Middletown transcript., 1884-03-07

presided. Connected with this Confer
ence are 3l2 churches, valued at 81, ll3,3OO'
The membership is 25,5OO, with 3,257
probationers. There are 934 Sunday
schools, with 29, 355 scholars.
The Conference was opened by the
reading OF the Scriptures and prayer by
the Bishop.
Rev. ]. D. Rigg was elected Secretary,
and he appointed Revs. E. II. Nelson,
E.P. Aldred and E. C. MacNichol as as
sistants.
The Bishop then announced the Stand
ing Committees.
Rev. John Paul Cooke, OF the French
Wesleyan Conference, was introduced
and addressed the Conference on behalf
of the Methodists of France, and asked
that a collection be taken up to assist the
good work in that country. His request
was complied with. The amount collected
was S72, neasly all from the ministers.
Revs. J. France, w. B. Walton, j. A.
Brindle and Edward Davis were elected
Ministerial Stewards.
The Bishop called for reports from
Presiding Elders. The first on the list,
Rev. Chas Hill, made a favorable report
of the condition of the churches in the
Wilmington District. He also reported
that healthy improvement had been
effected in the temperance cause. A
number of the churches had paid off in
whole or in part debts that rested upon
them a year ago.
There has been but little gain in MEM
bership in the district during the past
year. The characters of the ministers as
called were reported as good. The mis-
sionary collections reported by them
amounted to S6,907.
Rev. John Shilling was granted super
numerary relation, and a collection was
Immediately taken up for his benefit,
which amounted to over $500, most OF
which the ministers contributed.
The religious services in the afternoon
were conducted by Rev. J. E. Smith.
The statistical reports from the various
churches were referred to the Statistical
Committee. Rev. Isaac Wood, can
didate for admission into the ministry,
was introduced to the Conference.
Rev. B. r. Price delivered an address
upon the Centenary of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in this country. The
address referred to the founding of Meth
odism in England by John Wesley, and
its introduction into this country in HI,
and the holding of the first Conference in
Philadelphia in 1773. The speaker dwelt
with eloquence upon the zeal and self
sacrificing spirit Of the early fathers OF
the Church, and depicted with force the
good that had been accomplished by
Methodists during the past one hundred
years. At the Conference held in Balti-
more in 1884, there were at that time but
"a ministers, GA stations and 1880 mem
bers. VIM. Waters, resident of West
ern Maryland, was, the speaker said, the
first native preacher Of Methodism.
Rev. G, A. Phubus, on moving that a
vote of thanks be rendered to Mr.. Price,
made brief address, in which he referred
briefly to the history of Asbury Church.
in which the Conference is now being
held. This Church was opened in 1789 by
Bishop Asbury. The Society was or
, ganized, however, about 1867. The Phila
delphia Conference has held four annual
sessions in this church. The present
membership of the church is $40, with 18C
probationers.
, The Educational Anniversary was hello
! Wednesday evening in st. Pauls M. E
! Church. F. A. Ellis, President of th'
Society, presided, and made briefspeech
: Addresses were also made by Rev. J. R
Boyle, J. Miley, D. D., and ]. B. Young
J The Missionary Sermon was preached
f in Asbury Church by the Rev. II. Haynes
: There were large congregations in bot
:, churches.
: THURSDAY.
u Rev. w. H. Hutchins, J. H. Caldwell
II and W. L. S. Murray were appointed
! committee to fill vacancies in the Boar
T. Of Trustees of the Conference Academ
:" at Dover.
70 The Secretary of the Freedmen's All
Y Society informed Conference that the tot
appropriation to the cause of freedme
- had been increased from 100000 to S125
. 600, and that the share for the Wilmingto
Conference to raise was $4,000.
- Rev. D. P. Kidder, D. D., Secretary
IL the Board of Education, presented a pap
:, stating that there had been great increa
III in contributions, but it was not equal
y the growth of the work. Wilmingtc
~ Conference had contributed as follow
o. 1881, S, 9,O2I; in 1882, 1926; in 1888, S6O1.t
10 He referred to the importance of maki
W Children's Day, the second Sunday
70 June, a success in the way of collecti
W. funds for educational purposes. Each
ne contributing dollar would receive
III medal.
Ter The call of collections in the varic
OF churches for worn-out preachers v
lat made. The total amount reported v
NJ over S., 900.
'he Rev. T. E. Martindale, Presiding ELI
ow of the Easton District, represented
did condition of the churches in his distr
60 He said that there had been revivals
Is nearly all the churches, and renewed
ian terest manifested in the contributions
pa the various benevolent objects of
church. During the past year three Il
ana churches have been completed, and
9ly' number of others improved and mode
nae lied. The churches and other property
our the district are valued at 1924, 200, wi
md there is only $1,000 of debt. The chara'
row of the ministers in this district were fay
ABLY reported. The missionary collecti
amounted to $1,000.
,es A. w. Milby, Presiding Elder of
or,, Dover district, made his report, in WI
zzie he said that during the year six I
-o,, churches and two new parsonages
900 been erected, at a cost of s14, $3.50, al
rTbe which has been paid. There are
Tho churches and SO ministers in the dist
son and in many of them revivals have ia
mic place and many new members added.
,,,s the Conference Academy at Dover
tha eight teachers and 165 students.
Tho property is valued at about $4,000, u
- which there is a debt of $4,000.
q A. r. Wilson, Presiding Elder of