Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-03-20

who are gradually forced out, when at
times they cannot get salaries sufficient
for the support Of themselves and their
families.
This is the result of the want OF
equity. No one will complain II the
shop would, when he makes . transfer
in the conference, make an equitable
transfer out. The list Of this year pro-
claims the efficiency Of the ministers Of
this church. We must preserve the men
who come into this church In their youth.
The men who have come amongst US have
worked hard. am not complaining
about them, but they never get to the
top. Why Because there is no room
there. When there Is room at the top
some one is brought In from abroad to fill
it. There is no use in offering dead reso-
lutions. What We want is a fair discus
sion that this quest on Of adjustment may
be rightly settled"
An effort was made at this point to take
up the orde of the day, the memorial
service, but it was defeated. The debate
on the question Of transfers was resumed,
aud the Rev. Mr.. Welsh and the Rev. W.
II. Elliott both made speeches. MIR.
Swindells' resolution, however, was laid
aside after Mr.. Elliott had spoken, and
the obituary notices in the memorial ser
vice were read. Included in the list were
the Rev. NJ. A. Day, the Rev. Ii. b.
Msuger, the Rev. 7. w. Shippers, the
Rev.P. Coombs, the Rev. Charles ksrsner.
The question, shall church commit
tees dictate appointments 7" came before
the Methodist conference at Pnilsdelphis
Tuesday in a particularly emphatic
manner, aud resulted in the most inter
esting debate of the session.
The Rev. W. L Gray, who was sent
last year TO De Kslb Street Church, Nor
ristown, aud has had an unpleasant year
of it because the church members wanted
another preacher, asked that he might be
retired from the effective list and given a
supernumerary relation. He said that
he had been az effective preacher for 40
years, and now found that it was diff
| cult matter tor him to remain in an sp-
piintmep, longer than ore year, because
OF the disposition to push the
cd men to the wall. "In view
OF all circumstances" he continued !:
Gin view OF my loyalty to Jesus Christ
and devotion to all that i5 good and pure,
IL have ever deserved anything from
this conference | ask it now-to allow
me 10 become supernumersry. | do
lot desire there shall be- any trouble in
my case. consider the health of my
wife will be placed in jeopardy by my re-
movsl at he present time, and haze no
hope any field Of labor can be obtained
whers my family can be comfortable"
The statement made profound senss-
ton, and opposition to granting Mr.. Gray q
request was al once developed. The
preschers felt that he had been badly
treated aud should be sustained by the
conference, and returned to the Norris
town church in spite OF the attempt OF a
part OF the congregation to have him re
moved.
In the discussion which ensued the
practice on the part OF the churches OF
appointing committees to ask for partio-
ulsr preachers, aud making trouble IL
they did not succeed in getting their
man, was denounced in the most bitter
terms by many of the most conspicuous
members OF the conference.
The conference finally refused to declare
Mr. Gray supernumersry, and it ID
thought he will be returned to his Norris
town charge.
|
from the lay conference and from the
New Jersey Methodist Episcopal Confer
enoe were received.
In the afternoon the following sddi
tionsl delegates to the General Conferenc,
were elected; Presiding Elder ]. NJ
Hinson, the Rev. W. ). PaxsOn and tn,
Rev J. b. Mccullough. The completes
the deles alton from this conference. Tn,
alternstes are yet to be selected.
A spirited discussion occurred in tn,
afternoon session upon the Rev. William
Swindel's resolution in reference t
transiers, but no action was taken,
An amendment was pending recon
mending to th4 General Conference tina
the Discipline bs 80 changed that tn
bishops shall be- prohibited from maxim
transfers from one conference TO another
except with the cons ent OF both confer
enUpS. -...