The Auditing committee of the Nebraska Conference has examined the accounts of the Presiding Elders, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Conference Stewards, and find them correct.

   Whereas, there is yet an urgent need for greater familiarity with the Word of God, both at home and in foreign lands, and the Bible-study department of the Epworth League, recognizing this need, has issued a call to the pastors and Epworth League presidents to observe Sunday, Oct. 5th, as Bible Study Rally. Day, and to organize Bible study classes,
   And, Whereas, after a careful examination of the Conference statistics we find that only about thirteen of the charges report any collection for the Bible cause,
   Therefore, your committee recommend the observance of Sunday, Oct. 5th, as Bible Study Rally Day, the organization of a Bible Study class on every charge, and that the cause of the American Bible Society be presented on all the charges in the Conference.

    We hereby congratulate the Board of Church Extension and the Church upon the success of this work as shown by the increased collection from debts and offerings from the Churches.
   We are pleased with the spirit of aggressiveness shown by our secretaries in pushing the claims, and also in their efforts to serve the Church in our newly acquired possessions.
   We again pledge to support most heartily this benevolence and recommend that each charge give a Sunday this Conference year to the work.

   We are highly gratified to learn that our own Church insurance is constantly growing in favor with the official boards of our Church. This company insures the homes and goods of our preachers, and all property held by our Church, writing the policies for three-fourths valuation of

the property. It receives its premiums in annual installments, and rebates it annually, thereby saving more than 50 per cent of the cost in stock companies. We commend this young daughter of our Church to all our people.

   We, the committee on District Conference Records have examined the records of the only District Conference in the Nebraska Conference, viz: the York district and find them to be correct.

   You committee on Education respectfully submits the following report:
   1. WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY. Looking back over the history made in the past twelve months, we are beyond measure gratified with the magnitude and solidity of the work accomplished. The past school year has been one of signal prosperity with regard to both educational achievements and financial support, and with the present unusually large enrollment the promise of the future is full of encouragement. The outlook for the largest attendance in the history of the institution is most excellent.
   We are devoutly grateful to the Divine Goodness for the continued health and activity of our venerable and beloved Chancellor, the Rev. Dr. D. W. C. Huntington, and we feel that words are hardly adequate to express the approval with which we regard the administration of his office during this year as during other years. We also feel that no less commendation is due our treasurer and field agent, the Rev. Dr. G. W. Isham, for the severity and success of his important labors. In spite of many changes in the faculty, we believe that a favoring Providence has enabled us to maintain the former high standard of our instructional force. Those who depart we remember with gratitude; those who come we welcome with confident hope.
   Under the leadership of Chancellor Huntington, with a well-chosen faculty, with the old debt vanquished and a numerous body of young people already at work and more coming, we predict with greater confidence than ever before a sure and enlarging future for our university. And we call the urgent attention of our candidates for the ministry to the opportunities afforded them by the Wesleyan and by our great theological seminaries for full equipment for their calling. We recommend that all such avail themselves of this opportunity to take a complete collegiate course.
   The finances of the Wesleyan are in an exceedingly good condition. During the Conference year $86,000 have been collected from all sources. There are outstanding warrants amounting to $2,930 and to meet this

amount there are assets equal to $10,000. The gymnasium building in process of erection will cost $2,500. Every obligation on it so far has been met; and when completed it will be free of debt. The committee appointed to audit the accounts of the treasurer report having free access to all the books and that after careful canvass of all accounts they find everything correct.
   We approve the contemplated action of the Board of Trustees in undertaking the establishment of a permanent endowment for the university and commend to the prayers and generosity of our people all future effort in this behalf. In view of the needs of the university for the coming year we recommend an apportionment of $5,000 by the Presiding Elders to the several charges of this Conference.

   2. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. We recognize in our Board of Education an agency for great good and we gladly welcome its secretary, the Rev. Dr. W. F. McDowell, to our Conference and pray that he may have great success in his work. We reaffirm our loyalty to this cause and earnestly urge our pastors to duly observe Children's Day and use every effort to interest our Sunday schools in all that pertains to that anniversary, especially the collection. We acknowledge our grateful appreciation of the very generous help afforded to many of our students in Nebraska Wesleyan University by this fund and recommend that more stringent measures be used to collect the unpaid loans now due this society.

   3. NOMINATIONS. We submit herewith the following nominations subject to action of the Conference:
    Trustees of the Nebraska Wesleyan University: G. W. Isham, G. I. Wright.
    Visitors to the Nebraska Wesleyan University: F. A. Colony, U. G Brown. Alternate, L. G. Parker.
    Visitors to Garrett Biblical Institute: W. T. Cline, J. S. W. Dean Alternates, F. L. Wharton, T. H. Worley.

   Your visitor attended the exercises of commencement week, heard as many of the examinations as practicable, met the faculty and conversed with them freely, conversed with the students freely, attended the Sabbath services, made as extensive inquiry about the institution as possible, and reports:
   1st. That the facilities for study are excellent.
   2d. That the management is wide-awake and progressive.
   3d. That the scholarship of the faculty is unquestionable.
   4th. That the testimony of the alumni and students to the value of a course of study there is uniformly positive and affirmative.

   5th. That while some of the changes made under the pressure of criticism are to be regretted, the high standard of scholarship will undoubtedly be maintained.
   6th. That while some criticism of the institution is abroad, the school seems entirely trustworthy, taking a high rank among our theological schools.
   7th. That the Conferences should keep a warm but positive grip upon this school in its entireness, as it is the one most easily reached by this great Central West.
J. S. W. DEAN.

