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Show Page 15<br><br>tically, religiously, socially, educationally and financially. The General Conference of 1880 organized Utah and Southeastern Idaho into a mission. October, 1882, I became superintendent of Utah Mission and pastor of First church, Salt Lake City. The ten years from 1882 to 1892 mark a period of great changes in Utah. The Missionary Society, the Board of Church Extension, the Woman's Home Missionary society and hundreds of individual friends made it possible for us to support thirty preachers, thirty to forty mission teachers and to build twenty-five churches. The missionary appropriation for general and school work, English and Scandinavian, from 1888 to 1890 reached $24,000 annually. The Board of Church Extension from $5000 to $10,000; the Woman's Home Missionary society, $6000 to $10,000; a grand total annually of from $35,000 to $45,000. I estimate that from first to last the several societies of our church have appropriated $425,000; while collections from other sources, including $50,000 raised by Chaplain McCabe, would probably aggregate $75,000 additional, making a grand total of $500,000. There are now thirty-three churches, and four in Idaho, which formerly belonged to Utah, a total of thirty-seven. MISSION SCHOOLS. From the beginning all the churches doing mission work in Utah have recognized the importance of mission schools. The improved condition of the public schools, particularly of Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo and Logan, have made it unnecessary for the churches to do a certain line of school work, hence in some places we have thought it wise to discontinue our schools; however, there are many places where kindergarten, intermediate and academic work should be carried on for some time yet; and there is the higher Christian education which the Church must carefully consider and wisely plan to meet, looking toward the future of our new State, and Methodism must do her duty along this line in Utah as she does elsewhere. I shall close this report with a brief mention of the fields occupied. Twenty-two preachers, fourteen teachers and six deaconesses have been employed during the year, occupying twenty central stations and having schools or religious work more or less regularly at about as many more outlying points. These preachers and teachers have been located from Cache valley, on the north, to Beaver and Piute counties, on the south, a distance of three hundred miles, and from Wasatch county, on the east, to Tooele, on the west, a distance of one hundred miles. Permit me, in a word, to say that in Utah is a loyal, self-sacrificing band of Methodist missionaries who have wrought nobly and stand ready to do and dare and die for the sake and cause of Christ. Beaver-Melvin O. Billings (Colorado) was returned to this field a year ago, with the understanding that he would be released to attend Garrett Biblical Institute. Since January W. J. Richards, a local preacher, has been supplying the field, and the people request his return. Bingham Canyon-Richard M. Hardman, now of the Idaho Conference, was appointed to Bingham Canyon, but remained only a few months, and was succeeded by Naaman Bascom (Colorado). Corinne and Brigham-Eugene H. Snow (Central Ohio) has completed two years on this work. He and his wife and the people are perfectly willing that the pleasant relations be continued. Eureka and Mammoth-John G. Clark, probationer (Montana). When you take into consideration the field, I am prepared to say that Brother Clark has done well. Heber and Midway-Frank J. Bradley, probationer (Montana), brings to this annual meeting his report for the third year, and more and better still a helpmeet from an adjoining charge. Every department and interest of church work, if I am to judge from recent letters, has increased many fold. Logan-John Telfer (Indiana). If you have ever been a student or a pastor in a college town you can appreciate Brother Telfer's opportunity and responsibility. Hundreds of bright young people to inspire you with their presence and also to depress you with their criticisms, to aid you in the best possible preparation and humble by their use of the free lance in cutting your sermons to pieces. Brother Telfer started right, kept right and comes out "way ahead." Monroe and Marysvale-George P. Miller (N. W. Kansas) has a unique field. On the west his nearest American itinerant is sixty miles; on the north, sixty miles; on the east, two hundred miles; on the south, five hundred miles. He is "monarch of all he surveys and his right there is none to dispute." Mt. Pleasant Circuit-Charles McCoard (Central Ohio) probationer, a Utah boy, but a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan university, took charge of this work a few weeks after conference. Nephi and Levan-Samuel Hooper, probationer (Montana), has prayed and labored over the desolations of Zion