Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-08
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.
Deliberations Of the Ministers mt NC
kendree Church.


PRESIDING ELDER DEAEE's REPORT OF THE cONDI-
TIoN OF AFFAIRS IN THE WASHINGTON DISTRICT
POORLY PAID MINISTERS AND HOMES DESTITUTE OF
RELIGIOUS Observation-Disclosures TRANSACTED BY
THE CONFERENCE TO-DAY.
The fourth days session OF the Baltimore confer
ence OF the Methodist Episcopal church was opened
this morning at McKendree church, on Massachu-
sets avenue. Devotional exercises were con-
Quoted by Rev. Geo W. Cooper, OF Baltimore.
Bishop Andrews then directed the journal to be
read, after which he called upon ]. S. Deale, the
presiding elder Of the Washington district, who
submitted the following report:
THE CONDITION OF THE WASHINGTON DISTRICT.
Washington district has been characterized by
general harmony and substantial progress While
the number Of probationers falls short OF what it
was year ago, am glad to know that there has
been no decline in the spirit OF christian enterprise
On the contrary. every branch OF church work oc-
cupies an advanced position and gives evidence OF
much hard work. Our Sabbath schools have IN
creased In number, attendance and efficiency: use
our own publications: give considerable attention
10 the catechism, and are generally organized
into juvenile missionary societies The benev-
oient collections are considerably In advance
of the previous year; every charge ar
ranging for all correctional collections. The mis-
sonary collection Will be far in advance Of last
year We have been greatly helped in our mission
airy enterprise by the presence and labors OF Rev.
julius Soper, lately missionary In Japan; and in
oehalf OF the church IN this district express our
DELNQUENCIEs IN PAYING MINISTER'S SALARIES.
For pastoral support more liberal provision has
been realized at some points, although still made
quate at others. With a few honorable exceptions
our method Of providing for the support OF the
ministry Is unsatisfactory and often oppressdye to
the ministers themselves. The objection is not SO
much against the amount OF salary allowed, al
though that could be Increased in some OF our
charges without overtax1ng their ability but it is
the way In which these salaries are paid or rather
not paid, that calls for reformation. Some of our
Goars haa m to eg1
the amount OF salary allowed after eight or ten
months OF the conference year had passed, and in
that small amount left unpaid How paralyZng'
must such method be to ministerial ef1iciency!
what reflection upon our MethOdisml
LITERARY DEsTlTUTIoN.
The limited circulation OF our denominational
literature within the bounds of this district has
surprised and mortified me.
L have given attention to this subject and am
prepared to state that not one-tfth Of our Official
members tnke any OF our church papers While very
many Of our homes are comparatively destitute OF
all KINDS OF religious literature; homes that are
supplied with that trashy, demoralIzing literature
with which all lands are flooded. This destitutfOn
exists IN quarters where least suspected in the city
as wen as the country in the homes of the rich as
for relief AS church we haze all the machinery
for correcting this great evil but the machinery is
not worked up to the design What is needed is
lty. IVA
THE HEALTH OF MINISTER'S.
The health OF my brethren In the ministry has
been generally good. One OF our most earnest and
successful co-laborers was compelled to abandon
his work for few months on account OF feeble
health In the providence Of God, however he has
6een permitted to resume bis position, and is hope
!ul OF complete recovery to health. The sweet
laugh OF the babe has been hushed in one OF our
ministerial homes; but huShed only to mortal ears
record my gratitude to God for his marvellous
watch and care over me during the year, and TO my
brethren III the ministry and laity for their sympa-
thy and cooperation.
A VISITOR.
The bishop introduced to the conference John
Paul Cook, whom he described as zone OF the Chief
workers in French Methodisln." On suggestion OF
the secretary w. r. Stricken was added to the
committee on statistics.
The call OF the Cumberland district was then
begun, the presiding elder, G. w. Hobbs, making
his report. The character OF the ministers was
passed
Under the question s'who are admitted on trial."
Henry W. Jones, J.J.F Gray and BE-. Devries were
continued on trial.
w: D: Morgan, c. W. Emory, W. H. Dell were
W. L. Mcdowell, II. F. Bowls, W. R. Stricken,
E. L. Watson and Thos. r. Marsh were passed as
deacOnS OF the second class
ELECTED TO DEAcONs ORDERS.
Presiding Elder Deale presented the application
of Hamline church for the ordination of W. w.
Buck
The committee on examination reported that
with standard OF ten, he received nine on exami-
nation.
By vote OF the conference he was elected to dea-
cons orders
THE NEXT CONFERENCE.
The last question was then taken up, "Where
Shall the next conference be heidi"
Rev. DR.. NaylOr said that he had unanimous in
v1tation from the official board of Eutaw church,
Baltimore.
motion that the invitation be accepted was
adopted by rising vote without dissent.
WHAT MR. DAVIS WANTS TO KNOW
A resolution providing that the various pastors
Should be required to report in open conference the
number of practitioners in their respective charges
was offered by Rev. j. n. Davis, who said that
reports OF the missionary collections were made
and yet reports OF the spiritual condition Of the
church were not made
Rev. Mr. Kelley stated that the discipline required
the one and did not require the other
The resolution was laid on the table by rising
vote.
On motion OF Rev. Dr. Edwards II o'clock Mon
day morning was fixed for hearing the missionary
sermon, to be delivered by Rev. j. W. Cornelius.
THE STEWARDS REPORT.
A preliminary report OF the board OF stewards
was made through Rev. Joel Brown. The appro-
priation for the superannuated was $780, for the ST.
pernumeraries 500, for the orphans and widows
s. 525, for effective preachers 1865. The total OF
collections in the various districts and circuits was
$60l3.96
Rev. Mr. Brown added: "Less IS, deducted for
counterfeit bill received In collection
Rev. j. w. Cooper presented the report OF the
committee on the distribution OF the preachers aid
fund, Which amounts to g. 900.
THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE SEMINARY
The consideration Of the report upon the semi
nary conference was then resumed.
Rev. DR.. Hartman, OF Dickinson college, addressed
the conference in reply to the speech OF Rev. DR..
Van Meter OF yesterday. He spoke with some sar-
casm OF the remark that the conference no longer
entertained the same affection for Dickinson COL
lege and, after twenty five years of devotion, was
turning towards new love-a lady love. 'sIs 1t
that ha va
decned?" he asked
81 did not say that" interrupted Dr.. Van Meter,
from his seat.
''You said that the affection was not what 1t was
before What Is that but declination?" asked the
doctor, with some Indignation.
The members OF the conference, who were antici-
patng lively defense, greeted this little passage
with laughter
The doctor continued to argue that the fact that
the college was In Pennsylvania not in the bounds
OF the conference had nothing to do with the Ques
ton. He believed that ii the college had only 12
students from this conference it was because the
young men did not go anywhere. II the new female
seminary only secured the same proportion 1t would
not be much OF success. He thought that the
Methodist church
DID NOT TAKE MUCH INTEREST IN EDUCATION.
The ministers, either In the city country rarely
went to college. Princeton and Lafayette colleges
had received magnificent requests, and these had
sprung up in the same territory as Dickinson,
The latter could do the same under the same con-