The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-04
THE METHODIST CONFERENCES.

The AE1HODISI CONFERENCES.
CHANGES AND EXCHANGES IN TIE PAsToRATEs
AND PRESIDING ELDEEsHIPs OF THE NEW
YORK AND NEW YORK EAST CONFERENCES.
Next week the two Methodist Conferences which
hold jurisdiction over tnis city aud Brooklyn and
contiguous territory will gather In annual ses.
sion the New York Conference In Poughkeepsie
and the New York East Conference In Merlden
Conn. These eccleslastical gatherings usually lead
on The annual crop OF 'aEniyersariesu which
New YORK Is accustomed 70 receive IN the
month OF May. But with these Conferences
custom and courtesy require their alter
nate sitting in city ana country Hence
last year the New York Conference met in
this city aud the New York East conference in
Brooklyn. Sometimes however Il happens that
q pressure Is brought 20 bear from towns In che
interior OF either Conference territory for the
meeting or the Conference at those places, and
tUen the respective Conferences may meet away
nom this city or Brooklyn two or three years in
succession. For, while the ministers and their
friends are entertained literally and without cost,
they spend money very freely, and q lively trade
springs up for the time being between the Confer
ence and visitors and the local tradespeopIe and
m.rcnants
LAST YEARS. CHANGES AND THIS.
Las; year was kind OF "on Year, ia both Con-
ferences There we're comparatively few prom
inent ministers either TO be provided with
places and few churcnes looking for nrst class
ministerial talent This year, as q, present an
ticipated, q great many changes win take place.
The position OF Presiding Elder Of the New York
District New YORK conference. vacant by the de-
cease Of the late stephen d. Brown, d. d. ana
now temporarily filed by DR.. N. DC. Crawford,
viii require occupant Dr. Crawford Is now
Presiding Elder OF the Poughkeepsie District, aud
at the next Conference will very likely be APP
pointed u iii tns vacant place for the four
Years ensuing. tue discIi Inc prOhibtsa minister
from remaining IN any one charge longer than three
years except ia the case OF ctty m4sr 'Ons, or a
d Uslufng eiuer IN enc district longer tnan four
yeais. But minister may Il the CONDITIONS are
tween two churches, and an elder between two
districts. Hence II often occurs In the once OF
pres ding elder that man viii retain tnat posi-
ton eOnsecutively for hall his ministerial LIE,
bel ar transferred RON one district TO another.
Three Years absence from any charge ealltles
minister 10 reappOid ment 10 the same, PROVIDED
tue people wait MIN; and Jour years. absence
ir8 district gives presiding elder the same
right, provided hls ministerial brethren want him
ana tie Bslop Of the Conference appoints
h.m. And these conditions do sometimes appear
harm0nt0uslg ana IsvOTa0ly for some men. A
little friction occurs occasionally from this cause,
bat on tne surface tne ecclesiastical machinery
appears 20 work smoothly. There are rev men
n every Conference WHO make acceptable presid-
NOT acceptable IN that ONCE to their brethren.
THK PRESIDING ELDER IS A eUBBIsHOP,
and may become II ne plsases KIND o. autocrat
Ia nIs district between one Conference session
ana anOtner But no wise man would presume TO
TRY that KIND OF government fof under the Metno-
dfst system every minister bears relation 10
evety othes minister In his Conference, and re.
m0tely W every one In the denomination, ana
WITH an OvefbeariaR or dictatorlai spirit on hls
speedily become warped, II not wholly destroyed.
~ ne matter OF sucn great moment 70 the mass
Of the ministers wao snau Be their RreaalnE