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     The Seventeenth Session of the Nebraska Annual Conference was held in the 18th Street M. E. Church in the city of Omaha, beginning on Thursday, October 11th, 1877, and continuing till the 16th.

     Bishop Thomas Bowman was present and presided.

     The opening religious services were conducted by T. B. Lemon, and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered, by Bishop Bowman, assisted by the Presiding Elders.

     The roll was called and the following members answered to their names:

     Jacob Adriance, J. M. Adair, H. Burch, L. F. Britt, Edwin Buck, H. T. Davis, G. W. De la Matyr, D. S. Davis, J. W. Dobbs, G. W. Elwood, F. M. Esterbrook, A. L. Folden, Josiah Fowler, W. D. Gage, John Gallagher, D. Hart, T. A. Hull, P. C. Johnson, L. Janney, T. B. Lemon, J. B. Leedom, C. G. Lathrop, J. G. Miller, J. B. Maxfield, D. Marquett, J. Marsh, J. S. Orr, J. H. Presson, H. Presson, Wm. Peck, I. N. Pardee, Richard Pearson, D. F. Rodabaugh, J. R. Reed, Chas. Reilly, J. M. Richards, W. B. Slaughter, C. L. Smith, Geo. Scott, J. W. Stewart, S. P. Vandoozer, A. G. White, S. P. Wilson; E. Wilkinson, G. H. Wehn, Wm. M. Worley.

     W. B. Slaughter was elected Secretary, and instructed to nominate his assistants. Upon his nomination, the following brethren were elected: L. F. Britt and S. D. Roberts, Assistant Secretaries; John Gallagher, Statistical Secretary; Wm. Peck, Recording Secretary.

     The following business was transacted:

     The Presiding Elders and the Secretary were elected a Committee on Nominations.

     The Bishop announced the transfer to this Conference of Rev. H. D. Fisher, D.D., from the Cincinnati Conference, and Rev. S. H. Henderson, from the Upper Iowa Conference.

     The following were appointed a Committee on Grievances: J. G. Miller, J. M. Adair, D. F. Rodabaugh, C. L. Smith, J. W. Stewart.

     The following STANDING COMMITTEES were elected:

     ON PUBLIC WORSHIP.--H. T. Davis, I. N. Pardee, H. D. Fisher.

     ON EDUCATION.--W. B. Slaughter, P. C. Johnson, S. P. Vandoozer, J. W Stewart, J. M. Richards, H. D. Fisher.

     ON TRACTS.--E. J. Willis, J. Marsh, J. Adriance, J. H. Wolfe, D. Marquett, J. H. Presson.

     ON TEMPERANCE--H. D. Fisher, J. B. Leedom, G. H. Wehn, R. Pearson, J. G. Miller, John Gallagher.

     AUDITING COMMITTEE.--Charles Reilly, W. D. Gage, Geo. Scott., J. R. Reed. W. M. Worley, H. Presson.

     ON MISSIONS.--Presiding Elders.

     ON PUBLISHING MINUTES.--The Secretaries.

     ON THE BIBLE CAUSE.--G. W. De LaMatyr, J. S. Orr, C. L. Smith, W. J. Barger, E. Wilkinson, W. S. Blackburn,

     ON SUNDAY SCHOOLS.--J. M. Richards, A. L. Folden, S. P. Wilson, E. J. Willis, C. L. Smith, Wm. Peck.

     ON CHURCH EXTENSION--C. G. Lathrop, J. Fowler, J. S. Orr, F. M. Esterbrook, L. F. Britt, J. G. Miller.

     ON PERIODICALS.--J. R. Reed, D. S. Davis.

     ON POST OFFICES.--G. A. HOBSON.

     STEWARDS--F. M. Esterbrook, D. Andrews, A. L. Folden, P. C. Johnson, J. W. Dobbs, .J. Adriance.

     ON NEW YORK ACCOUNTS.--J. R. Reed.

     ON CURRENT BOOK ACCOUNTS.--H. Burch, J. B. Leedom, A. L. Folden, C. L. Smith, J. W. Stewart.

     ON W. M. F. SOCIETY.--H. Presson, D. Marquett, E. Wilkinson.

