Smyrna times., 1876-03-22
The Wilmington Conference.
FIRST DAY-wEDNEsDAY.


FIRST DAY-wEDNEsDAY.
The eighth annual session of the Will
mington NJ. E. Conference opened in Union
church, Wilmington, last Wednesday, with
a full attendance of ministers and laymen.
Bishop Levi Scott, of Odessa, Del, pre-
sided.
Business was opened by the calling of
the roll by the Secretary, Rev. I. E. Mar
tindale Ninety-nine members answered
roll call, with 25 absent.
DIR. Matlack introduced a resolution
ministers who had collected un-
paid subscriptions to the Conference Acad-
emy fund with the amounts so collected
upon their personal subscriptions, made at
the last session. The resolution was tenn
porarily laid on the table.
The following young ministers passed
favorable examinations and were promoted
to deacon's orders in the ministry: F. Nc
Sorely, T. r Creamer, Robt. Roe, Newton
McQuay, w. NJ. Green and |. n. Foreman.
The following were elected to elders
orders: John d. Kemp, John E. Smith,
G. w. Wilcox, D. w. G. Mcintyre, r. II.
Adams and r. g. Jones. On their exami-
nation they stood: Kemp 623 per cent,
Smith 90, Wilcox 60, Mcintyre 923, Adams
S79 and Jones 9l3.
The supernumerary relations of j. Hub
bard, l. T. Cooper, Geo. Barton, j. Esgate,
j. Humphriss and T. L. Taft were con-
tinued. Also those of Revs. II. Sutton, d.
r. Thomas and j. L. Houston.
Presiding Elder Quigg represented the
Wilmington district, saying the year had
been one of great prosperity, and not less
than 1900 persons had professed conversion,
adding about 1000 to the membership of
Wilmington. The people, he said, had
worked with the preachers, and the
churches had been aroused as never before.
SECOND DAY-THURsDAY.
Rev. j. B. Quigg introduced a resolution
in relation to the Conference Academy,
approving the action of the Trustees in the
temporary provision for the re-opening OF
the school, and urging the adoption of
prompt measurures to rebuild.
Rev. j. France asked if any report had
been made from Dover.
Mr.. Quigg replied that all the information
desired would be given in few days, as to-
morrow a full meeting of the Board OF
Trustees will be held. He further said
that it was the opinion of the Trustees that
the building should be rebuilt, and so fal
as he could see the way is clear for such
purpose.
Rev. DIR. Phebus questioned the pro
priety of taking such action until the
report is made.
Rev. j. D. Curtis thought the Conference
was hardly ready to tie its hands in thi:
matter until action is had at Dover.
Rev. j. B. Mann claimed that the resolu
ton did not pledge anything, but was sim
ply an expression of sympathy.
On motion of Rev. J. Hough, the resolu
ton was laid on the table for the present
Quite an animated episode was created
by Rev. j. B. Quigg, who characterized thu
policy of the Roman Catholic Church a
| tyranical, in allowing the priests to hav,
control of millions of dollars worth o
property, while laymen have a mere nomi
nal interest in said property; the priest
have all the say. He introduced the fol
! lowing resolution
Resolved That the statute now existing in this stat
of Delaware comforting corporate rights and privilege
| upon the Boards of Trustees of Roman CathOli
| churches, without respect to the manner in whic
said Boards constituted ought to be repealed
as by the general law of this State other religion
societies obtain corporate rights only eonditio
that the trustees elected by the members
such rights or privileges ought to be conferred upo
| the Roman Catholic Church except as the Trustee
of her churches are also chosen by the lay member
|
vote, but Revs. |. L. Cooper, Jno. +. Smith
j. B. Merritt, ]. Shilling and II. Colclaze
voted against it.
Rev. r. w. Todd presented length
memorial signed by fvty.three members @
the Easton NJ. L. Church.
1t suggested the following changes:
lst, To abolish the Quarterly Conference
its duties and responsibilities to be divide
| hofxyaat, fha q To- Iapc onI ,,,oo
ing" and the A." District Conference"
I'd, To reduce the representation in tn
District Conference, so as to include til
travelling preachers of the District, and tn
local preachers and exhorters of eac
charge.
Sd, To change the law, as to Distri
Conferences, so as to make it mandator
except as to such new, or frontier Co
ferences as may elect to retain the presel
system.
. 4th, The election of the Presiding Eide
by the District Conference, who shall be
travelling elder of six years standing, al
during his incumhency, the pastor of
Circuit or Station within the bounds of Il
,, District,
: 5th, The election of one layman by ii
District Conference who shall be memb
of the annual conference and of h
Bishops cabinet.
9th, The appointment of the preache
! to their charges and the arrangement
i the Districts to be by the concurrent actiC
of the Bishop and his cabinet.
! The memorial was referred to the mem
6 rial committee.
! Rev. J. Hough, Presiding Elder of East,
: District, made his report. The repc
! J. stated that no deaths in .the Ministry h
|, occurred during the year, but Rev. f.
: Chatham was debarred from effective re
ton on account Of paralysis, and Rev. T.
4 Hammersly had suffered from domes
affiiction. Great exertions on the part
!. ministers of the district were reported, wi
\ blessed results in the shape of great and U
= expected revivals, particularly at Smyrr
! Millington, Trappe, &c. No. of prol
! TONERS for 1874, 1905; 1875, 1922; eigh
: seven churches are in the District, Al
! during the year a new church and n,
= parsonage, the latter costing $4,000, ha
!, been erected.
. Rev. f. M. Chatham was granted sup
" numerary relation without work.
n THIRD DAY--FRIDAY.
lr The main feature was the resolution
ef Thursday relative to the Roman Catho
" Church.
s. Rev, Geo. A. Phmbus asked that sol
a, one who voted in the affirmative on /
u