Middletown transcript., 1875-03-27
Wilmington Conference.

FIRST DAY.-The Seventh session OF tht
Wilmington Conference Of the NJ. F.. Church
was begun, in Smyrna, on Wednesday Of las
week. and continued until Wednesday last
Bishop James presided The session wa:
opened with reading of the scriptures, sing.
ing and prayer. Rev. I. E. Martindale was
chosen Secretary, and Revs. ]. D. Rigg, D
z. Ridgeway and E. H. Nelson, Assistants
The customary committees were appointed
committee of five were appointed to make
arrangements for trip to Dover, on Friday
Resolutions in regard TO the Centennial Cele.
bration were adopted, and a committee ap.
pointed to prepare business for the Conference
in regard to it Rsv. A. D. Davis presented
resolution petitioning the Legislature to
pass more stringent liquor laws. The mem.
bers of the third years class were admitted to
Deacons' orders. Rev. ]. B. Quigg, reported
the death Of Rev. DR.. Thompson, and report.
ed the condition Of Wilmington District, ex-
hibiting prosperous condition Of spiritual
and temporal affairs; over a thousand con-
SECOND DAY.-Religious exercises were con-
Quoted by Rev. J. Humphries. J. H. Duhad-
away was elected to Elders orders. P. E.
Taf reported Salisbury district in prenis-
ing condition new Churches have been dedi-
Gated and three others are being built. A
call of the Board of Stewards for Confer
ence Claimants was made> The collections
amounted to $27O9,46. Rev. DR.. Sheldon.
of the American Bible Society, addressed the
Conference upon the condition and work Of
the Society.
THIRD DAY-Devotional exercises were con-
Quoted by Rev. Il. H. Colclazer. report
from the Drew Theological seminary was
read. DR.. Dashiel delivered an address on
the Missionary cause. F. McSerley, j. G.
Creamer, Rev Newton McQuay, VIM. Green,
Isaac N. Foreman and E. J. Ayers, were ad-
mitted in full connection, Bishop James de-
livering beautiful address, at the close of
which Conference adjourned fer the purpose
of making the contemplated trip to Dover.
FOURTH DAY-Devotiona exercises by Rev.
J. D. Curtis. The report Of the Biblical
Theological Institute, located in Baltimore,
fer the education of young colored men for
the Methodist ministry, was read and re-
ferred to the committee on education. Drs.
Curry, Of the Christian Advocate, Rush of the
Freedmen's Aid Society, Prettyman, Of the
Georgia Conference, Kennedy, of the Pres
byterian Church, Poulson, of the lndepen-
dent NJ. E. Church, of Baltimore, and others
were introduced. w. H. Huchis, agent of
the Conference Academy, made a written re-
port, stating that the debt on the academy is
about $34, 900, of which $1,000 is due in
April, and that though there is $22, 600 on
the subscription books very little of it is
available at the present time. Rev. J. B..
Quigg offered a series of resolutions urging
Conference to assume the debt. This caused
considerable debate, in which Messrs. Quigg,
Kenney, Ex-Gov. Salisbury, Bishop Scott
and others participated. 1t was finally agreed
that Conference should assume payment of
$4,000.
FIFTH DAY.--Devotiona exercises by Dr.
L. G. Matack. DIR. Phabus read memorial
to the Legislature, prepared by him, in the
interests of the temperance cause, asking the
enactment of temperance law, or the re-
tentien Of the present license law. The me-
mortal was adopted, and DR.. Phebus then
moved that the members of Conference should
all sign the memorial and send it to the Del
aware Legislature. This was opposed by DR..
Cooper, on the ground that it would estab-
lish an unfortunate precedent, for any other
religious body might follow their example in
regard to other matters. Drs. Phebus, Mat
lack, Kenney and others advocated the mea-
sure, and Event for'' DR.. Cooper pretty
sharp. The matter was postponed till next
day. DR.. Curry, the veteran editor of the
Christian Aduocate, made an address on the
reading interests of the Church, intimating
that the standing of Church can be judged
from the number Of advocates taken. The
Conference Academy was again brought up,
and subscriptions solicited to cover the press
ing demands Of the hour. The neat sum of
$4,000 was subscribed, which will probably
relieve the present difficulties of the academy.
SIXTH DAY.-Devotional exercises by DR..
Thomas. The temperance memorial to the
Legislature was presented and accepted,
modified to represent the act of the members
Of the Conference as citizens Of the State and
not as the official act of the Conference. The
"Freedmen's Aid Society," made an encour-
aging report. Rev. E. P. Mitchell, of the
South Kansas Conference, was introduced and
made an earnest appeal in behalf Of the
sufferers from the grasshopper plague in that
State, asking for clothing or any aid that
could be extended. At the close Of Mr.. Ms
remarks, DR.. Matlack offered series Of reso-
lutions pledging Conference to send clothing
at once to the sufferers and means to buy seed
for spring planting. A collection was also
taken up amounting to 500 and given to
Mr.. Mitchell. Appropriate resolutions Of res
pect to Rev. G. D. Watson, who goes to In
diana, and Rev. J. A. B Wilson, who goes
to New England, were adopted Reports on
temperance and education were presented and
accepted. Rev. DR.. Matack and J. B. Mer-
ritt were elected trustees Of the Wesleyan
College. Rev. George R. Kramer, from the
M. E. Church, South, was admitted to Con-
ference. 1t was then resolved to admit no
more young men at present. A vote of
thanks was given to the Dover ladies for
their kind reception Of Conference last week.
AT the afternoon session, before the arrival of
the bishop, Rev. H. Colclazer presented
paper on Peninsula consolidation which was
unanimously adopted. Rev. G. D. Watson
made va.edietory address expressing regret
at leaving this Conference. At $40 Bishop
Scott entered and took the chair, and Con-
ference proceeded to business The statistical
report was read, showing the numerical in
crease, for the past year, 4, 4O2 on probation,
and GIG admitted to membership, also an in
crease in church and parsonage buildings.
After some discussion it was resolved to hold
the next annual meeting of Conference in the