     The following COMMITTEE ON MEMOIRS was appointed: H. Burch, J. G. Miller, W. B. Slaughter, S. P. Wilson, D. Marquett.

     The tobacco question was referred to the Committee on Temperance.

     1st Question--"Have any entered the Conference by re-admission or transfer?"

     John Armstrong and Edward Thompson were re-admitted.

     H. D. Fisher and S. H. Henderson were received by transfer.

     2d Question--" Who are admitted on trial?"

     H. A. L. King, Cyrus A. Lewis, Charles A. Hale, Jabez Charles, and Wm. H. Green were admitted.

     Samuel W. Johnson was admitted as an elder, and placed for examination in the first class of deacons.

     3d Question--" Who remain on trial ?

     T. H. Worley, F. B. Donisthorpe, C. L. Brockway, and S. A. Bear were continued.

     Under the call of the 4th Question--" Who are admitted into full connection?

     A. J. Combs, Peter Van Fleet, W. H. Tibbits, G. A. Hobson, W. G. Barger, E. J. Hancock, J. Q. A. Fleharty, J. R. Wolfe were addressed and examined by the Bishop in the presence of the Conference; and A. J. Combs, J. T. Wolfe, and Peter Van Fleet were admitted, they being deacons.

     G. A. Hobson, W. J. Barger, F. J. Hancock, J. Q. A. Fleharty, W. H. Tibbitts were admitted and elected to deacons' orders.

     5th Question--"Who are the Deacons of the First Class?"

     G. A. Hobson, W. J. Barger, E. J. Hancock, J. Q. A. Fleharty, Wm. H. Tibbits.

     The 6th Question--"Who are the Deacons of the Second Class?" was taken up, and John Patterson was passed and located at his own request.

     D. Andrus was required to pass art examination in Logic, and furnish a written sermon at the next Conference.

     T. A. Hull was excused from further examination.

     John Armstrong was admitted as a deacon of the Second Class.

     A. L Goss was continued.

     7th Question--"Who have been elected and ordained Elders?"

     Will. M. Worley, D. S. Davis, Richard Pearson, Geo. Scott, T. A. Hull, S. P. Roberts, J. M. Richards, Chas. Reilly, Edward Thompson (re-admitted as a deacon of the Second Class), were elected to elders' orders.

     The 8th Question--" Who are the Supernumerary Preachers?" was considered, and G. B. Crippen, J. L. Fort, D. H. May, R. Rowbotham, D. A. Crowell, S. H. Manley, J. C. Cannon, W. E. Morgan were continued. Subsequently. the following were granted a supernumerary relation: H. P. Mann, D. C. Brannon.

      The 9th Question--"Who are the Superannuated Preachers?" was taken up, and L. W. Smith, C. W. Giddings, Z. B. Turman, L. Janney, A. L. Goss, J. W. Taylor were continued; and subsequently D. Hart was granted a superannuated relation.

     The 10th Question--"Was the character of each Preacher examined?" was taken up, and the following members reported, and their characters were passed:

     T. B. Lemon, J. H. Presson, W. S. Blackburn, D. F. Rodabaugh,

H. Burch, L. F: Britt, John Gallagher, J. M. Adair, S. P. Wilson, P. C. Johnson, H. Presson, R. C. Johnson.

     A. G. White, C. G. Lathrop, J. Marsh, C. L. Smith, J. W. Dobbs, S. P. Vandoozer.

     G. W. Elwood, J. W. Stewart, J. S. Orr, W. D. Gage, E. J. Willis, Geo. H. Wehn, W. P. Grantham.

     W. B. Slaughter, D. Marquett, E. Wilkinson, A. L. Folden, .J. G. Miller, D. C. Brannon.

     H. T. Davis, H. D. Fishier, D. Hart, G. W. De LaMatyr, F. M. Esterbrook, Wm. Peck, J. Adriance.

     J. B. Maxfield, C. W. Wells, J. B. Leedom, J. R. Reed, and J. Fowler.

     The case of Edwin Buck was referred to the Presiding Elder of the Omaha District for investigation.

     11th Question--"Have any located? " was taken up, and R. C. Johnson, John Patterson, A. J. Swarts, W. B. M. Colt were severally granted a location at their own request.

