Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-08
METHODISTs IN COUNCIL.
fourth Days Session Of the BaltimOr
NJ. +. Conference.

Win ueVotional exercises by Rev. DIR. III. Baker.
On motion of Rev. q. w. Hobbs. Rev. r.. +.
BISHOP was changed from effective TO super
numerary without work. The presiding elders
were appointed to estimate the amount OF
church relief for the coming year and report
the charges and the amount each one is TO re-
ceive. Rev. DIR. Phillips, OF the Book Concern.
New York, addressed the conference, asking
patronage for its publications-the Christian Adj
rocdte, the Quarterly and the new paper Our
Youth, especially the latter.
od Rev; Mr.; Price moved the appointment of
committee on the seamen's cause; carried.
Revs: Myers, c. HI. Richardson, Osborn Starr
and Bu n were appointed.
AID fund. The report showed that the total al
E lowed was SS,o15, and the total receipts
A report was also made by Rev. Mr. Cooper
from the committee on the distribution of the
preacherS, aid fund, showing how the commit
zee had divided the $4,000 placed at its dispo-
sal py the Preachers Aid society.
LESS THAN A DOLLAR A DAY FOR PREACHERS.
The report of the committee on supplement-
| Ing insufficient salaries which was presented
Saturday through the chairman OF the COM
mittee, Rev. VIM. F. Speake, was taken up for
further discussion. This report set out that
the aggregate salaries allowed by I46 charges
| to so pastors in the Baltimore conference ac-
cording to the minutes OF 1885, $685.
O06.5o, including house rent. But on these
claims there was total deficiency of 81, 03S.9i,
leaving the average of actual receipts at
$9S2.34. One-fffth 10 one-fourth of this must
be counted as rental value of parsonages so
that the average salary in money was about
S1S5; There are sixty preachers who receive
less than this average, the least being Sl60.
More than one-third of the members OF this
conference have net income OF $3.50, or less
than dollar day. The greatest salary paid is
$4,000. The committee express the opinion
that an equalization of salaries, such as pre-
walls in the British conference. is utterly inn
possible, but the evil of inadequate support
might be mitigated.
The committee recommended the following
methods of curing existing methods
I,-That the conference request the biShppS
for a series of years TO favor in their admins
tration consolidation rather than partition
of the work.
u.-That the conference during the same
| time jealousy guard entrance by both gate
ways-admission or trial, or unbalanced
IH.-That the conference advise the people
| to adopt some system OF finance, which, being
followed by some OF our charges, enables them
| to afford their pastors sufficient support.
1N.-That the managers of the Preachers
Aid society and the board of stewards be ad-
vised to administer their funds in common or
| by agreement, SO as to aid the plan proposed
| by the committee, and an effort be made to in
crease the capital OF the Preachers Aid society.
| What committee on sustentation, TO consist
OF five ministers and five laymen, whose duty it
| shall be to collect and disburse moneys i'm the
| following manner, viz: A fund shall be created
by ta) the conference voting to il So, 800, SO
nue.. as may be necessary OF the preachers aid
| divided; 90 the payment of moneys which may
be contributed by any OF our brethren in the
laity, or in the university, other than effective
| men, or by churches; (c) an assessment of per
| cent on all salaries OF the pastors
The committee suggest that this method, If
| followed, would create a fund which could be
| SO distributed as To afford 4 minimum salary of
500 to every married maE and of $4OO to
every single man.
| SORT OF COMMUNISM
Dr. Gibson said that this plan proposed some
| thing which the conference had no right to do
without consulting the laity and that was TO
| levy a tax on the people. He suggested that
| the matter should be left over until the next
conference, SO the people could be consulted.
1 llfra.r
help him to the full extent OF his salary; but he
would not agree to an assessment, even of two
per cent on his salary. He characterized the
| plan proposed as "a sort of communism"
| Rev. Mr.. Price said he in favor of COM
munsm such as was proposed among Method
list preachers. As to DIR. Gibsonis statement
| that he was willing TO give to any preacher
who came to him, be said that there were men
| in the conference who would go on their knees
till their knees were torn and bleeding before
| they would beg one dime from Dr. Gibson or
any other member OF conference. 1--WE want to
place our preachers, he said, "above anything
| like beggary.
A number of preachers took part in the de-
| bate. Objection was made TO the report that
the proposed committee would add unneces-
| Sarily to the machinery of the conference. as
| the existing board OF stewards and aid commit
| tee could perform the functions proposed for
| this committee.
DIR. j. n. Davis saio that how some of the
members of the conference lived was a mystery
to him. He approved the report as a move
ment in the right direction
Rev. Mr.. GLENN in speaking on the subject
$4,000, one receiving salary OF 81 800 the
other voted salary OF $500, but actually paid
only 5000. The latter preacher could not receive
aid from the stewardsas he could not be said to
be in need. Hence he would practically con-
tribute 5000 for the relief of Others while the
81 500 preacher would contribute only his two
per cent. He thought the preachers receiving
large salaries should not object to paying their
two per cent.
DIR. Gibson. making a personal explanation
said that he did not desire to be put in the light
OF wanting to bring preachers TO him as beggars,
thing was far from his mind. A motion by DIR.
Gibson to postpone consideration of the report
was laid on the table, and the conference pro-
ceeded with the consideration of the report.
LECTURING THE LAITY.
DR.. Dashiel urged very strongly the adoption
ofsOme measures TO bring salaries up to stand
ard which would make life in the itineracy en-
durable. He cited case related to him by a
leading member OF the laity in this city, who
| said that at one quarterly conference only SIT
was paid for the support of the preacher and his
family and the presiding elder. There are some
pretty rough appointments in the conference,
he said, and there are mean people well as
good people in the laity of the church. There
are people who grind the poor preacher and
hush the voice Of com plant; they make a man
feel that ii he says one word he will get into
greater difficulty. why said DIR. Dashiel.
claim to say what appointment shall be made,
when they have not yet paid their last
preacher"
who are in good standing" said the bishop, in
terrupting DIR. Dashiel, las they not here to
defend themselves against such lecturng."
The discussion was then temporarily sus-
pended.
TO BE RECEIVED BY THE PRESIDENT.
Dr. Huntiey reported that the President would
receive the conference at the White House at
2:15 o'clock this afternoon. He urged the men,
bers to be prompt, adding "Our President waits
for no man"
LOCAL OPTION.
A Resolution, offered by RevG.V Leech pro-
viding for an appointment OF a committee of
three to prepare paper to be sent to the Mary
land legislature protesting against the repeal Of
the local option laws and the substitution of the
high license in counties where local option is
now in force was adopted.
Revs. q. V. Leech, I. i. Poulson and c. w.
Baldwin were appointed as the committee.
The days session closed with memorial exer-
cises for deceased members OF the conference
Bishop Andrews presiding.
NOTES
Rev. George L. Cuddy, now of the Hartford
circuit, was ordained as an elder at Ham
line church last evening, Bishop Ninde officiat-
ing.
Many of the pulpits of the city yesterday were
filled by members OF the conference.
Bishop Ninde preached in the morning at the
Metropolitan n. E church.
REAL ESTATE SALES.-The Washington Gas
| light Co. has sold to Noble ID. Larner, for
$B,SSS.34, the property fronting 25sS1a feet on
the east side OF 10th street, between and K
streets Geo w Shepherd executor has sold