Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-03-21
Baltimore Conference NJ. E, Church South.

The one hundred and fourth session of
the Baltimore Conference NJ. b. Church
South was begun in Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church South in Martinsburg,
West Va, on Wednesday, the 14th inst,
with Bishop Alpheus W. Wilson, of Balti-
more, presiding.
Rev. DIR. John S. Martin, spresiding elder
of the Winchester district, who has been
secretary since 1858, was elected. and ap
pointed as his assistants Rev. James E.
Armstrong, Rev. George T. Tyler, Rev.
Asbury r. Martin, Rev. Beverly w. Bond,
Rev. Henry P. Hamill and Rev. James z.
Stump. The roll of delegates, both clerical
and lay, was called, the majority answer
ing.
The conference board OF missions appoint
ed were Rev. J. S. Martin, president, Rev.
Thomas E. Carson, secretary, and Charles
Shipley, treasurer The managers are:
Clerical-Revs. James S. Gardner, Samuel
Rodgers, P. Fl. Whisner and J. W. Duffey.
Lay managers-T. J. Magruder, NJ. L.
Walton and Robert G. Lumpkin.
Others boards and committees were ap-
pointed.
The report from the Southern Methodist
Publishing House was read and referred to
the committee on publishing interests. The
report of the Church Extension Society at
Louisville was referred to the church extern.
sion board. The report of the board of
visitors of the Wesleyan Female Institute
at Sbauntop, Va, was referred to the board
of education.
The report of the Wesleyan Female 1nsti-
tute was read by Rev. DR.. Martin. 1t said
that the institute now contained 80 board
ing scholars and large increase in the num-
Der of day scholars over last year. There
was debt of $24, 956 on the institute, and
the trustees at their annual meeting leased
the college to its principal, the Rev. DR..
Harris, for So, 900, which will be used to
pay the interest on the debt, amounting to
81, 800; $500 for insurance, $500 for repairs,
$500 per aunum on debt of the steam heat
ing apparatus, which will take three years
to pay. The remainder will be put aside
to form sinking fund for the liquidation
of the debt, After the steam-heatirg
apparatus has been paid for the fund will
be 1900, which, in twelve years, With &C
cnmulated interest, will amount to $50, 900,
nearly the entire debt.
Bishop Alpheus W. Wilson, the presid-
ing officer of the conference, is native Of
Virginia, the youngest son of the late Rev.
NOrval Wilson, one of the most prominent
ministers of the Baltimore Conference. He
is So years of age, and entered the confer
ence in 1856. He received his education
principally at the Columbia College, at
Washington. He entered the ministry
when he was but 30 years old, and even at
that early age was looked upon as a young
man of unusual promise, and it was pro-
phesied by his friends that he would be
very prominent man in the church. He
has occupied the pulpit as pastor of some
of the most prominent churches in Balti
more, Washington and Virginia, and for
four years was presiding elder of Washing
ton district. In 1870 he was elected dele.
gate to the General Conference which met
in Memphis. In 1878 ho was elected gen.
eral missionary secretary of the church,
which position he held for four years, and
was instrumental in putting the society in
its present prosperous condition. He was
sent SIS delegate to the Ecumenical Confer
lowing be was elected bishop. In 1885 he
went to China to organize missionary
conference, iu which work he was very
successful. He then made tour of the
world, returning last year. lie is now con-
sidered the peer of any minister in the
country, and is very popular throughout
the Methodist Church, and especially so in
his own conference.
On the second day, the reading of the re-
ports of the Presiding Elders, which com
menced on the first day, was continued.
Rev. J. Fl. Waugh, of the Rockingham
district, was called, when be said that there
are twenty circuits in his district, and that
while the attendance at the public services
is Large, the class meetings are entirely
neglected.. The attendance at the prayer
meetings is good, and in some cases ex-
tremely SO. The collections for church ex-
tension are not large and show a lack of
appreciation on the part of the people of
the district for that work. The Sunday
school interest is great, and there are -four
ishing schools at Harrisonburg aud Stsun.
ton, and at a little place called AIarksvile,
in Page county, there are 400 scholars on
the roll. During the term of service of
Rev. jacob 8. Hopkins at Mount Jackson
three church buildings have been raised.
The following candidates were adaitted
on trial in the travelling connection: Wm.
Magruder Waters, Maurice Casper Merling,
Charles r. Miliken, VIM. T. Locke, Leroy
Fletcher Snapp, Jno. Kenes White, Jas. P.
Evans and g. d. Harris.
Presiding Elder Waugh said he had q
candidate to present whose application was
in writing. He was very anxious to have it
presented and took all possible care to keep
the application safe. He succeeded admit
rably, but there was his trouble. He made
it too safe, and came to conference leaving
the application locked in his desk at home
He had telegrsphod to his wife, and he had
no doubt that the application would arrive
in the next mail. Bishop Wilson told him
he would have the application considered
upon its arrival.
The fourth year candidates, for elders
orders we're Forrest J. Prettyman, Clarence
L. Kennard, Juo. o. Knott, VIM. l.. Dolly,
Jno. H. Light, Geo. D. White and Jno. Fl.
Kuhlmar. Elders orders were awarded to
each.
Local elders orders were awarded to
Sam'I E. Boyd, q local preacher.
Prof. W. W. Smith, president Of Ran
dolph- IL aeon College, was introduced and
made short address.
The proceedings of the third day consist
ed principally in the elevation Of candidates
from one stage to another.
Revs. David l.. BTakemore, Norman N.
Hall and Milton Moore Long were continu-
ed OF trial aud admitted to the second
year.
bert, James M. Rollins, Samuel A. Parker,
w IL. olliduSCc tlO
stricken were elected to deacons' orders,
after which they were charged by Bishop
Wilson in an eloquent address, in which
he gave them the benefit of his observations
and experience of many years in the minis
try, indicating the course to be pursued and
the temptations to be avoided.
Charles F. Stanton was admitted on trial.
Rsvs. VIM. A. Sites, James Z. Stump,
| Clark G. Eddington, Thomas M. Jones and
Hamilton M. Roane were elected deacons
of the second year.
The committee on conference relations
also reported favorably the applications of
Revs. Alfred A. Eskridge and others for
the superannuated relation. The report
was adopted.
Rev. Charles NJ. Bragg, a local preacher
of four years. standing, was, after some dis
cussion, admitted on trial, and afterward
elected to deacon's orders.
Rows. VIM. MoLane and Charles L. Pot
ter were discontinued, at their own request,
and Rev. ]. W. Steele was. given an honor
able dis missal.
Rev. J. W. Steele who has been an eff
cient minister of that conference for fifteen
years was granted an honorable dismissal.
He will in future act with the N. E.
Church.
Saturdays session was devoted almost
entirely to passing the characters of the