     12th Question--"Have any withdrawn?" None.

     13th Question--"Have any been transferred, and to what Conference?"

     The Bishop announced the following:

     D. B. Lake to the Missouri Conference.

     B. S. Taylor to the Troy Conference.

     G. S. Alexander to the Illinois Conference.

     I. N. Pardee to the N. W. Iowa Conference.

     W. H. Green to the Colorado Conference.

     14th Question--"Have any been expelled?" None.

     15th Question--"Have any died?" M. Prichard.

     The following memoir was read before the Conference, and adopted:

     REV. MARTIN PRICHARD was born in time State of Ohio, April 23, 1827. When seventeen years of age he was converted and united with the M. E. Church. About the same time lie left home, and without any pecuniary aid from others he secured a good education. He then engaged in teaching, and continued in that employment until he entered the traveling connection. He was licensed as an Exhorter when twenty-three years of age, and as a local preacher about two years later.
     In the spring of 1857 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Howard, and a month or two after came to Nebraska, and was employed as a supply on Mount

Pleasant Mission by Rev. Wm. H. Goode, Presiding Elder of Nebraska District. He at once entered upon his duties as an Itinerant with that energy and devotion to his work which so signally characterized his whole career as a minister, and the fruits of his labor gave abundant proof that he was indeed called to the work of the Gospel ministry. At the close of the year he was recommended to the traveling connection, and was received on trial in the Kansas and Nebraska Conference at its session in Topeka, April, 1858, and returned for a second year to Mount Pleasant Mission. When his term of labor expired on this charge, he was appointed successively to Peru, Bellevue, Platte Valley, Pawnee City, Falls City, and then a second time to Peru, but before the close of his first year in this station, he was appointed Presiding Elder of Lincoln District, made vacant by the failing health and consequent resignation of Rev. C. W. Giddings. At the next conference he was appointed to the Nebraska District, which he served for four years with marked ability and great success. During this quadrennium he also did good service to the church as a member of the New York Book Committee. He was then changed to the Lincoln District, upon which lie labored with increasing zeal and usefulness till the 24th of March last, when the Master called, and he passed away from labor to reward.
      Brother Prichard was eminently a man of one work, and that he did his work wisely and well is fully attested by the abundant success that everywhere attended his ministry. He was not a revivalist in the popular sense of that word, and yet his ministry was marked by frequent conversions, and some quite extensive ingatherings of souls. His social qualities were superior, and he excelled as a pastor. Under his efficient management all the interests of the church, both great and small, were looked after and cared for. The parsonage and church at Peru, the beautiful church at Pawnee City, and a church freed from debt at Falls City, are so many monuments of his financial ability, enterprise, and liberality, for he gave them not only his time and supervision, but also contributed liberally of his means. But his most important work and greatest usefulness was in the presiding eldership. By his able ministrations, his untiring labors, his wise counsels and his kindness to and care for his preachers and their families, he enshrined himself in the hearts of both preachers and people. As a preacher, he was sound in doctrine, his style clear and forceful, and his sermons solid rather than brilliant. His piety was of that cheerful type that caused him to look on the bright side of life, and rendered him hopeful and happy. During the last two years of his life he was at tunes a great sufferer. For months together paroxysms of pain were frequent and very severe, but amidst it all he maintained the same cheerful spirit, and was never heard to utter a word of complaint. During his last illness, which continued ten days, his mind and his heart were still upon his work; and as late as Thursday, he still thought he would he able to attend his quarterly meeting on Saturday and Sunday, but when Saturday morning came the messenger death came also, and found him ready alike for labor or for rest.
     When the congestive chill, of which he died, was upon him, stupefying both body and mind, so that he thought and spoke of little that related to earth, he was twice asked if he felt Jesus to be precious, and twice answered with emphasis, "Yes, oh yes," and soon, with apparently little or no pain, he passed from earth to heaven to join the happy spirit of his cherub child, which only by a few hours had preceded him to glory, leaving his family thus doubly bereaved, to mourn

he loss of a kind and loving husband and father, and this conference one of its ablest and most efficient members.
     But while we mourn, we also rejoice--rejoice that He being dead yet speaketh. Though our lamented brother is no more among us, he lives in his labors, and in his influence, and his memory is enshrined in our hearts.

