Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-03-19
BALTIMORE CONFERENCE NJ. E. CHURCH
SOUTH.
106TH ANNUAL MISREPRESENTATION

5ALIlMUkE CONFERENCE NJ. Il. CHUkCH
SOUTH.
1O6TH ANNUAL Observation-Disclosures
SERVICE.
Tuesday night, March 18th, at O'Clock
a preliminary service was held in the main
auditorium at st. Pauls. The attendance
was large. The exercises began with the
singing OF selection by the church choir
of fourteen voices, and then, after the
singing of a hymn by the choir and con
gregation together, the Rev. J. D. Martin
offered fervent prayer, asking the blessing
of the Divine Being upon the ministers Of
the church and its conference about to
begin its work.
town, W. Va, preached clear, compre-
henslve sermon on 1.-THE Christian Minis
try" He said in his discourse: "No man
than St. Paul. No man had deeper con
viction OF the solemnity of the work and
the awful responsibility that rested upon a
minister. From the time he went forth to
do his Masters will until he laid down his
life he found no time for triflIng, and re-
garded the work more important than all
other things. He was man fully capable
of interesting and instructing the people.
and the gospel of Jesus Christ furnished
ample room for the play of his powers. 1t
was not culture he preached, it was not
with philosophy he entertained the people.
but he occupied all his time in delivering
the message of Christ. He did not preach
about mere theory or dull lifeless ques-
tions IN morals or doctrines, but about
Christ. Burdened with this great theme,
he carried the message to regions unknown.
he did not believe that all would be saved,
but that all could be saved. The ministers
of our church are engaged in the same
work, we preach the same gospel, the same
Christ, the same awful facts and the same
thrilling hope"
The communion service then followed.
Bishop Duncan oficiated, and was assisted
by Bishop Wilson, the Rev. DR.. P d.
Whisner, DR.. James E. Armstrong, j. G.
Dice, T. G. hewitt and S. G. Ferguson
About two hundred and fifty persons pre-
sented themselves at the altar rail-sbout
one hundred ministers, Bishop Wilson
closed the services of the evening with
prayer.
Three presiding elders will retire from
Office at this session, their terms having ex'
pred by limitation. They are the Kevs.
DR.. P. Il. Whisner, of the Baltimore dis
trict; J. s. Hutchinson, of Roanoke dis
trct, and S. G Ferguson, of Moorefield.-
The Rev. H. W. Kinzer, of the Lewisburg
district, will retire on account of failing
health, making the election of four new
presiding elders necessary. During the
year the Revs. Gibson Mauzy, Geo. r.
r n1fn
have died. The last mentioned died in the
Maryland University Hospital few weeks
ago.
On Wednesday morning there was con-
siderable discussion on the application of
Rev. DR.. John T. Wightmaa for entrance
again int :, the Baltimore Conference.
The Rev. DR.. Wightman until about five
years ago was member of the South Caro-
lima Conference of the Southern Methodist
Church, from which he was transferred to
the Baltimore Conference. On account of
his health it became necessary for him to
remain in Baltimore, and be was invited to
become pastor of Chatsworth Church, which,
acting on the advice of some OF his col
leagues in the conference, he accepted. To
do this, however it was necessary for him
to sever his connection with the Southern
Mathodist Church, which he did. He was
admitted.
REPORTS OF PRESIDING ELDERS.
On the call for the twentieth disciplinary
question, 'Are all the preachers blameless
in life and official administration the
presiding elders, with the exception OF H.
W. K'nzer, of the Lewisburg district, and
s. G. Ferguson, OF the Moorefield district,
made their reports.
ROCKINGHAM DISTRICT.
Rev. DIR. ]. Fl. Waugh. presiding elder of
the Rockingham district said; 'The
preachers nave worked faithfully during
the year, but without large visible increase
of results. am prepared to report an ex
ceptionally healthy condition of the Sun
day-schools This applies particularly to
Harrisonburg and Stanton. Two new
parsonages havs been built. The aggre
gate contributions for ministerial support
have decreased somewhat. In some cases
the preachers have been paid in full, in
others there are deficits"
THE CHURCH's PUBLISHING INTERESTS.
The report of the Publishing House of
the Southern Methodist Church, located at
Nashville, stated that the business of the
year was $500, 644 90 from all departments,
an increase over last years business of
$14, 0S2. From this volume of business
there is net gain of $50, 334. The book
committee find that, ''atter all expenses,
the produce of the house was sufficient to
Justify an increase in the appropriations for
the benefit of the conference claimauts.-
They therefore set apart $12,5oO for that
purpose.
Thursday, calling of the characters of
preachers under the twentieth disciplinary
question consumed nearly the entire ses-
sion. The characters of Presiding Elders
Kinzer, of the Lewisburg district, and
Ferguson, of the Moorsfield strict, which
were not called en- Wednesday because of
lack of time, were called, and they made
their reports.
A Touching INCIDENT.
In the calling of the characters of the
superannuated and supernumerary preach
ers, touching little incident occurred,
Rev. Nelson Head, of Leesburg, Va, who
in point of service has but three seniors in
the conference, answered to his name when
it was called, ard spoke of his ffty-six
years of ecclesiastical service. He was now
eighty years old, be said, ard fifty-two OF
these had been spent in the active travelling
work of the ministry. The saddest day OF
his life was when he left the effective ranks
and took the superannuated relation.
When Rev. Mr.. Head had taken his seat,
Bishop Duncan, without saying word,
started up the ringing old Methodist hymn;
"How firm foundation, ye saints of the
Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent
word,
What more can He say than to you He has
said,
You who unto Jesus for refuge have f1ed?"
The first line had hardly been started be-
fore the whole congregation joined in, and
their voices could be heard half block
away. After the singing of the verse
Bishop Duncan told in few words how
DR. Head had helped him when he was
ununc man and of the henefits that be bad