon call of its moderator. The church session is the ruling body of each separate church aud their action is subject to review by the Presbytery. Appeals may be taken from the session to Presbytery, from Presbytery to Synod and from Synod to the General Assembly. The Synod of Indiana is made up of eight Presbyteries. Each church is entitled to two delegates in meetings of Presyterys, one pastor and one elder, and to like representation in meetings of Synods, while each Presbytery is entitled to two delegates in the General Assembly, one pastor and one elder. Fort Wayne Presbytery includes eleven counties, to wit: Elkhart. Lagrange, Stuben. DeKalb, Noble, Kosciousko, Whitley, Allen, Adams. Wells and Huntington. in which district there are twenty-eight church organizations with a membership of 4880. Presbytery will be constituted on Monday evening, April 17. and the following is the docket: MONDAY. APRIL 17, 7:30. Opening sermon, by Rev. Edward Yates Hill, of Warsaw. Indiana. Constituting prayer. Roll call.

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H. C. DUCKETT. PASTOR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, THIS CITY. Election of Moderator and Tern- 1 porary Clerks. Report of Committee on Arrange- ' ments Rev. H. C. Duekett. Adjournment until morning with 1 prayer. 1 TUESDAY. APRIL 18. I Devotional exercises, at 8:30 a. m. Opening of business session with prayer at 9 a. m. Correction of roll. All papers to be acted on by Presbytery to put in hands of Stated Clerk. Reading of minutes of previous meetings. Standing Committee announced by Moderator. a Bills and Overtures. b Judicial. c Leave of Absence. d Sessional . Records one to report for all. Reading of Narrative of the State of Religion in the bounds of Presbytery, Rev. J. A. P. McGaw, D. D. Election of Commissioners to General Assembly. Election of five Trustees of Presbytery. Report of Standing Committees. Judical, Bills and Overtures, Secional Records, Leaveof Absence. Special reports of Standing Committees. Action on Overtures sent down from Synod. (See Minutes, Page 18.) Report of Committee ou Necrology, Rev. H. B. Townsend. Selection of next place of meeting. Reading of minutes to approval. Roll call. Adjournment. The people of Decatur will be welcomed to all the sessions of the Presbytery. The installation of Rev. H. C, Duckett as pastor of the Decatur Church, will take place Tuesday evening, April 18, at 7:30 o’clock, if the way lie clear. The sermon will be preached by Rev, J. T. Orton, of Lima, Ind., the charge to the people will be given by Rev J. C. Breckenridge; of Bourbon, Ind., and the charge to the pastor by Rev. J. A. P. McGaw D. D.,of the Third Church of Fort. Wayne, Ind. Decatur is already wearing a warm welcome for all who may seek refuge among us during this confereence week. In fact, Decatur is noted for her hospitality, her social and entertaining qualities, and this occasion, of course, will be no exception to the general rule. We want to impress upon the mindsof any and all strangers that they are welcome, welcome to anything and everything that happens to lay within the category of their wants. “Ask and ye shall receive.” This appellation every citizen of Decatur holds out to you, thus hoping that your stay among us may bepleas- | ant as well as profitable. The opening i session occurred last night.

MRS. AL.HHA HOOPER. In every church and every community there are persons whose consistent, upright walk through h.e is as a lamp unto the feet of others. Such has been the ease in the lite oi "Grandma Hooper as she is affectionately spoken of bv her host of friends. She'is the daughter of James M. and Hannah Gorsline. and w,is born in Athens county. Ohio, October 2G, 1818. When but a maiden Thirteen years old there came into her soul that higher, nobler purpose born from the indwelling of C hrist. in her heart, and she united with the Methodist church at Alexandria, Ohio.

