Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1902 — Echoes of the Conference. [ARTICLE]

Echoes of the Conference.

The 200 and odd Methodist ministers htiye gone away all .convinced that Rensseleer ia about the handsomest and oivilest and most hospitable town they ever struck. On theother hand, Rensselaer people reciprocate by considering the Methodist preachers and their famlließ about as nice, kind and courteous a lot of people as could well be gotten together. There is still considerable general Ignorance; especially among non-Methodist people, as tty,the method of assigning the ministers to their parishes: It" being' the impression of mapy, that it is done by the minister* themselves, in open donferenMf This is a mistake. The Methodist church' government is Considerable of an absolute monarchy in many respeots, and wholly so, at -least in theory, the matter of assigning the * TbC presiding bishop is the absolute monarch of .all he surveys, in that respect. He and he alone has complete authority in assignments. The presiding elders of the Conference comprise what is called his cabinet, and it is the bishop’s duty to.consult with them and then do whfct he thinks best. As a matter of faot, he usually follows the recommendations of the Elders, and appoints the ministers of their respective districts, who and where they advise. It was formerly the practice for these appointments to be made in a “star chamber” session, in absolute seoreoy, and no minister was consulted nor knew where” he was

to b 6 sent until the appointments were read in conference by the bishop. Nor were the people they "were sent to consulted either. Now a kindlier ouatom prevails and the wishes of ministers and oongrega- ‘ tions are considered as far as they can be consistently with what seems the best for the church, A resolution, not heretofore noted, was offered by Rev, H. G. Ogden, of Frankfort and , which provoked considerable discussion. This was a resolution reciting that since the presiding elder’s office had become almost entirely administrative, that a reduction in the amount spent oould be made without harm to the work and that it was the judgment of the conference that the number of presiding elders’ districts be aeoreased. This was opposed by Drs. Cissel, Beck, Colvin and others, and substitutes one after another were offered, each to be voted down, and the main question carried by a large and enthusiastic vote. The demand for the ohaoge was in the air, and it is said one presiding elder prediots that the number will be made three; and probably this year. On the other hand we have it on pretty straight authority that the bishop, who Is final authority in that matter, also, says he would sooner increase the districts to six than to redoes them to three. We did not get around to mention all the Methodist ministers Jasper oonnty has produoed, nor perhaps hive we heard, from all. One not yet specially mentioned, attended the conference. It was Rev. G. E. Mason, usually called Ed Mason/ fie is a rising young minister, bom and raised in Gillam Tp., and now assigned to Amo and Clayton, near Indianapolis in the Greenoastle district. Three Others are Horace, Frank and Charles Campbell. Sons of Rev. Waa. Campbell, deceased, also a Methodist minister. Frank and Oharlee are still in the ministry, some plaoe fn the west, but Horace, on aocOnnt we believe of his health, has left it and studied medicine. They too were brought up, and we think born, in 0111 am townahip. ' 2jfcg. The conference passed s resold-

t|on very complimentary to Rensselaer as a place for holding it, and whieh resolution Will be duly published as soon as a oopy can be obtained from the conference secretary. We are loath to take final leave of the M. E. conference without a personal mention of at least one more of our former pastors. And that is Rev. R. D. Utter, D. D , tlan whom no sweeter, kindlier, saintlier, more universally beloved man evey walked the streets of our city. He has been out of the active work for a year, and that, together with his own advancing years and his wife’s poor health, shuts him out from the more important appointments in the conference. He is sent to Walkerton, St. Joseph Co., in the South Bend district. Walkerton is a nice town, of about 1200 people, and Mr. Utter will have a good parsonage to live in, and a salary that will be a comfortable living for himself and family. There are no outside appointments connected with it so that the work will not be beyond his strength. Rev. E. G. Pelley, now a superannated Methodist preacher, living at Michigantown, attended the late conference and was the recipient of many offers of hospitality, such as invitations to dinners etc. This was as it should be for Rensselaer Methodists owe him a great debt of gratitude for great labors in the work of building Trinity M. E. church. If of any one man more than another it can be said that he “bore the burden and heat of the day” in that work, it" was he. There were many and great difficulties that had to bo overcome at that time before the movement for a new ohuroh could be well started on the road to completion, the amount of hard persistent labor that Mr. Pelley devoted to the work was never equalled here, before or since, by any man on any similar enterprise. When be preached his first sermon here about 13yea» ago there were 11 adults to hear him. When be quit the old oburch was too small for the congregations. He has been" in the ministry 32 jears and bnilt 9 churches and 9 parsonages. He also instituted the Epworth League here, which is now such a power for good in this church. He is superannuated on acoount of his wife's health, but hopes to get back again to active work, and does preach often in nearby places.