The Detroit Conference

The streets and shaded lawns of the city are looking their best this morning and the hundreds of visitors from over the state are enjoying thera to the fullest extent. All day yesterday and today every incoming train brought its f uil quota of clerical looking, clerical acting men. Professor Trueblood is chainnan of the committee on reception and he or other members of the committee met all traína during the day and up to the 9 p. m. train over tlie T. & A. A. road at night. Their neat little blue badges witii the word "Reception" printed on them and the warm hand clasp of some member of the committee met every visitor as he alighted from the train. From the depots the visitors were taken direct to the church. Tliere Professor Springer gave them the quartera assigned them for the week. Several of the delegates, including a party of twenty-five from the upper península, asked the privilege of payinc all their own expenses for rooms and board. This is something of an innovation, as until this year it bas been customary for the local church to bear all the expense of entertainment. This year a single departure has been made - all the delegates providing for their own dinners. Special low rates have been secured within a few doors of the church for these dinners. Bishop John F. Hurst arrived last evening from the East, and was warmly greeted by his brethren with many of whom he has touched elbows in the glorious battles of the church. Bishop Hurst is a magnificent warrior of the church militant and his presence will greatly add to the enthusiasm and interest of the sessions, while the appointinents to be made at the end of the sessions will be accepted coming from bis hands without a inurmer of disapproval. From 7 to 8 last night the official board of the Ann Arbor church received its guests in an informal wanner. Through the kindness of the Presbyterian church the elegant parlors of McMillau Hall were thrown open for this purpose. The ladies of the First M. E. church furnished light refreshments. It was a ])leasant sight to see the enthusiasm with which the brethren greeted each other and every newcomer. It was a difficult task for any one to creep unnoticed into a corner. The liour was all too short. Most of the delegates went from McMillan Hall to the auditorium of the church where Dr. Joseph F. Berry, the talented and eloquent editor of the Epworth Herald, lectured on "What a Tramp Saw in the Emerald Isle." It was a beautifully told tale of travel "on the auld sod" and elicited frequent applause from the good sized audience. Blaraey Castle - in reality so unlike the alleged reproduction at the World's Fair, was visited and with all its surrounding wealth of scène and people graphically described. The hills and lakes of Ireland, the tales and traditions - all these were pleasant memories to the speaker and through his telling became such to his audience. The Doctor showed afine vein of humor and the stories of Irish peasant life caused many a hearty laugh. The Irish "wake" was told about the "mountain dew," a mixture of goat's milk and whiskey, was drunk by the Doctor's compainons and . fortunately so. A clearer statement of the Home Rule Question bas seldom if ever been given than was the one given in a few bristling words by Dr. Berry. The lecture over, the guests were taken in tow by guid_es who led them to their temporary homes for a long night of rest preparatory to the business sessions of the morro w. lilis MOKXING's SESSIOX. Bishop Hurst at 8:30 ascended the pulpit and called the conference to order. Ho read íor a lesson the 53d chapter of Isaiah, after which the whole audience joined lustih' in singing - 'And are we yet allve And see etich others face ilory nud praise to Jesus give For bis redeeming grace. erved by power diviue ation here, Agalu n Jesus praise we join Aud in his sigUt appear. What troubles have we seen Wliat conflicts have we passed, nthiijs withlnand fears without, Bi nee we assembled ; Bat out of all the Lord Hath brought me by hia lo Aud still he doth lüs help afford, And hides pur llfe aboye. Then let us make boast Of his redeeming power, Whleh saves to the uttermost, Till we can sin no more: Let us take up the cross, Till we the crown obtaiu; And gladly reckon all thlngs loss, So we may Jesus jjaiu. Aftor the adininistration of the Lord's Supper the elements were removed and missionaries. Tlie Bishop liere told a witty story about the go-ahead-a-tiveness of Methodist preachers 011 the frontier today. The chuich is not divided and this Conference