The Select Number to whom certain charges and specifications made by Dr. D. E. Foristall, Mrs. Minnie May Wakefield, and others against Rev. A. M. Perry were referred, after due consideration and deliberation upon the evidence offered, find as follows:

   But we, on the evidence submitted, find the accused proven guilty of high imprudence and unministerial conduct, and that the said A. M. Perry shall be suspended from the exercise of his ministerial office for one year.

   ADMISSION ON TRIAL. -- G. W. Isham, O. W. Fifer, L. T. Guild, J. S. W. Dean, G. M. Jones.

    AUDITING. -- W. H. Turrell, G. M. Jones, G. A. Hobson, J. G. Day, F. A. Campbell.

    BIBLE CAUSE. -- C. L. Smith, E. L. Wolff, C. L. Myers, H. F. Smith.

    CONFERENCE RELATIONS. -- J. A. Barker, A. B. Whitmer, J. H. N. Cobb, J. W. Stewart, G. W. Isham.

    CHURCH EXTENSION. -- C. L. Hamilton, C. H. Dalrymple, T. H. Worley, G. I. Wright, F. Deal.

    CURRENT BOOK ACCOUNTS. -- R. L. Wolfe, F. A. Stuff, F. W. Bean, H. B. Seymour, B. E. Newton.

    DISTRICT CONFERENCE RECORDS. -- L. F. Smith, E. S. Burr, H. C. Harman, A. B. Grossman, L. G. Parker.

    EDUCATION. -- W. R. Halstead, A. W. Partch, W. T. Cline, T. H. Worley, J. S. W. Dean.

    EPISCOPAL FUND. -- C. P. Metcalf, C. H. Gilmore, M. A. Wimberly, G. W. Selby, E. Holland.

    FREEMAN'S AID AND SOUTHERN EDUCATION. -- J. G. Stanard, J. E. Rippetoe, J. W. Swan, C. E. Giwits, E. J. Bird.

    MEMOIRS. -- P. C. Johnson, G. W. Abbott, James Mailley, E. J. Randall, T. H. Worley.

    METHODIST HOSPITAL AND DEACONESS' HOME. -- J. T. Roberts, W. H. Mills, F. A. Colony, John Gallagher, M. C. Smith.

    MISSIONS. -- The Presiding Elders.

    NEW YORK BOOK ACCOUNTS. -- G. M. Jones.

    PERIODICALS. -- T. A. Hull, W. J. Scott, G. M. Gates, J. P. Badgley, Wm. Worley.

    POST OFFICES AND LOCAL PREACHERS. -- R. E. Neal, L. Jean, W. N. Simpson, A. P. Hull, George Shuman.

    PUBLIC WORSHIP. -- A. C. Crosthwaite, J. W. Stewart.

    RESOLUTIONS. -- H. C. Harman, J. W. Royse, C. M. Shepherd, W. K. Williams, J. M. Darby.

    STATE OF THE CHURCH. -- C. S. Dudley, R. T. Chipperfield, G. M. Morey, R. Pearson, J. K. Maxfield.

    SUNDAY SCHOOLS. -- L. T. Guild, H. G. Claycomb, A. W. Shamel, A. L. Folden, H. G. Wilcox.

    TEMPERANCE. -- J. A. Chapin, T. S. Fowler, J. C. H. Hobbs, Asa Sleeth, L. G. Parker.

    TRACTS. -- A. E. Chadwick, D. Fetz, S. T. Hawkins, J. W. Lewis.

    TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPOSITION. -- C. S. Dudley, P. C. Johnson, C. M. Shepherd.

    WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. -- D. B. Lake, J. G. Walker, J. R. Gettys, J. H. Presson, C. B. Lenfest.

    WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY. -- H. W. Cope, J. W. Warfield, D. P. Kline, J. Calvert, G. C. Ebersole.

   G. H. Moulton, chairman, G M. Gates, registrar, C. M. Shepherd, C. H. Gilmore, C. S. Dudley, T. H. Worley, J. S. W. Dean, A. B. Whitmer, J. M. Darby, L. T. Guild, G. W. Isham, J. H. N. Cobb, W. T. Cline, W. J. Scott, C. E. Giwits, O. W. Fifer, G. I. Wright, James Mailley, F. A. Stuff, J. R. Gettys.

    EPWORTH LEAGUE. -- F. A. Stuff, C. S. Dudley, J. R. Woodcock, O. W. Fifer, L. F. Smith.

