Daily Republican., 1879-07-17
THE DISTRICT CONrERENCE.

Session 1t NJ. Salon iEseaevAsV-A
ResnlutSon Of Dissolulion OMerel
and AdsD,ed-The Press ans
Chareh Dinerences-A New Or
gsnlEation In Prospect.
Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock th'
M. Z. Conference of the Wilmington
District assembled. Rev. J. W. Pier.
son, of Mt. Pleasant, opened the ser.
vices with scriptural lesson followed
by devotional exercises. The Confer
encs opened for business with Presiding
Elder Matlack In the chair. Rev. C. H.
Sheppard was chosen Secretary.
The chairman appointed Rev. J. B.
Mann, W. L. s. Murray and J. B. Nc.
Coy a committee to nominate the Stan
ding Committee.
The Presiding elder made report in
which he stated that the District Con-
ference was failure. Having 254
members including ministers, local
preachers, exhorters, class leaders and
superintendents, 1T was very seldom they
attended. During the quarter he visit.
I'd 20 quarterly conference, preached
2S sermons and participated in eighteen
Aoyafsasts and addrssssd, ssysn Sunday
schools. He alluded To- the condition
Of the churches in a hopeful manner
and especially complimsnted Rev. C.
H. Sheppard for his energy in rebuild
ingthe Mount Salem structure.
The Rev. J. H. Caldwell offered the
following resolution, with the motion
that it Le received and laid upon the
table.
WHEREAS, According to the unpublished
memoranda OF the District by the Presiding
Elder, the average attendance Of membersa al
the District Conference Is only one In nine,
and
WHEREAS. Such meagre attendance dur
ing an experience OF 1our years show the i'm
the prcpriety of disseminating the same, and
WHEREAS, at the hast session Of said con
ference there was such general wish express
ed by members for Its discOntinuance and
such an impression prevailing that 1t would
be, as may be deemed such a notice as the
Discipline requires. Be 1t therefore
Resolued, That the District Conference Of
the Wilmington District be, and the same ID
hereby discontinued, when three-fourths Of
the Quarterly Conferences of the district
sLall have occurred.
Resolued, That the Presiding Elder be re
quested to submit this resolution for ratifica.
ton by the Quarterly Conference at the
third quarterly round. ]: H. CALDWELL
W. L. 5. MURRAY.
The following PASTORS reported the
condition of their charges: Revds
W. 8. Robinson, of Epworth W. l.
Avery, of Mt. Lebanon ; c. L. Shep-
pard, Of Mt. Salem; J. W. Pierson, o.
Mt. Pleasant J. France, Of Newark
W. L. S. Murray, North East; Rev. T.
B. Killiam, of Rising Sun; c. M. Pegg,
Of Scott church Rev. DR.. Caldwell Of
St. Paul's; ]. B. Mann, Of Union A.
D. Davis, of Zion and VIM. B. Gregg,
of Chester Circuit; T. B. Hunter, Of
Cherry Hill, being absent sent report
which was read by the Secretary,
The question "Should the term Of
ministerial service be extended" was
taken up for discussion. Rev. c. M,
Pegg being called upon made the open
ing speech. He was followed by Revs
J. France, DR.. Dashiel and J. B. Mann
The conference then adjourned II
meet at l.3O P. M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
After dinner had been partaken o
in the class roems the conference re- as
s-mbled. Devotional exercises were
offered by Rev, James L. Houston.
The resolution to dissolve the confer.
ence was taken up and after some
discussion adopted.
Rev. John France then offered a
series resolutions deprecating the pub
fishing of so much about church diff
culties by the secular papers.
The discussion upon this was long
and spirited; but finally resolved in its
adoption.
Rev. DR.. Caldwell read a review of
Won Osterzee's Theology of the New
Testament which was we'll received.
As the body was about to adjourn
Rev. Mr.. France proposed that as the
organization was about to dissolve that
there be steps taken to effect minis.
teral association by which the clergy
might BE- brought together again as an
instituted organization. A motion to
appoint committee to consider the
IN after aud take action was made and
adopted.
Revds. Messrs. France, Caldwell,
Killam and Murray were appointed the
committee, Rev. DR.. Matlack, by virtue
of provision in the motion, being
made chairman.
Rev. Mr.. France offered resolution
returning the thanks OF the Conference
to the pastor and Board of Trustees Of
Mt. Salem Church, the ladies and 9th.
ers for the kind treatment and enter.
tainment afforded the Conference while
in their midst.
The Conference then adjourned with
bpnediction from Rev. DR.. J H. Cald-
we'll.