Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1917 — Valparaiso Conference Closes After Busy Session. [ARTICLE]

Valparaiso Conference Closes After Busy Session.

Valparaiso, Ind.,. Sept. 27. —Observance of the Methodist laymen’s anniversary tonight was the feature of today's session of the. Northwest Indiana M. E. Conference. Prof. W. F. Ellis, of Valparaiso University, welcomed the laymen. The Rev. F. O. Fraley, of Greencastle, and the Rev. J. W. Gainer, of Reynolds presided- Addresses were delivered by Leslie T. Owen,-of Leroy, 111., president of the Laymen’s Association, and Dr. J. T. B. Smith, of Ghicago. Both urged a broadening’of the laymen’s work. Bishop Thomas Nicholson presided at the morning session, which was featured by a memorial service in memory of departed members. „ The afternoon session was presided over by Rev. W. H. Hickman, of Terre Haute, and Rev. E. W. Strecker, of Rensselaer. Dr. Paul S. Cumick, of Indianapolis, gave an address. E. S. Shumaker,, also of Indianapolis, discussed the temperance question. Dr. A. C. Knudson, of Boston, closed the afternoon with a talk on “Amos, the Prophet of Righteousness.” The report on the Methodist hospital at Indianapolis showed that the institution owns more than $500,000 worth of property and annually does $25,000 worth of charity work. There were 5,000 patients last year. The training school for nurses has 125. The invitation of Rev. W\ I. Ewing, and Recorder Daugherty, of Terre Haute, to hold the 1918' conference in the Centenary church there was unanimously accepted.