among the Nephites. Ogden-First Church-George M. Jeffrey (Des Moines) as usual carries off the banner, I believe, for pastoral calls. Brother Jeffrey is always full of plans and has the ability to execute the same. Ogden-Second Church, or Five Points, has been looked after by Brothers Jeffrey and Gates, a superannuate member of North Nebraska conference. Park City-G. W. Rich (Northwest Kansas) in charge. Park City is a silver mining town and leads all others in Utah in the output of the white metal. The church there is self-supporting. Payson-Wildman Murphy, supply. I consider Payson among our promising fields in Mormon centers. It has a population of some three thousand, surrounded by a fine agricultural country and adjacent to the Tintic mining region, which affords a ready market. Our church and school have the confidence and patronage of many of the best people of the community. Provo-Joseph Wilks (Michigan). This is one of our oldest mission stations. Our church and parsonage are centrally located and in good repair. The pastor entered upon the work of the year confronting serious embarrassments, but with wise discretion and persistent faith he has victoriously won. A steady growth in the church and respect in the community are some of the results. Salt Lake City: First Church-W. D. Mabry (Upper Iowa) pastor, completes his fifth year. George F. Goodwin was appointed by the Fourth Quarterly conference to report for this church in the absence of the pastor. Iliff Church-E. G. Hunt, pastor, (Upper Iowa). The pastor's salary and the superintendent's claim fully met. To do this, heroic effort on the part of all and special liberality on the part of some has been necessary. Liberty Park-J. D. Gillilan, pastor, (Ohio). This church has lost heavily by removals, the pastor having given thirty-five letters, suffering greatest from financial loss, but the people are loyal and by no means disheartened. Second Church (Waterloo)-G. E. Jayne, pastor, (New York). Probably this church is in as good condition as any church in the city. On Easter Sunday we dedicated our beautiful new building, every dollar of indebtedness having been provided for beforehand. All claims for ministerial support met in full. Heath Church-G. C. Waynick, pastor, (Des Moines). The pastor and his flock were made to rejoice Sunday, December 16th, when we dedicated their beautiful church free of debt. Tooele Circuit-T. J. Hooper in charge, probationer (Montana). Probably here has been done the most successful circuit work in the Mission. We have three churches, Tooele, Stockton, Grantsville. Additional to these places, Brother Hooper has preached at Ophir and Mercur. I have visited all the central stations and most of the outlying points from one to six or eight times during the year, necessitating, seven thousand and three hundred miles of travel by rail and nearly one thousand by stage and private conveyance; add to this the 7000 miles of travel outside the mission proper, and the total is 15,300 miles traveled by the superintendent. I have preached 209 times, delivered 18 addresses, attended 16 funerals, and have written over 1000 letters. To God belongs all praise. My relation with the workers has been pleasant and by them and the people I have been welcomed. Respectfully submitted, T. C. ILIFF; <br><br>Rev. T. C. Iliff, D. D., Superintendent Utah Mission.<br><br> Thomas Corwin Iliff was born in Perry county, O., October 26, 1846. He enlisted in the Ninth Ohio Infantry in 1862, scarcely sixteen years old, and after serving in various campaigns, and having gone "Marching Through Georgia" with Sherman to the sea, was-mustered out of service in 1865. A writer in the "Gospel in All Lands" says: "Iliff was a notable figure at college in his day. A powerful physique and with a great fund of animal spirit, he made himself heard and felt everywhere. In his sphere of activity the same qualities combined with earnestness of purpose and resistless impetuosity have gained for him the title of 'the Western Cyclone.' He delighted in athletic exercises, and could run over everything in college that stood against him in a rush or a football tussle. His voice could be heard everywhere. If he was declaiming in his room the whole college knew it. His voice could be heard in any crowd and at any hour of the day or night, singing, hallooing or laughing. At the same time lie manifested that force of character which has been the chief factor of his subsequent success." He graduated from the Ohio University at Athens, Ohio, in 1870, and entered at once the ministry of the Methodist Church. In 1871 he was appointed missionary to Montana, and marrying Miss Mary Robinson of Belpre, Ohio, they went at once to the new field. After pioneering it in Montana for several years as pastor and presiding elder, he became in 1876 a presiding elder in the Utah mission, which then included all of Utah, much of Idaho and a part of Wyoming. In trav- |