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l As she grow in stature and matured mentally and physically, she grew in grace and Christian experience. On January 15. 1837 she was united in marriage with T. G. Bobo, who died May 30, 1854. leaving her with several children. On January 12. 1858 she was married to Ezekiel Hooper in this county. It has fallen to the lot of Grandma Hooper in her earlier life to make several states her home at different times. She removed from Ohio to Adams county and joined the M. E. church at Monmouth. a charge on Decatur circuit in 1841, under the pastorate of Rev. Jesse Sparks, now deceased. Since that time she has spent several years elsewhere but for fortyfive years has been indentified with Methodism in this vicinity. How beautiful the character and example of the saint who for a span of a life time has lived in sweet communion with God. Going to Him for couneel and being guided to higher planes of Christian living, until Christ and His love permeates the daily walk and conversation, and to come in contact wita such a one is like a glimpse of heaven. For sixty seven years she has walked with God and learned of Him. Though more than eighty years old she is in good health and well preserved and to a Democrat representative conversed interestingly of current events. She said “I am a Methodist from the crown of my head to sole of my foot and have been all my life. But. there is one thing Ido not think is as it should be. I think women should have equal representation in the affairs of the church with men. Women do more church work, raise funds and I believe carry most of the burdens, and surely they should lie allowed to be represented in the general conference on an equality with men. It seems to me that the preachers do not oppose it but they keep postponing it.” Grandma Hooper is very well informed upon the diplomatic methods adopted by the sterner sex in dealing with this much mooted question of “equality.” She also has unbounded faith in the persistent efforts and final success of the gentler sex in bringing about a condition of equal footing for men and women. When asked what were her most pleasant recolections in connection with church work she replied “The big revivals and the best one was in our own church during Rev. Greggs pastorate when so many souls were brought to Christ”. These seasons of refreshing have always been dear to her and she has always taken an active part in them, raising her voice in prayer and supplication in behalf of penitent sinners and rejoicing with those who were born into the Kingdom. May she yet long remain to bless and bv her life inspire other lives to higher aims and when her feet approach the pearly gates perchance the souls she prayed for may meet her upon the shore. “And when the stream which overflowed the soul was passed away. A consciousness remained that it had left. Deposited upon the silent shore of memory, images and precious thoughts that shall not die, and cannot be destroyed. I * Rev. George H. Kemp of Corrunna i is one of the Democrat’s special conference reporters. His figure is fai miliar to every minister in the confer- . ence and he is also known as one of i the best and most able newspaper writers that ever looked after the interests of the press. His writings are keen, witty and to the point. His 1 long service in newspaper writing is 5 sufficient guarantee that the reports ’ as published in the Democrat’s specr ial conference edition will lie what ■ they should be —just right. 3 —» s The fifty-sixth session of the North 3 Indiana Conference will be held in > Decatur next week. It will be presid--5 ed over by Bishop Andrews of New r York City. The people of Decatur are making preparations to entertain f five or six hundred people during the £ week, besides hundreds of other tran- - scient visitors. Bluffton will be well I represented there at all times.—Bluffton Banner.

Welcome! We indeed extend to all a hearty welcome, 9 and to assure you that we mean what we I say, we will give to all ministers and their I wives special low prices for this week on I our entire line of waist and trimming Silks, I black and fancy Suitings of all kinds, espec- I lally our stock of Crepons, very desirable I and the now weaves in black and spring I shades in Coverts for tailor made suits. I The liberal discount we will make to you ] this week will be a big inducement for you I to buy your spring outfit while here. We 1 can show you the prettiest line of Fancy I China and fancy articles of all kinds. You 1 * 1 can find anything in the way of Souvenir j or presents that you may want. Come in 1 and look through. We will be glad to show I you whether you buy or not. i * I Chas. F. True. CASH STORE. 3 ...Woodu/ard 9 8a11... 2 ■X ® © £ h Dealers ip el;eap, £ h .../Medium aqd pipe £ H . £ j I ...pjrpiture, 3 Qpipa, (Jlass apd Queepsu/are, £ h Opyx Stands, (amps. E 3 Qall apd S?? us. —s outl ? Second street. £ -A H 3 U/oodu/ard 9 Ball. H t3Jvvvinru'UTru‘tnruTru"inru‘inj"U"iririnj-LnruTriririrtnjyuinAru!UTJTnJvruTnJM : | I WILL KEEP CONSTANTLY I | ON HAND DURING E | Conference Week i I § | Oqioqs, Radishes, I | aqd all Frliits Iq season. 5 I ...Especial Effort... 2 Will be made to suit and fill all orders g entrusted in our care for all kinds of | CAKE, PIES AND BREAD. 2 | Special grates oq Meals I Ifor those attending conference. C I I Peoples’ Bakery. I ! Opposite Court t+olise. 2 ’Phone 27. ft. ft. Prop. j