The daily gazette., 1882-03-10
The W.lminEtOn HEalhOdist EpIseO-
pas Conference.


Bishop Hurst called the Conference
TO order At o'clock. A communication
was received from Rev. e. B. Newman,
Withdrawing from the Methodist Church.
No reason was assigned in the letter, at
least the Bishop did not state them TO
Conference.
Rev. DIR. Matlack, read long report
CT the Board CT Trustees of the Wesley.
an Female College, at Wilmington,
showing its present condition. The re-
port states that there Is now upon the
college a debt OF $14,560 IS, with no
means In the hands Of the board 10 pay
the same, the only property In their
hands cling tie charter Of the lnstitu-
tlon. The report concludes 40 follows:
"We have not inquired who are to
blame, nor do We assume that there are
any persons at fault, but we do freely
express our sincere regret that the col
lege was commenced wlthC ut capital;
that 1t found no liberal patrons at the
saIt to give the ample endowments 1t
needed; that 1t has q very Limited pat
ronage at Its best estate, and that the
unwlsldy burden of mortgages, accruing
interest, &C., which 1t has staggered un-
der for about 80 years, has at last over
wtelmed 1t hopelessly In financial
ruin"
Attached to the report was resolu-
ton expressing regret at the resignation
Of Prot. Williams, who has beeR Pest
dent Of the College for the past fur
years.
Rev. T, e. Martindale, Presiding FL
der cf the Easton district, read bis annu-
al report, showing thee had been re-
newed religious interests In nearly all
If the churches 10 the district. The
character OF the ministers were reported
good. The missionary collections
amounted to 81, AGO.
Rev. X. w. Todd, Presiding Elder OF
the Dover District, made favorable re-
port as to the condition ef tbe churches
ln his district. The report also referred
to the Wilmington Conference Acade-
my, at Dover, and stated that there
we're liz students In the institution aud
81 graduated, six Of whom became min
lnisle.s. The income for the past year
amounted to $ll00 The property be-
longing to the institution Is valued at
$4,000. The missionary collection in
this district amounted to over $1,000.
Rev. L. S. Williams, Presiding Elder
Of the Salisbury District, also made q
favorable report Is 10 the state of rell-
gion in the district, as well as to the
character Of the ministers under his
charge. Tie collection ameunted 10
$1,465. "a.
Rev. DR.. Hunt, of the Methodist
Book Concern, was introduced. He
made brief address upon the subject If
the Book Concern, and said that, in the
New York and Cincinnati houses the
sales of books and periodicals during
the past year amounted In value to ST, :
566,739. For the first time In u bis-
tory of the concern, they were not called
upon TO pay any portion Of the Bishops
salaries, the whole amount having been
rsised by voluntary contribution.
Rev. T. o. Ayres called attention to
an article published In the Christian
Advocate, stating that witches are to be
found annoying Inhabitants Ia portions
of Sussex and Caroline counties. He
thought Q statement 50 far from the
truth should be corrC c'ed; Rev. j. E..
Mowbrey stated tia, the editor OF the
Advocate Informed him (Mowbrey) that
the information was obtained from Rev.
DIR. Baldwin, missionary. After some
indignant protests against the statement
the subject was dropped.
Tie following gentlemen were ap-
pointed a committee to con ider the re.
port on the Wesleyan Female College:
w. e. England, Il. IL. HaiDes, o. Hill,
+. A. Ellis and T. Williams.
The Board of Stewards reported col
lections made during the year. Among
the contributions was the sum of $4,000
for the support of worn out preachers.
The Bishop stated that he had re
ceived q letter from Bishop Scott inform
ing him that in consequence of sickness
he would not be able to attend the con-
ference. On motion Of Rev. Mr.. Todd
a committee OF three was appointed to
convey the fraternal greetings OF the
Conference.
Rev. Mr.. Babcock, of the Natona
Temperance SoUiety; Rev. Mr.. Lewis
rector of tue p. E. Church, IN this place
aud Rev. Mr.. WILSON, late president Of
the Wesleyan Female College, were In
troduoed to Conference by Bishop
HuIst.
THE woMEN'S FoREIGN MISSIONARY
SOCIETY.
l "A III bhO ibOolCSO "
the Philadelphia Branch ofthe Womaui
Foreign Missionary Society was helC
this afternoon In tue Town Hall. Every
seat in the building was occupied, a ma
iorlty OF these present being women
This branch includes Pennsylvania ant
Delaware, the headquarters being ii
Philadelphia. At the time of the las
report the branch contained 200 working
auxiliarits, with about 1000 mem mbers
The receipts amount yearly to over Sl5,
900. AT the meeting this afternoon
Rev. j. A. B. Wilson pr sided, and afte
10 music by the choir connected with tn
Middletown M. E. Church, and PRAYER
Bishop Hurst delivered an eloquen
speech In son mendation of the Won
ans Foreign Missionary Society, which
! he said, waB engaged In one of the mos
important works Of the Church, and b
al,O believed that, Instead of the Won
aus Branch doing damage to the paren
Society, 1t was of great assistance to i
In concluding he paid high comp
menG TO the women who gave so mucl
of their time to this work, and tha
without pay.
The Bishop was followed by Mrs. ]. 1
| Keen, of Philadelphia, Correspondin
: | Secret lry of the Phil 4delphIa Branch
Mrs. Keen gave brief history of tn
Organization OF the society, which hs
b now missionaries in India, u hina ,J apaI
: Africa and Mexico.
q clara TOuiaa X III toRg ia tn rA eive AI2