The daily gazette., 1879-07-17
THE DISTRICT CONFERENCE.

THE DISTRICT CONFERENCE.
METHODIST BRETHEN DELIBERATING-
THEY RESOLVE TO DISCONTINUE THE
DISTRICT CONrERENCE-A wHACK
AT REPORTERS.
. A score and half of prespering preach
ers, sat morning and afternoon in Mt. Sa-
lem M. Il. Church during the session of
the Wilmington District Conference yes
terday, and alternately sighed as they
mopped their foreheads and congratula-
ted themselves when q Whit Of air came
through the open windows.
The Conference opened at 1890 o.
clock with devotional exercises by Rev.
J. w. Pearson. DR.. Matlack, the presld-
lug elder, occupied the chair and Rev.
Z. F. Sheppard acted as Secretary.
After routine business had been tran
sacted DR., Matlack said it was his Opin-
ion that the District Conference was a
failure. The total number of members
was 254 and the average attendance dur
ing eight sessions had only been one
ninth of that number. He advocated to
the dscontinuance of the Conference.
Rev. j. II. Caldwell offered the follow
ing resolution with the motion that it be
received and laid upon the table:
WHEREAS, According to the unpub-
lished memoranda of the District by the
Presiding Elder, the average attendance
of members at the District Confidence is
only one in nine, and
WHEAREAs, Such meagre attt ndance
during an experience of four years shows
the impractibility of the District Confer
ence, and the proprietry Of discontinuing
the same, and
WHEREAS, At the last session OF said
conference there was such general wish
expressed by members for its discontin-
uance and such an imp essicn prevailing
that it would be, as may be deemed such
notice as the Discipline requires Be lit
therefore
Resolped That the District Conference
of the Wilmington district be, and the
fourths of the Quarterly Conferences of
the district shall have concerred.
Resolued, That the Presiding Elder be
requested to submit this resolution for
ratification by the Quarterly Conference
at the third quarterly round.
j. H. CALDWELL,
w. L. IS. MURRAY.
The question, "Should the term of
ministerial service be extended was dis
cussed at some length was discussed by
Revs. Pegg, Mann, France aud others.
Az adjournment for dinner was effec-
ted about one O'Clock.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session of the confer
ence opened at 1880 o'clock, and Rev. j.
l.. Houston conducted the devotional ex-
ercises.
The first business was the offering of
the following resolutions by Rev. John
France:
WHEREAS, Many of the reports pub
llshed in the secular papers, concerning
the difficulties and tria in churches are
fearfully distorted and
WHEREAS, Such imperfect reports are
calculated to damage the cause of Christ,
if not to prejudice the people against the
church; therefore be it
Resolued, That the pastors and mem
bers of the M. E. church in this district
be and hereby are requested to re-
frain from publishing or allowing to be
published any information concerning
such difficulties or trials.
Resolued, That this be inserted In the
Conference Worker.
Mr.. France said he did not particularly
dislike the secular press or its reports,
but he and others had been much panied
at things he had seen IN the papers Of
late or such subjects furnished by mem-
bers and pastors of churches.
The further discussion of the resolu-
tion was postponed and the resolution
laid upon the table in order to let the
regular business come up.
A discussion then followed, the theme
being, what should be next taken up.
The Presiding Elder insisted upon the
regular order of business being followed.
Rev. ]. b. Mann replied tartly asking If
conference could not choose any subject
without regard OF order.
At length Rev. j. l.. Houston made
motion that DIR. Caldwell read his review
of "Von Osterzus' Theology of the New
Testament" This was carried and the
review, which is upon this recent work
of the celebrated orthodox Dntch divine
was then read. 1t examined at great
length aud with much care and ex-
haustive research the work in question.
The reading of the review having been
concluded, the Presiding Elder called
for complaints or charges against local
preachers. None were made.
The Presiding Elder then called atten-
tion to lhe fact that two undisposed res
olutions were now upon the table.
A motion, which prevailed, was made
that DIR. Caldwell's resolution to discon-
tinue the district conference be taken up.
A long and earnest discussion then
sprang up.
against the resolution. He said the
holding of the conference was an old
time honored custom and there was real
ly no necessity of putting summary end
to it at this time.
DR.. Caldwell thought they ought to
lay the invitation on the shelf, but he re-
gretted that such was necessary as much
as Mr.. France regretted to see it end. 1t
was not, fifty speaking, a representative
body as only few came after atrial had
been given.
Rev. W. L. s. Murray thought it de-
served annihllation.
Eli Garrett said that at the district con-
ference better chance was given to sift
matters than at the annual conference.
Rev. A. d. Davis spoke in favor Of the
resolution to discontinue.
- II.