Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1902 — OPENING SESSION. [ARTICLE]

OPENING SESSION.

The preliminary meeting was held in the Trinity M. E. church Tuesday evening. Rev. S. B. Town, presiding elder of the Greencastle district, presided. The address of welcome was delivered by Judge S. P. Thompson, and was a handsome tribute to the followers of John Wesley. The reply to the address of welcome was made by Rev. E. A. Schell, D. D., presiding elder of the Crawfordsville district, in his most happy style. After these addresses the conference sermon was delivered by Rev. J. N. Green, of Terre Haute. It was a good sermon. The first session of the North West Indiana Conference convened in the Trinity M. E. church yesterday morning. Bishop John H. Vincent, D. D., offered a prayer and made a practical address on our Lord’s Supper, after which the Sacrament of Encharht was administered by the Bishop, assisted by the presiding elders, S. Beck, O. A. Brooke, S. B. Town, Isaac Dale and E. A. Schell Bishop Vincent now announced the Conference open for business. The secretary of the last session, Rev. J.

A. Maxwell, called the roll of the conference. ' J. A. Maxwell was elected secretary. 0. D. Royse was elected statistical secretary. W. E. McKensey was elected treasurer. C. W. Tinsley, W. B. Rippetoe and H. 0. Jennings, were introduced to the conference. 0. L. Harper was elected conference postmaster. Reporters for papers were elected as follows: F. W. Hixon, Western Christian Advocate; M. H. Appleby, North Western Christian Advocate; R. D. Utter, Christian'Advocate; T. F. Drake, local papers. The work of the 20th century was referred to the committee on education. Rev. E. A. Schell,| presiding elder of the Crawfordsvillejdistrict, made his report. The relation of R. D. Utter was changed from supernumerary to effective. Rev. S. B. Town, presiding elder of the Crawfordsville district, made his report. Rev. C. A. Brook,{presiding elder of the Lafayette district, made a good report of his district. The following committee on public worship was elected: S. Beck, 0. D. Royse, R. D. Utter and H. M. Middleton. Rev. H. 0. Jenkins, agent of the Western Methodist Book Concern, represented the publishing interests. A dividend of $512 was reported from the Book Concern, and one of $22 from the Chartered fund. The relation of W. Hall was changed to superannuated. J. S. Wright was recommended to the Board of Stewards as a Claimant.

W. G. Leazenby was granted leave of absence. Notices were given, doxology sung and the first session closed with the benediction by Dr. H. A. Gobin. No business meeting was held in the afternoon and evening, the time being devoted to committee work, services, etc.