has niuch work to do. Secretary J. E. Jrcklin next called the roll, the inembers of Conference answering to their names were called. Tlie names were in chronological order. There were many absences and several brethren were reported as havinji gone to the final roll cali beyond the river. J. E. Jacklin was unauimously reelected secretary of the Conference and natned as his assistant Arthur W. Stalker. For financial secretary Carlos L. Adams was elected ; Alfonzo Crane, secretary of examinations ; I). B. Tracy, railroad seoretary ; C. B. Case, statistical secretary. On motion the rules of order of the last session were adopted for this. The bar of Conference was fixed at the fourth window of the church. The roll of probationers was called. They are thirty-six in niimber. Then the following standing committees for the ensuing year were appointed: Sunday Schools and Tracts- J. B. Oliver, Geo. E. Sloan, James Ivey. Cburch Extensión - C. H. Morgan, J. S. Joslin, W. J. Bailey. Freedinen's Aid and Southern Education- J. F. Berry, J. I. Nickersou, James Jackson. Periodicals - Samuel M. Gilchriese, John E. Beach, E. L. Moon. Conference Claimants - Jesse Kilpatrick, J. L. Hudson, C. Simpson, J. J). Halliday, E. Frazee, Jacob Horton, W. J. Campbell. Post Offices - James Pascoe, H. F. Slner, William Allman, A. 8. Xedmnn, E. A. Cross, John AV. Campbell, Wm. H. Lloyd. Memoirs - II. W, Hicks, Sibley G. Taylor, A. Crane, David Casler, C. M. Thompson, J. McEldowney, W. W. Waehburn. Mission Auditors - G. L. Hanawalt, F. Coates, J. A. Mcllwain. Debts due the Book Concern - J. II. Mclntosb, B. Reeve, George W. Jennings. W. F. M. S.- D. C. Challis, A. B. Storms, ï. 1'. Iiurnum. W. II. M. S.- E. E. Caster, W. M. Ward, R. L. Hewson. Conference Relations - 0. J. Perrin, T. G. Potter, R. L. Cope, I. A. Riddick, Charles E. Benson. A. J. Holmes, E. B. Bancroft. Army and Xavy - C. B. Clark, H. S. White, R. N. Mulholland. Education- C. M. Cobern, W. AV. Washburn, P. R. Parrish. Conference Stewards - Four Years - C. B. Steele, Geo. L. Walker, N. Korton Clark. Three years - Franklin Bradley, John McEldowney, F. O. Jones. Two years - W. J. Campbell, A. J. Richards, T. G. Potter. One year - A. F. Bourns, Jesse Kilpatrick, Josepli Frazer. 3üssionary Appropriations - Presiding Klders. Bible Cause - James H. Kilpatrick, F. Bradley, G. D. Whitnev. Teinperance- F. C. Pillsbury, E. 8. Ninde, O. F. Winton. Sanctity oí the Sabbath- E. V. Ryan, M. W. Gifford, N. G. Lyons. Parsonages- T. B. McGee, 8.W. Hcrner, P. R. Parrish. Missionary Cause - W. H. Shier. W. F. Sheridan, L. Hazard. Epworth League - J. M. Kerridge, J. M. Sliank, C. M. Thompson. On motion the following committee on nominatious, including one delégate írom each district, was appointed : E. L. Moore, C. B. Steel, A. B. Storms, E. E. Caster, John Sweet, Jacob Horton, W. M. Ward. One of the delegates asked for the appointment of a committee on the collection and distribution of funds to the superanuated preachers. The motion carried, and the committee is: I). 11. Ramsdell, J. B. Goss, J. B. Oliver, G. W. Jennings, W. C. Clemo, J. A. McIlwaine, AY. W. Washburn. The Bishop next introduced tr the Conference the following vi-iiing brethren: Dr. Earl Cranaton, of Chicago; J)r. Buel, dean of the Theolo Faculty of the Boston University ; Dr. Kelley, editor of tbc M. E. Review, New York; Rev. Macsoty and Rev. Dr. Callow, of the Michigan Conference and Rev. John Wïlson, oí the Eastern Ohio Conference. Dr. Crouston spoke for a few minutes upon tlie condition of the Methodist Book Concern. He claimed tliat it was never more prosperous and healthy. He desired suggestious with regard to bettering the publishing house affairs. A few changes proposed by him vere referred to the committee on literatura. The characters of Rev. L. P. Davis, presiding eider of the Adrián District; Rev. Roland AVoodhams, of the Bay City District; Rev. C. T. Allen, of the Detroit District; Rev. A. J. Bigelow, of the Flint District, were passed upon and they reported their districts. Kev. Dr. Kelley next spoke to the Conference íor a few minutes on the subject of the M. E. Review. Ai 2 p. in. Rev. Seth Reed, of Detroit, prèacned, in the auditorium of the churcb, the semi-centeiinial sermón, and at 3 p. m. the delegates started on a visit to the University, under tlie gtudance of Secretary J. II. Wade and sever.il members of the facnlty. To-night occurs the anniversary of the Superanuated Preachers' Aid Society. Rev. W. II. Snier, D.D., will preside, and Rev. Dr. Whittaker, of Detroit, delivers the nhief address.