H. BURCH, Committee,     

     16th Question--"What is the Statistical Report? " See statistical tables.

     17th Question--"What are the claims on the Conference fund?" There are none.

     18th Question--" What has been received on the foregoing claims, and how has it been applied?"

     19th Question--"Where are the Preachers stationed?" See appointments.

     20th Question--"Where and when shall the next Conference be held?"

     Beatrice and Nebraska City were nominated, and Beatrice was selected.

     21st Question--"Have any Local Preachers been ordained?"

     T. H. Worley and Wm. H. Green were elected to deacons' orders; and John Martel was elected to elders' orders.

     22d Question--" Who are the Conference Board of Church Extension? "

     H. T. Davis, President; Hon. E. H. Rogers, Vice-President; J. B. Maxfield, Recording Secretary; T. B. Lemon, Corresponding Secretary; G. W. Elwood, Treasurer.

     Managers--A. G. White, J. B. Leedom, J. W. Small, C. C. White, H. P. Webb, W. G. Olinger, and W. B. Slaughter.

     A communication was received from the District Superintendent of the American Bible Society, read, and referred to the Committee on the Bible Cause.

     Mrs. O. M. Metcalf, of Lincoln, addressed the Conference on the work of the W. F. M. Society, presenting the report of Mrs. A. F. Newman, Corresponding Secretary for Nebraska.

     A. G. White presented the following, which was adopted:

     WHEREAS, The means which have been employed to provide funds for the publication of the Conference minutes have proved inadequate, and the Conference is now in debt on the above account to the amount of $-----; therefore

     Resolved, That the following plan be adopted for the present year:

     1st. The secretaries shall make an estimate of the amount necessary to publish the minutes, and add thereto the indebtedness for the minutes of last year.

     2d. They shall apportion this amount among the districts of the Conference according to their several ability.

     3d. Each Presiding Elder shall be personally responsible for the amount thus apportioned to his district respectively.

     4th. The district stewards at their first meeting shall apportion the sum assessed upon the district which they represent, among the various charges of the said district as they may deem equitable.

     5th Each pastor shall be personally responsible for the amount assessed to his charge; that is to say, he shall collect it from. his people, or pay it himself.

     6th. This money shall be paid to the secretaries within three months after the adjournment of Conference.

     Rev. J. M. Freeman, D.D. addressed the Conference on behalf of the Tract Society and Sunday School Union of the M. E. Church.

      Rev. Benj. St. James Fry, D.D. addressed the Conference on the periodical interests of the Church, and especially with reference to the circulation of the Central Christian Advocate.

     Bishop Bowman presented the following certificates of ordination:

     "This certifies that on the 14th day of October, 1877, in Omaha, Nebraska, I ordained the following brethren Deacons in the Church of God, viz.: John Armstrong, George A. Hobson, Wm. J. Barger, Edward J. Hancock, John Q. A. Fleharty, Wm. H. Tibbits; also as Local Deacons, Thomas H. Worley and W. H. Green.

"THOMAS BOWMAN."     

     "This certifies that on the 14th day of October, 1877, at Omaha, Nebraska, aided by several Elders, I ordained the following brethren Elders in the Church of God, viz.: Wm. M. Worley, Daniel S. Davis, Stokeley D. Roberts, Richard Pearson, George Scott, Joseph M. Richards, Edward Thompson, Charles Reilly: and as a Local Elder, John T. Martel.

"THOMAS BOWMAN."     

     A draft for thirty dollars on the Chartered Fund was ordered.

     On motion of J. B. Maxfield, it was resolved that the Trustees of Blair Circuit be authorized to dispose of the parsonage property at Fort Calhoun.

     On motion of T. B. Lemon, the Trustees of Peru Station were authorized to dispose of the parsonage property at Peru.

     D. F. Rodabaugh and J. W. Stewart were appointed to act as Prosecutors in behalf of the Church, in the case of Edwin Buck.

