The Morning herald., 1876-03-21
LOCAL NEWS.
TIE CONFERENCE.

- ~~~1~~~1S
Monduy's Hsssion.-- The Centennial Scr
vtcss--- Bishop Scott's Semitic CentsnniaI
Eernsess.
The Conference was opened with reli-
gious services conducted by Rev. W. B.
Gregg.
Rev. DR.. Sheldon, agent for New Jersey
and Delaware of the American Bible So
ciety, addressed the Conference in behalf
of the cause he represented. He stated that
the Society now distributed ,000, 900 Bibles
per year, but the demands for it's books
were still increasing and more support was
needed.
Rev. Mr. Mann presented memorial to
the General Conference recommending the
establishment, in the part of New York, of
mission for English speaking sailors
Referred to the Committee on Memorials
DR.. Reed, Corresponding Secretary of
the Missionary Society, addressed the Con-
ference. Referring to the collections of the
Society, he stated that in 1865 he reached
$685., 600, but fell next year to 1913, ,0O0
They never rose to near the amount for
1866 until 1878, when they reached $780,
600, in 1874 they were $6S7, 900, and in
1875, $674,OO The work of the Society
has been greatly extended, and during the
quadrennial fifty ministers have been sent
into foreign fields. The Society now rests
under an indebtedness of $3.50, 900 and assist
ance is needed as it is desired to wipe out
this Indebtedness during the present year,
and this can be done if each Conference
raised the amount apportioned to it.
Rev. Ayers, presented paper on church
l ;oh - ho
rial Committe, without reading.
Committee on the Centennial of American
cial services relative to the Centennial COM
tinue until the 4th of July. That series
will be prepared by the Bishop, be held,
by sermons, and concluding In the afternoon
at these meetings, collections be taken by
subscriptions, payable in four yearly in
stalments, for the benefit OF the Confer
ence Academy.
The report was made the order of the
aay for Tuesday morning, after the reading
of the minutes.
On motion of Rev. Hutchin, the memorial
services of Rev. Wesley Kenney, deceased,
were made the order for Tuesday, at 3
O'Clock, P. M.
Sorin 8. 8. Baker, candidate for admis-
sion, was ordered to be returned on the
minutes as discontinued at his own re-
quest.
Rev. A. D. Davis presented memorial
to Gen. Joseph X. Hawley and the men,
bcrs Of the National Centennial Commit
tee, praying them to prohibit the sale of
intoxicating liquors on the Centennial
grounds, and to annul the contracts for the
the sale of liquor already awarded. Re-
ferred.
Revs. Geo. L. Brown, Philadelphia, 7.
A. H. O'Brien, Tayloisiville, Tennessee,
J. E. Mowbray, Crisfield, Md, H. R.
Brewington, Salisbury, w. L. Bowen,
Newtown, w. W. Wilson, Milton, Del, T.
L. Hoffecker, Queen Anne's Co., Md, E.
G. McNlchol, Denton, Md, Lewis E. Barry,
Easton, Md, Albert Chandler, Whining
ton, John NJ. Collins, Millsbaro' Del,
Thos. E. Perry, Magnolia, Del, and G. W.
Hardeoty, Of Pennington, Del, were in
troduced to Conference as candidates for
admission, and their cases referred.
A favorable report was made by the CON-
mittee on thu application for restoration
of Rev. Mr. Carter's credentials, but the
report was lost by IS yeas, SO nays.
The report Of the Committee on Educa-
tion was read. 1t reviewed the Educational
charges of the Conference. The report
was adopted.
DR.. j. A. McCaulley, of Dickinson Col
lege, addressed Conference in behalf of this
institution, and recommended 1t to general
Methodist support.
DR.. Kidder, of Drew Seminary, also
briefly addressed Conference, stating that
Drew Seminary would still continue In ex-
istence.
The Conference proceedings closed with
the hymn Crock Of Ages, and prayer by
Rev. Matthew Sorin.
The church by this time, was densely
crowded, a large congregation having
gathered to hear the semi-centennial SER
mon of Bishop Scott. The Bishop an
nounced as his text, the following: "Say
not thou what is the cause that the former
days were better than these, for thou dost
not inquire wisely concerning this, ,"-Ec-
clesiates, 9TH chapter; 10 verse.
I Referring briefly to his half century Of
ministerial labors, and his undiminished
sympathy with the cause, the Bishop an
! nounced the subject of his discourse as,
"The Philsdelphia Conference of lS76-its
growth and development in the last fifty
years."
The first conference of itinerant ministers
was held in Philadelphia on July II, 1773
It comprised 10 ministers, representing
1,160 members. All the ministers were
. English, except VIM. Walters, who was
born in Baltimore county, Md, October 16,
1850, and was the first native American
: Methodist minister in the United States.
In fifty years, this Conference developed
into IA annual Conferences, 1914 ministers
and BAL ia members; and in 1O2 years
(1875) 1t numbered 81 annual Confer
ences, besides many large missions, 10,92S
preachers, and I,5S0,55O members. Dur
ing this time the church was depleted by
four secessions, the last of which deprived IT
| Of 500 preachers, and over soc, 900 members