soon taken to provide for the Superannuate, by some process, certain and reliable, he will be left to the chance work of the conditions obtaining at any time. The stewards want to thank the brethren of the Conference for the improved interest and effort on their part for the past few years, and yet you will let us say that very much more is needed to meet the demand. If a man is to go where he is sent and do the work assigned him, he must know that his age and inability to work will be provided for. If this is not done, he must not be blamed if he gives attention to secularities.
   Your stewards desire a word on some matters that are spoken of on the side. You will remember that the Conference does the passing of a brother's character, and the stewards do not feel that it is theirs to pass judgment on any brother's character after it has been reviewed by the Conference. If a brother is "all right" before the Conference, he must pass without challenge before the Board.
   A comparative statement would show that the gain in collections throughout the Conference for the year over the past year has been nearly $800. Brethren, with a little more effort we may yet raise the apportionment of $5,000.

   We recognize in the Sunday school one of the most important factors in the religious and educational life of the age, since the Sunday school teaches the Bible and brings the Gospel to vast multitudes in the formative period of life. The total Sunday school population in the United States is more than 12, 000,000. There are in the M. E. Church over 31, 000 Sunday schools with 350,000 officers and teachers, and more than 2,600,000 scholars.
    We believe that the literature for the Sunday school supplied by the Methodist Episcopal church, and published by our Book Concern, is the best for the purpose that can be obtained. We urge that our pastors and Presiding Elders everywhere see that our literature, including the Beginner's Quarterly, be used in the Sunday schools. We are confident that this will help to build up an earnest religious character, loyal to our Church, among the young people who attend our Sunday schools.
   We recommend that wherever practical, the Home Department and the Cradle Roll be established in connection with the Sunday school.
   Inasmuch as the Sunday School Union of our Church aids every year about 3,500 needy schools with literature, and has no other resource except the collection in the Churches, we urge that an offering be given for this cause in all our charges.

   Resolved, That a plan be prepared embodying the following items:
   1st. A perpetual endowment. Every minister of the Conference shall give his note for .... dollars, payable in .... years, with privilege of indefinite renewal; that he shall pay per cent interest on the same annually. Moneys from this source to constitute a fund for the benefit of those subscribing thereto, the same to be distributed upon the basis of years of service and amount subscribed. The further details of this feature are to be perfected hereafter.
   2d. That moneys arising from collections, etc., known as the Conference Claimants' Fund, to be collected and distributed as at present, the basis of distribution being primarily the necessities of the claimant.
   3d. That a member of this Conference holding an effective relation be appointed to travel the Conference at large in the interests of this work

who shall have access to the pulpits of the Conference, assist in taking collections, present the claims of the Fund and receive contributions and donations.

   At a meeting held in Lincoln during Assembly week, August, 1902, composed of the officers of the Historical Societies of the several Conferences of the State of Nebraska, the following resolutions were adopted:
   Resolved: That we present the purpose and plan of the Historical Society of the Methodist Conferences of Nebraska, at their sessions to be held in 1903. The purpose of this society is to collect matter of historic and biographical value to the Methodism of this state and to Methodism generally, this matter to serve as data for a written history of our Church in Nebraska. We therefore invite contributions of this character from everyone possessing any knowledge of the rise and progress of our Church, sketches of the lives of ministers and laymen who may have contributed to the same. Anyone possessing books, Conference minutes, or personal experiences of a nature to meet this end, are requested to aid the society in its work.
   The general plan is that every Methodist Church or Society in the state shall, during the Conference year of 1903 and 1904 hold a meeting in the interests of this society., that every Presiding Elder's district shall hold a district meeting, during the same time and for the same purpose; that every Conference shall have a semi-centennial celebration some time during its session of 1904; that a program be prepared and presented at the sessions of 1903, for the meetings and celebrations to be held throughout the state, and at the Conferences of 1903 and 1904; that the "Worn-out Preachers' Fund" be made the beneficiary of the semi-centennial celebration, and that an earnest effort be made to secure subscriptions for a permanent fund, in each Conference, for its benefit; that a committee of three be appointed at the sessions of 1902 to have this matter in hand, to be entitled, the committee of Arrangements and Program, and that it report at the Conference session of 1903.

