Report of Educational Superintendent of the Southern Illinois Conference
By L. A. Reed
The Southern Illinois Conference is a comparatively new conference, having been organized less than two years ago; and the Educational Department was organized only last summer at the camp-meeting, when an educational superintendent and an educational secretary were elected. While the conference is not strong either in the number of its members or in finances, still something has been done in the educational work. About one year ago the church at DuQuoin decided to erect a building for church-school purposes. The conference was not asked to give any financial support, and the church promised not to incur a debt. Some land was secured, and divided into a number of lots, which were offered for sale to any of our people in the conference. From the sale of these lots adjoining the school site, enough funds were secured to finish the building, with the exception of about three hundred dollars. Believing that the brethren at DuQuoin had moved with judgment and caution, the conference raised this money, thus placing the school out of debt. Elder Taggart spent a great deal of time and labor in erecting the building and caring for its business interests, and the success of the undertaking is due in large measure to his efforts. Professor Haughey and an able assistant have conducted a very successful school here the past year, with about forty pupils in attendance. Some improvements have been planned for the coming year in the way of providing facilities for a larger number of students, and we confidently look for a more successful school than ever the coming year. The conference also owns forty acres of good land near Stewardson. This property was given for the purpose of an industrial school, and is valued at several thousand dollars. During the past winter, Miss Dury has conducted a very successful school at Decatur, and Miss Nettie Burke has taught a well-attended school at Stewardson.22 There are several churches in our conference where church-schools should be conducted the coming winter. Springfield should, by all means, have a school, and plans have already been set in operation looking toward this end. Peoria also should have a school, and it is sincerely hoped that one can be organized for the coming school year. Personally, I can say that my work in the conference has been especially pleasant. I have found a blessed freedom in working for the young people, and have not only been unhindered, but encouraged at all times by the conference president in any work I had convictions should be done. I am glad for my experience in the educational work in the Southern Illinois Conference.