Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 238, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1919 — CONFERENCE IS IN SESSION [ARTICLE]

CONFERENCE IS IN SESSION

NORTHWESTERN INDIANA ANNUAL SESSION CONVENES AT FRANKFORT. Frankfort Crescent-News, Sept. 30.—The Northwestern Indiana conference of the Methodist Episcopal churches opened in this city today and the opening address was delivered at the First Methodist Episcopal church tonight at 7:30 o’clock by Rev. Joseph N. Green, D. D., of South Bend. Bishop Thomas Nicholson, D. D., LL. D., who presided at the conference, arrived in Frankfort Tuesday morning and at once took up his headquarters at the Coulter hotel. Practically every train and interurban car entering the city brought ministers who had come to attend the conference meetings. This morning at 9 o’clock in the dining room of the Masonic Temple, conference examinations were held. More than twenty divinity students were present and took the examination in Methodist church work. Following is the program Tor the opening service tonight at the

church: Rev. Demetrius Tillotson will preside. Following an organ prelude by Miss Bertha Caldwell, the congregation will sing “Jesus, Thy Name High Over All.— Rev. George V. Morris will offer prayer. Special music will follow. The welcoming address will be delivered by Mayor McMurtry for the city, and by Dr. Oliver Gard for the church. Rev. H. A. Gubin, one of the five surviving members of the class of fifty years ago (1869) will respond for the conference. Following this response announcements pertaining to of the week will be made. The sermon of the evening will be by the Rev. J. N. Greene, who has chosen for his topic: “The Message of the Modern Church.” Benediction will btf- by Rev. GeorgeF.

Craig. The Methodist business men were scurrying to meet every train and interurban car today with automobiles, bearing on their windshields invitations to conference guests to “get in.” i . The four district superintendents arrived early this afternoon. Next to the bishop these men are the center of conference interest, as they are the bishop’s advisers in the assigning of ministers to their charges. The theory of the Methodist church is that every minister is. like a soldier, going where he is sent. The church, however, is after all very democratic in spirit and the bishop always takes into consideration —the wishes of the local churches and the ministers themselves. The district superintendents are: Rev. Demetrius Crawfordsville district; Rev. H. L. Davis, of the South Bend district; Rev. Wm. Switzer, of the Greencastle district, and Rev. Wm. E. McKenzie, of the Lafayette district. Each of these superintendents have about fifty

charges and ministers under his supervision. The superintendent is appoirited for a term of one year, but can stay for six consecutive years. The six-year period is not complete of any of the present superintendents and it is thought there will be no changes in any of them. Rev. Joseph N. Green was selected last year to give the keynote of the conference in the opening sermon. Rev. Green began his ministry m this conference, but has been elsewhere for -several years. He was transferred back to this conference last year and appointed to the First church, South Bend. —o— Frankfort Crescent-News, Oot. 1. day of the Northwest Indiana conference in this city today, the ministers and laymen delegates in attendance found the spirit of the conference such that everyone was heart and soul in the work and

ready for the discussions and business that is of vital importance and that must be transacted while the conference is in session. The morning session opened at 8:30 o’clock with Bishop Thomas Nicholson in the chair. This, was one of the most impressive services of the conference. The bishop gave the first of a special series of addresses to be given each morning on the evangelistic movement, which is to follow the centenary movement. The theme this morning was: ‘The Minister Himself.’’ , The bishop discussed the extreme difficulty of the members of today and called special attention to the constant temptation now held out for the efficient men to accept the much larger salaries now being constantly offered them in the business WOTlu. The laid stress upon the wave of materialism which seems to | be coming by way of reaction to the I sacrificial spirit of the. war. He • gave as the greatest need of today, that men should be sacrif ically true to the great ideals of life, as over against the materialistic tide sweeping over the world. A special committee was ordered to report on the program for evan- .* -'a -.K ' r X . - -r 1 . A

gelistic work. Roll call, which occurred just after thei impressive communion service, was one of the most impressive movements in the conference. The conference stands with bowed heads while the secretary calls the roll of those who died during the year. (This year the roll consisted of Clinton H. Beal and Russell H. Utter.) The greatest spirit of the morning was shown when a motion was made for a special committee to report on the League of Nations. Rev. E. S. Shoemaker, state sec,rotary- of the Anti-Saloon league, moved that the 1 matter should either be dropped or referred to the regular committee on “the state of the country.” In the bourse of his remarks, Rev. Shoemaker took occasion to make a personal defense of the two senators from Indiana.

Rev. E. W. Dunlavy took the floor for the special committee, saying that the country was waiting to hear from the chureh on the fundamental principles underlying the league. Mr. Dunlavy said the senators had tried through the national committee to get a hearing before this conference and that the conference ought not to wave or sidestep the principle involved by the motion. His remarks were received with a wave of applause.