   We rejoice that the declaration made by the Bishops of our Church concerning the liquor traffic, namely, that it cannot be licensed without sin, has become a dictum, regarded as the statement of a self-evident truth. We point with pride to the fact that our General Conference has declared that the only consistent attitude of the Christian toward the traffic in alcoholic liquors is that of relentless hostility, and that political parties not pledged to hostility against it ought not to expect, and ought not to receive, the suffrage of Christian voters. But in view of

the fact that these deliverances of the Church, annually renewed or endorsed by resolutions in our Conferences, express a prohibition sentiment and conviction which is not expressed by the ballots cast by Christian voters in state and national elections and oftentimes in municipal elections, we must express our fear that the membership of the Church as a whole falls under the same condemnation as those whom our Lord rebuked when He said: "They say and do not." Year by year a destruction of life and property and a wrecking of human happiness more appalling in its monstrous horridness than that wrought by war, famine and pestilence combined has been perpetrated under legal sanction because political parties not arrayed in hostility to the traffic have received the suffrages of Christian men. A few hundred thousand votes cast for a party pledged to the overthrow of the traffic is such a commentary on the moral integrity of the Church's attitude on political questions as to convince us that we ought to, as a Church, either cease passing prohibition resolutions and to rescind the prohibition paragraphs in our discipline, or else that the Bishops and preachers of the Church ought to more consistently and earnestly address themselves to the great task of leading the people out from the rum-ruled parties, and more thoroughly teach them their individual responsibility as citizens until an aroused Christian Church shall say as decisively by ballot in November as by resolution in May,
"THE SALOON MUST GO."

   Whereas, An effort is being made in the State of Vermont to repeal the prohibitory law and to substitute therefor a high license law:
   Resolved, 1st, That we hereby unqualifiedly declare that in our judgment the high license law of Nebraska is not only a failure as a temperance measure, but is a strong bulwark of the liquor traffice.
   Resolved, 2d, That we extend to the temperance workers in Vermont our sympathy in their struggle and express our hope for the successful issue of their campaign in defense of the prohibitory law.
   Resolved, 3d, That the secretary of this Conference be instructed to forward a copy of these resolutions to the secretary of the Vermont Conference and to the secretary of the committee conducting the prohibition campaign in Vermont.
   Whereas, the Anti-Saloon League has for its object the banishment of the saloon and a better condition of citizenship and has become a potent force and power in nearly every state in the Union and is doing much for the enforcement of law and bringing about a better condition of citizenship, therefore
   Resolved: That we give it our hearty cooperation and approval and we recommend that we work for a federation and crystalization of all the various organizations against the common enemy, the saloon and its associated vices.
   Resolved: That we recognize and appreciate the workings of all the

various temperance organizations and give them our hearty approval and co operation.
   Whereas, There seems to be a growing tendency in some of our towns and cities to desecrate the Sabbath and disregard civil righteousness, and
   Whereas, Some of our preachers have taken the lead in this fight against sin in high places,
   Resolved, That we commend them for their faithful efforts and assure them of our loyalty, sympathy and support.
   Furthermore, Be it Resolved, That we gladly assume the responsibility of pressing the claims of Christian citizenship upon all our people, not only by precept but also by example.

   1. The Tract Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church aids in the circulation of religious literature, particularly in the form of tracts and leaflets throughout the entire world. It is circulating literature in at least twelve languages in the United States alone, and in more than twenty languages in foreign lands.
   2. We recommend that the pastors in our Conference avail themselves more generally of the liberal offer of the Tract Society, which provides that every preacher who will make application can receive from the Society free, in the form of tracts, one-half of the last collection of his charge for the Tract Society.
   3. Inasmuch as the Tract Society needs the sum of $50,000 per annum in order to carry on its work throughout the Church and the world, we urge that a collection be taken for this society in all our Churches during the coming year.

   * Whatever the Omaha Hospital received previous to Conference is incorporated in the vouchers of other collections.

The above totals do not include $3.64 of odd cents cash and $5.31 of oddcents, vouchers.
A. C. CROSTHWAITE,
Treasurer.

   We are glad to note the increased interest and work of the Woman's Home Missionary Society, as indicated by an increase of ten auxiliaries during the year, and an increase over last year of $500 in the collections,Chairman.
   Therefore, Be it Resolved: First. That we express our highest appreciation of the work of this noble society.
   Second. That. we as pastors assist in every way possible, the work of this society.
   Third. That we note with pleasure the prosperous condition of the Mother's Jewels' Home at York, and that we express our appreciation of the faithful work of Brother and Sister Spurlock in connection with this home.
GEORGE M. MOREY,
   H. W. COPE, Chairman.
Secretary.

   Whereas, The W. F. M. S. in the years has shown itself to be a mighty army of gleaners, gathering in fields where the parent society reaps, and
   Whereas, The vast aggregate sums of money, thus obtained by this society are so judiciously handled and the work of our Christ so marvelously advanced among the benighted and burdened women and children of heathen land,
   Therefore, Resolved: That we as pastors give hearty sympathy and cordial cooperation to the auxiliaries now within our charges and encourage the organization of such where none exist.