   We, your committee on Episcopal Fund, are glad to report an increase in collections over last year of $177.
   We regret that this does not meet the full apportionment. Since there have been encouraging gains on all the districts except one, we believe that a little stronger effort on the part of each Presiding Elder and Pastor will bring the collections up to the full apportionment next year.
   We also find that there are some charges that fail to report anything for the Episcopal Fund. Therefore, we recommend that the Presiding Elders, at the Third Quarterly Conference, inquire if the Episcopal apportionment has been met, and if not, insist that the disciplinary requirements for the same be carried out.

   Whereas, We recognize the efficiency of this society in the education and Christianization of the illiterate people of the south, both white and black, and
   Whereas, Its success depends on the efforts of the pastors,
   Therefore, We recommend that every pastor be very diligent in studying the needs of the society and also faithful in taking the collections.

   We, your committee in the case of Rev. Philip H. Smith, find that he has been guilty of an offense against Methodist doctrine and discipline, by doing business on the Lord's day, in deference to the custom of an Adventist community, where he was located. He has professed his sincere penitence and promises that there shall be no repetition of the offense. We therefore find no cause of action against him and recommend the passing of his character.

   The committee on Memoirs find that the following members of the Conference have died during the past Conference year: Jesse L. Fort, G. B. Crippen.
   The following named wives of members of the Conference have died: Mrs. David Hart, Mrs. Alfred Brigham, Mrs. J. W. Taylor.

   Whereas, The Methodist Hospital and Deaconess' Home at Omaha, by its splendid record, has demonstrated the necessity of its existence and continuance, and
   Whereas, It has reached a crisis in which it must have help, therefore,
   Resolved, First, that we heartily endorse and pledge to it our support.
   Resolved, Second, that we will welcome its representatives to our charges.
   Resolved, Third, that we make the coming Conference year a special hospital year in our Conference, and endeavor to secure at least one ($1.00) dollar per member from all our charges.

I concur in the above.
C. H. FOWLER.

   We note with satisfaction the steady growth and increasing usefulness and prosperity of our periodicals. We are thoroughly equipped with the best facilities for widely distributing a pure and wholesome literature. The Christian press is the most powerful adjunct of the Christian pulpit. Competition is becoming stronger daily, yet no competitor excels us in the character of our publications. Our periodicals are constantly increasing in excellence, and our Sunday school literature is steadily widening its circulation. We would urge all our pastors to preach a sermon early in the year on Christian literature and present the cause of the Central Christian Advocate. We cordially commend also the Methodist Review, the Christian Advocate, the Epworth Herald, the Sunday school literature and the Epworth League reading course to all our people.

   Resolved: That the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places in Wymore as the seat of our Conference. We take this opportunity to express our appreciation and affection for our beloved Bishop and to Revs.

L. G. Parker and I. W. Kenagy, our pastors, for the courteous manner and genial spirit in which they have introduced us to the homes of Wymore and Blue Springs, and to the people who have so generously entertained us. We will carry away with us the kindest recollections of the people and their hospitality.
   We note with gratitude the material prosperity of the state in the abundance of the harvests, which God has bestowed upon us, and that our people have recognized that in their gifts, thereby increasing our benevolences, salaries, the payment of the indebtedness of our educational institution, the Wesleyan, and the debts of our Church property throughout the Conference. This calls for increased consecration upon our part.
   The opening of the twentieth century reveals the fact that we as a nation stand in the front as a great world power in the settlement of boundaries, the opening of the doors to those who are imprisoned and giving liberty to the captives. The gospel is following our flag wherever it is unfurled. The teacher and missionary from America are going hand in hand to the nations of the earth giving civil and religious liberty to the foreign peoples. We note with gratitude what God has wrought in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines and pledge our prayers and gifts for the redemption of these islands to our Christ.

   Resolved: That the Presiding Elders be empowered to revise the list of Standing committees, and that the Presiding Elders report at this Conference nominations of committeemen for the next Annual Conference.
JOHN GALLAGHER, ASA SLEETH.

   Whereas, We have heard that Bishop Thoburn has been bereaved by the death of his wife,
   Therefore, Resolved: That the Secretary be requested to send a message of sympathy.
T. H. WORLEY, B. W. MARSH.

ORIEN W. FIFER,
Secretary.

   We live in an age of organized and aggressive evil. Never was the demon of intemperance more determined than now or confronted with brighter prospects of ultimate victory. The god of mammon seeks to bring the world with suppliant prayers on their knees to its shrine. The nations of the world are rushing everywhere in a mad search for pleasure. The want of political power has been wrested from the hand of righteousness and is held high in the triumphant hand of the giant combines of greed and selfishness. Notwithstanding the fact that we are within the reach of all power, many Christians seemed lulled to the sleep of indifference by the refrains from the choirs of the indifferent or are lured by the siren voice to destruction in the billows of greed and pleasure. It is a time for prayer. It is a time to absent ourselves from the halls of pleasure and assemble in the place of prayer. The woe to them that are at ease in Zion is upon the world to-day. Let the Church of God awake and shake herself from the lethargy of sin and press into the conflict that is waging against the hosts of sin. Ultimate victory is ours if we pray and believe and work. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

   The stewards are pleased to note the decided increase in the collections from the charges. The amount received from the Book Concern is steadily decreasing. We note this fact with the increasing apprehension that in a few years it will entirely cease. If some definite steps are not

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