     Bishop Bowman nominated the TRIERS OF APPEALS, and they were confirmed, as follows: D. F. Rodabaugh, J. B. Leedom, C. G. Lathrop, S. P. Vandoozer, H. D. Fisher, J. W. Stewart, J. G. Miller.

     The third class of Conference Trustees were elected, viz.: W. B. Slaughter, Edward Thompson, T. L. Griffey, E. H. Rogers, W. G. Olinger.

     To fill vacancy in second class, caused by the removal of G. S. Alexander, J. H. Presson.

     The Presiding Elders were made a Committee on Nominations, with instructions to report at the opening of the next session of the Conference.

     On motion of H. D. Fisher, it was

     "Resolved, That the Trustees of the First M. E. Church in Omaha, are justified in building a new, cheap, and commodious church, for the accommodation of their large congregation and Sabbath School connected with their church."

     D. Marquett presented the following:

     Sister LIZZIE G. MAXFIELD, the subject of this memoir, was born in Charleston, Indiana, April 7, 1837. She came to Nebraska in 1855, and was married to Rev. J. B. Maxfleld on the 20th of April, 1863. She experienced religion in early life, uniting with the Lutheran Church; after marriage with Rev. J. B. Maxfleld, she united with the M. E. Church.
     Sister Maxfield possessed, in a rare degree, those christian virtues which adorn a woman's character, and which not only won the confidence of all who knew her, but endeared her to them by no common ties of friendship. Though retiring in her disposition, she was ever found in the front rank of christian workers when any good was to be accomplished. But the brightest exhibition of her christian character was to be seen in her home, where she proved herself to be a faithful devoted wife, patiently bearing with her husband the hardships, toils, and privations of the itinerancy.
     She died in great peace at her home in Blair, Nebraska, December 7th, 1870.

     Resolutions of thanks to the citizens of Omaha, to Bishop Bowman, and to the different railroads which have extended courtesies to the members of the Conference, were adopted.

     W. B. Slaughter presented the following:

     ABBY G. ALEXANDER, wife of Rev. G. S. Alexander of this Conference, died, after an illness of only twenty-four hours, at her home near Lincoln, November 13, 1876.
     She was born July 6, 1835, was converted under the pastoral labors of Brother Alexander in the spring of 1855, and became his wife March 11, 1856, henceforward sharing with him the labors and trials of an itinerant life, the last eight years having been spent in Nebraska.
     Naturally of a quiet, retiring disposition; distinguished for firmness, fortitude, and patience; possessed of rare intellectual endowments, and earnestly devoted to the work to which she was providentially called, she was eminently fitted to supplement the labors of, her husband, and to cheer and support him in his high calling. Among all who knew her there was none to speak disparagingly of her, but multitudes to call her blessed. Her end was peace.

     The Committee on Division of the Conference was discharged.

     The Committee on Temperance made the following report.

     Your Committee on Temperance and the Use of Tobacco beg leave to report:

     First. That there is reason for rejoicing and encouragement in the outlook on the increased interest in the subject of Temperance.

     All over the country there has been, during the past year, a growing interest in the temperance cause, as manifest in the Murphy movement, and the grand work done by the Temple of Honor in our own state, by which thousands have been saved from the grasp of the destroyer.

      In view of what has been done, and of the opportunities presented for still greater achievements, we feel constrained to thank God and take courage.

     Let there be no abatement of our ardor or effort in this good cause, but let each preacher do his whole duty fearlessly and fully, and we believe the day is not far distant when God's people shall shout over a prostrate foe.

     Resolved, That we recommend the organization of Juvenile Temperance Societies in all our Sabbath Schools, and in all legal and Christian ways, the encouragement of the work of reform.

     Resolved, That we recommend the appointment of the Rev. J. G. Miller as State agent of the Conference Temperance Society. And that we request Congress to appoint a National Commission on this subject.

     Second. WHEREAS, Time use of tobacco is a great and growing evil, a waste of money, deleterious to health, poisonous to the system, a filthy and very disagreeable and disgusting practice, and unbecoming a christian, and much more a minister of the Gospel.

     Therefore Resolved, That we will, by precept and example, discourage its use among our people, and preach against it as against any other sin.