    To preach missionary sermon, L. T. Guild; alternate, James Mailley.

    To preach conference sermon, R. Pearson; alternate, F. M. Esterbrook.

    C. S. Dudley, W. T. Cline, W. M. Worley, John Gallagher, J. F. Kemper, M. C. Smith, G. W. Abbott.

     G. W. Abbott, W. R. Halstead, J. W. Stewart, Mrs. Isabella Spurlock, Mrs. Rachel Hyde, Mrs. J. R. Woodcock, J. H. Mickey, B. L. Paine, C. S. Polk.

     Beatrice District, P. C. Johnson; Hastings District, G. W. Isham; Lincoln District, L. T. Guild; Nebraska City District, T. H. Worley; York District, G. I. Wright.

     President, H. T. Davis; Vice President, D. W. C. Huntington; Secretary, A. H. Dorris; Treasurer, A. M. Davis; B. L. Paine, F. A. Stuff, A. G. Greenlee, R. T. Chipperfield, and the Presiding Elders.

President -- Mrs. C. F. Wilder, Manhattan, Kansas.
Corresponding Secretary -- Miss Matilda Watson, Lincoln, Nebraska,
Recording Secretary -- Mrs. M. M. Torrington, Topeka, Kansas.
Treasurer -- Mrs. A. M. Davis, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Nebraska Conference Secretary -- Miss Ella Watson, Lincoln, Nebraska.

President -- Mrs. Rachel Hyde, Lincoln:
Corresponding Secretary -- Mrs. J. R. Woodcock, Tecumseh.
Recording Secretary -- Mrs. W. B. Alexander, Hastings.
Treasurer -- Mrs. F. M. Esterbrook, University Place.
Organizer -- Mrs. M. E. Roberts, Lincoln.
Secretary for Supplies -- Mrs. C. M. Shepherd, Nebraska City.

   The Auditing Committee has carefully examined the accounts submitted to it by the presiding elders of the Hastings, Lincoln, Nebraska City, York, and Beatrice Districts, together with that of the Conference Treasurer, and find them to be correct.

    The Auditing Committee has examined the account of the Conference

    Secretary as submitted to it and find it to be correct, and that the Conference is indebted to the Secretary to the amount of $10.

    WHEREAS, We recognize the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, and that they contain all things necessary to Salvation, therefore
    Resolved, That we will use our influence to extend its circulation, and urge our people to study its sacred pages.
    WHEREAS, Only fifty-six of the 144 charges gave anything to the cause this year, we exhort the brethren to faithfulness on this disciplinary claim which is of so great importance.

   Since 1866, 10,422 churches--more than one-third of the entire number owned by our denomination--have been helped, 216 of these being within the bounds of our own Conference. During the same time our Conference has raised for this work $13,290, while it has received up to November, 1896, $46,525 in gifts and $68,550 in loans.

    We are asked to raise $1,800 for the ensuing year, while our churches may, on approved applications, receive $3,000.

    Our collection this year amounts to $639, an increase of $193. This is doing well, but in view of the above facts we should esteem it our duty and privilege to raise our whole apportionment for this cause.

    We submit that dividing our benevolence into many collections necessitates, not only the additional care of the different secretaries, but also great care on the part of each pastor, lest any one of them be crippled by debt and seriously hampered in its work. Church extension stands in need of its smaller apportionment, the whole of it, as the missionary society stands in need of its deservedly larger apportionment.

    Our effort should be to raise every apportionment in full.

   Methodism to-day is as true to the work of Christian Education as ever before. The Nebraska Wesleyan University is the one institution of learning that is of prime importance to Nebraska Methodism.

    Your committee have, therefore, as thoroughly as we have been able, investigated this one subject. We have a building there sufficiently commodious to accommodate hundreds of students. We have a beautiful plat of ground for a campus, and University Place is connected by motor cars with the capital city. The school work through the past year has been successfully prosecuted, and hundreds of students have been in attendance. We commend the loyalty of these students and their devotion to the school; also the earnest labor and self-sacrifice of the faculty.

    The local surroundings are healthful, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, planted in the midst of the school and in the building commended by zealous and able pastors, has been the human source of blessed religious awakenings each year.

    Your committee has earnestly sought to find out the real financial condition of the University. As Methodist preachers are the agents of this University, and as we must represent it before our people, we owe it to ourselves and them to acquaint ourselves definitely with its true financial status, but we have not been able to get definite facts. We recommend the following, viz.:

    1. That the treasurer of the University be requested to furnish a full report of the financial affairs of the University to the Educational Committee of this Conference.

