Michigan Methodists

Grand Rapids, Sept. 7. - At the opening of the fif ty-eighth annual session of the Michigan conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in the División Street Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. E. H. Day of Lawton invoked the divine blessing. Bi6hop Thomas Bowman of St. Louis, senior bishop of the Methodist ehurch, presided and briefly expressed his gratitude to divine providenco for the privilege of being present at the gathering. Rev. P. Maveety of Benton Harbor then called the long roll of the conference. The result showed a good attendance of the brethren under the new plan applied for the first time at this meeting by which no f ree entertainment is given,' but reduced rates are given at hotels and boardinghouses. The roll showed that only about 25 members out of the 455 members and probationers on the rolls were absent, five brothers having died during the year. Rev. Maveety was made permanent secretary by acclamation. The usual standing committees were appointed and a committee for next year was named, one from each district. L. M. Edmonds of Leslie introduced a series of resolutions, the object of which was to nullify the present method of aiding superanuated clergy looking to the old methods of collections for the purpose. After a prolonged discussion the substituto was adopted and the conference went to dinner. In the afternoon the anniversary meeting of the Woman's Foreign Missionary society was held, Mrs. Moore presiding. At night the annual meeting of the Church Extensión society was held, Rev. Dr. M. S. Hard of Philadelphia addressing both. The conference will continue until next Monday.