     Resolved, That, as a Conference, we re-assert our determination not to admit on trial, or into orders or full connection among us, any man who indulges in its use in any form.

     Resolved, That we respectfully request our Bishops not to transfer among us any preacher who uses tobacco, and that we request any among us who use it to cleanse themselves from this filthy habit.

H. D. FISHER, Chairmen.     

J. B. LEEDOM.
G. H. WEHN.

     The Auditing Committee reported as follows:

     Your Committee to whom was referred the Presiding Elders' Acoounts (sic), report that they have audited the same, and find them correct.

     A. L. Folden presented the following

     We, your committee, to whom was referred the subject of Sunday Schools, beg leave to report as follows;

     Resolved, That it is the sense of this Conference that the cause of Sunday Schools should be prosecuted with increased zeal, and that we, as pastors, will be more active in the Sunday School during the coming year.

     Resolved, That we will persistently urge upon our people the use of the Berean System of Sunday School Instruction; and that we will commend to them the Sunday School Advocate, the Class-mate, and the Picture Lesson Paper, Leaf Cluster; and further, that we will urge the superintendents to take the Teachers' Journal, and Scholars' Lesson Quarterly.

     Resolved, That we will give our hearty co-operation in carrying out all the provisions of the discipline in organizing and conducting Sunday Schools in our Societies, and as far as possible in all our congregations.

     Resolved, That we call the attention of the Presiding Elders to the work, that they may urge the preachers under them to this work.

A. L. FOLDEN, Chairman.     

     J. Adriance presented the following

     Your committee, to whom was committed for consideration the interests of our Tract Society, and its claims upon this Conference and our church, in this new and rising country, are pained to learn that this society is in debt, and that its work is thereby being crippled. But we regret still more to learn that out of the ninety-seven charges in this Conference, only forty-two of them have taken collections for our Tract Society.

     The printing department of our Foreign Missionary work has been largely aided by this Society, which aid is now being withheld because of its indebtedness, and the meager support that the church is giving it.

     Again, this Society is publishing a great variety of attractive and interesting tracts, which are eminently adapted to interest and benefit all classes, from the old man down to the little child, in the church and out of it, and which all of our preachers are under the highest obligations to scatter among the people.

     In view of these facts, therefore be it

     Resolved, 1, That during the coming year, we will, in all of our charges, take a collection for our Tract Society.

     2. That we will so utilize the means at our command, and the Tract Committees upon our charges, as to give a general circulation of our tracts among the people.

     W. B. Slaughter presented the

     The education of the youth is the highest responsibility of the Church--a responsibility recognized in all ages of her history--and met, not fully it is true, yet more fully than by any other agency. Take away from the curriculum of our schools all that has been added by the researches of Christian scholars, and the remnant would be meagre indeed. As always in the past, so now, everywhere, Methodism is the friend of the higher education..

     Not only do we rejoice in the progress of the age in moral and religious culture--we hail with sincere gratitude to God, who is to be glorified thereby, every discovery which brings to the knowledge of men the wonderful works of His hand; every disclosure of the secrets of past times in the monuments uncovered by the antiquary, and every revelation of philological research, whereby Ianguages well nigh lost are restored, and books written in them are rend again by the nations. We prize, as an excellent possession, that scholarship which can only be secured in the higher institutions of learning, and we give to these institutions our most earnest support.

      We point with satisfaction to the universities and colleges founded and sustained by us in other states as the evidence that the M. E. Church has always been an educating Church. In this State we have no school of any grade under our control. There has been an increasing disposition among us to encourage the institutions of the State. This disposition has not been unattended with solicitude, for it has been known that the rankest, most Christ-hating infidelity was making great efforts to gain control of these institutions.

     In the political caucus the Church is not represented, and the politicians have generally ignored the Christian conscience of the country, and catered to the baser elements of the foreign population among us. In obedience to a clamorous demand made chiefly by this element, the Bible has been in some places excluded from the schools, while schools of vice have been licensed in great numbers. The question has come to be a grave one--Shall the public school system of this country continue? Endowed munificently by the General Government, and capable of immense development for good, it is becoming evident that in the hands of bad men, It is also capable of working enormous mischief. The

Churches must not permit such a perversion of the educational institutions of the land. In every suitable way they must influence public sentiment so as to keep the schools at least neutral and unsectarian. Sectarianism under the specious title of Free-thinking, Deism, or Philosophy, is not less odious than sectarianism under any religious title.