    2. We recommend that F. M. Esterbrook be made financial agent.

    3. We recommend that the presiding elders be requested to apportion $3,000 among the churches of this Conference to be raised this year, and that we pledge our best endeavors to collect this money.

    4. We recommend that the Conference elect as trustees, J. S. W. Dean and F. M. Esterbrook in the place of L. O. Jones and F. M. Wimberly, both declining to serve longer.

    5. We recommend as visitors to Iliff School of Theology, F. H. Essert and Frank Mills.

    6. We recommend as visitors to De Pauw University, F. A. Colony.

    7. We recommend as visitors to Garrett Biblical Institute, J. S. W. Dean'and W. T. Cline as alternate.

    8. We recommend as visitors to Nebraska Wesleyan University, J. W. Stewart and C. S. Dudley.

   Forty-four charges have contributed nothing to this fund, and twenty, only one dollar each. We find that only 56 per cent of the apportionment has been paid, while 95 per cent of the preachers' salaries have been paid. Therefore we recommend that the disciplinary plan be carried out.

   Resolved, 1, That we rejoice in the continual growth of the Epworth League throughout our Conference, in the great efficiency of this organization of the church, and in the marked success of the Conference League in the conducting of the great Epworth Assembly at Lincoln in August last.
   Resolved, 2, That, as ministers of this Conference, we pledge ourselves to aid the work of the Epworth Assembly to the best of our opportunities and abilities.

   The greatest enterprise ever undertaken and most signal success ever achieved by young Methodists in the West centers in the Epworth Assembly projected by the Nebraska Conference Epworth League. The initial session of the Assembly, held at Lincoln Park, August 3 to 10, 1897, being marvelously successful from every view point, and reflecting credit alike upon the Epworth League and Nebraska Methodism The eight day's program was exceptionally strong in merit and helpfulness and rich in entertaining and attractive features. The contributions of President Bishop Ninde, General Secretary Dr. Schell, Chancellor McDowell, Rev. W. E. McLennan, and Dr. A. J. Palmer, were of high character, delighting and inspiring all who heard them. The Pentecostal services, led by Rev. W. J. Calfee, were times of refreshing. The Junior work, conducted by Mrs. G. W. Isham and Mrs.

J. R. Woodcock, was a marked success. The Assembly cam included over i,500 people, the daily audiences numbering from 2,000 to 5,000 people.

    The total receipts of the Assembly $4,926.35; total expenses, $3,439.71; net cash surplus, $1486.64

    Of 5,000 charges reporting nothing for this cause during the last fiscal year, the Nebraska Conference furnished sixty-six or 451 per cent of its entire number of charges, and of 3,000 charges which paid but one dollar each, twenty-six were of this Conference, or 18 per cent of its charges; that is, 631 per cent of our charges paid but twenty-six dollars. Of $1,034 apportioned to us, we raised but $347. Over 7,000 of our members did not have the cause laid upon their hearts, and did not experience the blessing that results from doing even a little for this department of the Master's work. Had these paid but five cents each, it would have nearly doubled the offering, but if each member within the bounds of this Conference had paid but this poor sum the entire apportionment had been raised with a surplus, making a total of $1,171.

    Four of the universities in our Southern Educational work are without presidents, and the corps of teachers has been greatly reduced, afflicting this work as no other of our societies have suffered.

    More than one thousand churches responded to the debt paying call, but if all in the connection had responded at the same ratio, the debt had been reduced less than one-half.

    Brethren, study this, and all the connectional interests, and when heads and hearts are filled with the facts, it will not be difficult to "pay what thou owest."

    Our apportionment is the same as it was last year.

   Your committee find much reason for gratitude to God for the humanitarian work and Christian influence of this institution.

    From September 1, 1896, to September 1, 1897, the following work was done, viz.: 678 patients admitted; 5,630 pay days, 4,007 free days; 5,967,

hours spent in outside nursing; 417 free dressings for outside patients; 3,500 calls; 610 prayers offered; 573 Bible readings; 7,540 papers and tracts distributed; 81 books and magazines; 4 Bibles donated; 15 articles of bed donated; 140 temperance meetings held; 374 evangelistic meetings; 825 special meetings.

    The great need is increased capacity to care for increased number of patients. In view of this we recommend that a representative of the hospital be put in the field for the purpose of raising funds for the erection or purchase of a new hospital; and further such representative of the hospital shall have a fraternal welcome and our heartiest support when among us.

    We further recommend that collections be taken on our charges, and that donations of supplies be solicited for the hospital.

   It is with pleasure that we note the continued prosperity of our great publishing houses and the splendid apportionments to our superannuate's fund, therefore,
    Resolved, That we heartily co-operate with and give our hearty support to all our publishing interests; that we work for the spread of the Sunday school periodicals, the Epworth Herald, and for all our family of Christian advocates, especially that splendid organ, the Omaha Christian Advocate; that we reaffirm our loyalty to this advocate as the official organ of our Conference, and respectfully request of our publishing agents that its official relation in respect to territory be treated the same as other official advocates.
    Realizing the importance of this organ in our homes, its great aid to our work, and knowing that the size of its subscription list will greatly affect the action of the next General Conference, we therefore pledge ourselves to give it the right of way in our charges and do all we can to circulate it among our people.

   Resolved, That in the presidency of our beloved Bishop Ninde over this session of our Conference we recognize with gratitude the hand of kind Providence. We have been honored by his administration. We have been blessed by his ministry; therefore,
    Resolved, That as he goes from us to other fields of toil for the Master, our prayers ascend that heaven's rich blessing may continue to abide with him.

    RECOGNIZING the generous welcome granted us by the people of York therefore,
    Resolved, That we extend to them our heartfelt thanks for this welcome and the noble hospitality granted. That we extend to the people of York and the pastor of this church and the presiding elders of this district--Bros. J. W. Stewart, A. C. Crosthwaite, and their wives, our thanks or their untiring efforts to make our stay here so pleasant, and rejoice with them in the use of their new and beautiful church edifice.

    WHEREAS, Our brother. A. A. Randall, with the aid of his assistants, has filled the office of Conference Secretary with so much ability and faithfulness,
    Resolved, That his work as secretary has contributed greatly to the speedy and correct transaction of the business of our Conference session.

    WHEREAS, The duties of our Statistical Secretary and Conference Treasurer require constant and pains taking work during our session, and
    WHEREAS, The brethren hand in their reports much more promptly than formerly; therefore
    Resolved, That we complete our reports before coming to Conference, and see that they are in the hands of the secretaries on the first day of the session.

   Examined and found correct.

Respectfully submitted,
F. M. ESTERBROOK, Conference Treasurer.   

    We note with pleasure the indications of general improvement in the State of the Church. The lack of interest in some of the means of grace may yet prove valuable to us if we learn the lesson from such experience. We believe greater stress should be laid on the vows taken in joining the church. Many who belong to our church seem to be utterly oblivious that such vows contain pledges to faithful attendance at the class meetings and prayer meetings and observance of family and private prayer. In many localities there is reason to deplore the sad neglect of these salutary means of grace. Ministers should be reminded of their vows and lovingly exhorted to diligence in the performance of the same. The year has witnessed a great improvement in the financial situation in this region. The crop failure of three years had greatly reduced the people of our church in temporal ability. But we note with pleasure the increase in the amounts paid for the general benevolences as well as the current expenses of the church. We also rejoice in the successful efforts of several of our churches to remove encumbrances from church property. This indicates a healthful condition of affairs, and an interest in sustaining the credit of the church which is worthy of emulation.

    We are convinced of the need of a consistent walk on the part of our church members, not only with regards to their duties, but also to the church in the discharge of their obligations in civil affairs. The hope of this country is a Christian civilization. The church should stand for the highest expression of Christianity both in ecclesiastical and civil affairs. There is great need of the advocacy of Christian principles in the settlement of the social problems which form such an important factor in the affairs of

the times. We believe the time is at hand for the display of such heroic adherance to the cause of Christian citizenship that its strength will be recognized in our civil elections. And we strongly advocate that the church enforce its convictions at the polls.

    We note the decrease in the number of conversions during the year in this conference. This does not necessarily imply any diminution in the efforts put forth for the salvation of sinners but may be only the reflex action which often follows a year of great spiritual victory. While this may be true we believe the church should go forth with strong faith to make great conquests in the salvation of sinners this year.

   We believe there is need for a much greater intensity on the part of both preachers and laity in religious matters; while we are a growing church and point with pride to the increase in many lines of effort, we also believe that a stronger adherence to the distinctive features and doctrines of Methodism would greatly increase the efficiency and materially improve the state of the church.

R. T. CHIPPERFIELD, Secretary.

R. PEARSON, Chairman.

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