p. 45 | DISTRICT 5 by R. M. Kilgore

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 15, 1901

DISTRICT 5

By R. M. Kilgore

AFTER the council at Battle Creek, I remained at home about one week, when I was called to the bedside of my father, at Washington, Iowa, who was not expected to live. I remained till he rallied, and was again able to sit up, and to stand alone. He is now in the eighty-ninth year of his age.

GOLDSBERRY, MO.—By invitation of the president of the Conference, Elder J. M. Rees, I labored about one week for the church here. The house was filled at every meeting, and the Lord blessed. The brethren were eager for instruction, and I was happy in giving it. Many of our churches are sadly neglected; the members are willing to do right; but lacking knowledge of the truth, they fail to act the

part God would have them do at this time; spirituality is wanting; worldliness creeps in; alienation, division, and apostasy follow. Sin goes unrebuked, and is suffered in the brethren. The Bible instruction is not followed in dealing with the erring. We must be faithful in this matter.

OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE.—On my way I spent a few days at Kansas City, Mo., also at Topeka, Kan. I enjoyed these visits, and I trust they were not wholly unprofitable to the brethren. The Oklahoma Conference convened at Oklahoma City, December 18-24, with a good delegation present. Separated from the routine of the camp-meeting, ample time and opportunity were afforded to the work of the different departments of the Conference, to give the necessary instruction, and to present principles, which are much needed, and for which our church officers and members and the tract and missionary and Sabbath-school workers are hungering.

The workings of the different departments of this Conference for the last fifteen months are very encouraging. Six new churches have been added to the Conference. Six meeting-houses have been built, and thirteen Sabbath-schools have been organized. The Conference is out of debt, and voted to pay half the salary of a teacher in the Keene Industrial School. The tract society has no debt hanging over it, and reports a gain of over seven hundred dollars. Elder C. McReynolds was re-elected president of the Conference and tract society, and his son William secretary and treasurer of the society. Harry Philips was elected secretary and treasurer of the Conference, and two changes were made on the Conference Committee.

On Sunday, the 23d, the new meeting-house at Oklahoma City was dedicated with appropriate services. It was well filled with our people and the citizens. The building is in the form of an L, with its gables fronting the streets; its entrance is in the corner between them, topped with a modest cupola for a belfry; its pulpit is at the opposite corner in an alcove; this, with the two wings, and the rafter ceiling above, makes the acoustic properties perfect. In the basement are well-lighted, airy rooms, for the tract society office and church school. The building cost about four thousand dollars, which is paid, or provided for.

At the close of the service, Brethren I. G. Knight, D. F. Sturgeon, and C. Sorensen were ordained to the ministry, by the laying on of hands, Elder McReynolds giving the charge.

Prof. P. T. Magan was present the last day of the meeting. He labored in the interests of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and assisted in the dedicatory services.

The occasion was a profitable one, and was much appreciated by those present, the majority of whom expressed, by vote, their desire to keep the Conference sessions apart from the camp-meetings.

R. M. KILGORE.