     Your Committee submit the following resolutions:

     1st. That we deprecate the persistent efforts of infidel sectarianism to exclude the Christian conscience and faith from the educational institutions of our State, and especially in view of the fact that Christianity contributes so largely to these institutions in students and in material aid.

     2d. That the M. E. Church is entitled, by virtue of her numbers in the State of Nebraska, to representation in the Faculty of the University and of the Normal School.

     E. Wilkinson presented the following

     Regarding as we do the Bible as the Law and Word of Jehovah, containing the truths essential to the formation and development of pure human character, it is with gratitude that we mark the growing interest in its study and the increasing facilities for its dissemination; therefore,

     Resolved 1, That we will use all diligence in extending this light of life, commending the American Bible Society to our people, and taking collections in all our congregations in its behalf.

     Resolved 2, That we recommend our people to hold occasional Bible reading services, and also to furnish Bibles for pews of our churches wherever practicable. All of which is respectfully submitted.

     C. G. Lathrop presented the following

     Resolved 1, That we gratefully acknowledge the goodness of God in the signal prosperity that has attended the Church Extension Movement among us since its organization.

     Resolved 2, That we commend said Society to the confidence of our people, and urgently request that they remember it in bequests, donations, collections, and their prayers.

     Resolved 3, That we will endeavor to carry out the discipline on Church extension.

     E. Wilkinson presented the following report of Committee on

     WHEREAS, The great Head of the Church "has ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things"--might fill the souls of His people with the plentitude (sic) of grace, and His church with the plentitude (sic) of gifts, providing thus every needed agency for the "perfecting of the saints and the conversion of the world;" and,

     WHEREAS, The Women's Foreign Missionary Society is pre-eminently a providential arrangement to supplement the general missionary work of the Church; therefore

     Resolved 1, That we learn with gratitude to Almighty God, of the financial success of this Society, as indicated by the report of the State Secretary of Nebraska ; and also, of the great good which is being accomplished in the evangelization of the heathen world through this agency.

     Resolved 2, That while we, as pastors, would deprecate a falling off in the collections for the Parent Society; we yet heartily extend our sympathy and aid to our co-workers of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society in their special department of Christian work.

     All of which is respectfully submitted.

     The closing religious services were conducted by L. Janney, and the Bishop announced the

     FIRST CLASS.--J. B. Maxfield, A. G. White, H. W. Hardy, W. E. Hill, J. W. Hartley.

     SECOND CLASS.--J. H. Presson, J. G Miller, T. B. Lemon, H. T. Davis, Geo. Black.

     THIRD CLASS.--W. B. Slaughter, Edward Thompson, T. L. Griffey; E. H. Rogers, W. G. Olinger.

     TO EXAMINE CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION ON TRIAL.--.W. B. Slaughter, John Armstrong, H. Burch.

     FIRST YEAR.--J. M. Richards, S. D. Roberts, J. S. Orr.

     SECOND YEAR.--Edward Thompson, E. J. Willis, J. H. Presson.

     THIRD YEAR.--P. C. Johnson, J. Fowler, A. L. Folden.

     FOURTH YEAR. --T. Marquett, C. L. Smith, L. F. Britt.

     TO EXAMINE LOCAL PREACHERS FOR ORDERS.--C. G. Lathrop, J. R. Reed, E. Wilkinson.

     TO PREACH THE MISSIONARY SERMON.--H. D. Fisher.

     ALTERNATE.--J. W. Stewart.

     MARY A., wife of Rev. Robert Rowbotham, was born in the State of New York, April 5th, 1818; was converted when twenty years of age; was married April 3d, 1848, and died in the faith, January 7th, 1877. Her last illness, chronic rhuematism, was protracted and severe, causing her great suffering, which was borne with true Christian patience. A faithful and devoted follower of Jesus, a kind and affectionate wife and mother, she died well and now rests from her labors.

H. BURCH.     .

© 2003 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller.