The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-10
DR.. Atkinson's Able Advo-
Cacy of the Veteran
Ministers Cause
His Reasons.
he PREACHERS AID SOCIETY.
The Conference Decides Not to
Admit Women TO Its
Meetings.


Newark Conference yesterday morning
when he offered his resolution against
admitting candidates for the ministry to
the Conference. A protest against that
sort Of thing was Immediately made by
half dozen men. who jumped to their
feet as soon as DR.. Atkinson had CON-
pleted his speech, and the proposition
was discussed by many after the adjourn
ment of the morning session.
Each annual Conference is required by
the General Conference to ask the ques-
tion, who are admitted on trialgn and
it was argued by one Of the speakers that
DIR. Atkinson's resol ution was unconsu-
tutional.
The Bishop said that IL the resolution
were passed he would feel obliged TO ask
the question, and would leave It to the
Presiding Elders TO decide whether they
snail present any candidates. The pr0po-
sition Is looked upon by some as an at
tempt to boycott the young men.
A PERSONAL MATTER.
DR.. Atkiusonis arguments in favor Of
his resolution were such that there is a
pretty strong suspicion in the minds Of
some that he has a personal feeling in the
matter. In connection with bis speech his
experiences Of year ago were freely dis
cussed by some OF his ministerial breth-
rem.
A year ago Dr. Atkinson was pastor Of
the Halsey street Church, Newark. For
some reason he was not entirely salts
factory to the congregation, aud he was
not invited to return as pastor for the
next year. Dr. Atkinson felt hurt at this,
and there were sly looks cast by several
persons in the audience yesterday when
he spoke Of the old preachers being
crowded out by the young men, for Rev.
DIR. Wilson Macnichol, his successor at
Halsey street Church, Is a much younger
man than DR.. Atkinson. It is not sup
posed, however, that the latter had any
ill-wiil against mis- successor, as they are
much together at the church and at their
hotel
DR.. Atkinson was appointed to a church
in Eliza beth last spring, but he was dis
satisfied with that, and by an arrange
ment with the presiding elders he was
transferred TO tue West Side avenue
Church. Jersey City. This change was
made at the request of the congregation
OF that church IL is expected that he VIII
be appointed 10 that past1rate.
ABSOLUTELY .JANMED.
In presenting his resolution yesterday
DIR. Atkinson said the Conference was not
only crowded, but jammed.
I'VE are so closely pressed together,
he said, that somebody at each session VI
the Conference is so tightly squeezed as
10 be hurt We all know that ours Is a
limited territory, yet we 90 on admitting
men at the rate Of dozen per year; we
proceed as though we were intent upon
getting as many more men as we eau
squeeze into this highly eongested eeeie-
slastical body.
1T may be said that our ranks are de-
pleted by death. IL is likely that ere long
some one or more of our effective preach
t4fH ns.p m Tff4ir raw nn .
and therefore it behooves US TO receive
seven or eight candidates on trial. TO be
Immediately stationed, that they may be
ready to catch the mantels OF our pro-
phet-!
1--WE never have any trouble In filling
vacancies in this Conference, whensoeyer
or wheresoeVer they occur. IL may be
said that young men whom God has sent
are at the door Of this Conference do
not question tn at God has seut them, but
do not CO needle that he las s=ut them
here. Ii our young men would stay or 90
where they are needed we should likely
be able 10 put preacher into every
church in Methodism. But when the
work needs preachers in the regions
beyond we do not want TO have sueh an
over supply here as 10 have TO station two
in one church as we did last year, Just in
order to dispose of them.
MUST AGE GIVE WAYi
Again, 1t is SAID that older men must
give way for the young men who are
knocking at our Conference doors. Is
this so? Again aud again men OF God
are crowded out. l admit, but are we
really ready TO say that we VIII proceed
TO increase this plethora iu the Confer
ence in order to press men of ripe years
anu mature experience and vigorous
health into unwelcome approximation.
Are we ready to do this A presidin z
elder within month has frankly coa-
fessed to me that he welcomed young
men into his Conference, knowing that
this would be the result. lt viii, he SAID,
cause some of US to go ont, but then il
wi II be better for the work.
1T will be better for ine work Of God,
will il, for the conference 10 deal unjust
ly toward anu 10 violate its plighted faith
with men who entered the conference
under compact that so long as their
health aud ability 10 labor lasted they
would be furuisned with work 10 90 ?
They are Gods servants. He has sent
them as truly as he has sent the young
men. Only tie other day they were
Young. Ne were glad TO get then. There
we told them if they would devote their
lives 10 the church, tRey should re-
ceivs an appointment every year.
''fney have bull up he cause in waste
places, aud having done ali this, tAeg ar q
iold tney must either 20 - Hardsorabb le
OF 1IdS - kLS way 70 licGA .
Methodist preacher who has put thirty
years or more OF hard service in the ilin-
eracy 10 the credit OF the Conferences. Is
its
Crowd the conference, keep il jammed,
and thereby drive able and active aud ex
perienced and useful preachers into IN
willing retirement, and even pittiiess
penury;then WIDE your lips very dehralsly
and say what fine class OF young men
we have received this year 1t Is true we
have crowded out the battle-scarreG vet
Grams, but then the people want nice
yonng men.
Il have personally nothing to ask l
have been favored Ear above my deserts
in the appointments / have received from
Ihis Conference / am happy il my
charge and would not wish 10 exchange
IL for any other, not even for cathedral
have no ambition for great chu rches,
Bnt want TO see my bretnrea have good
places"
The committee appointed to consider
DR. Atkinscn's resolution. TO consist OF
Two members from each of the ionr dis
tricts, has not yet been appointed by the
bishop, but the committee VIII be named
in time for it 10 prepare a report tor Mon
day moin ng.
PREACHERS AID.
The anniversary OF the Preachers AID
Society was held at two O'Clock ye>tersfay
Afternoon. Rev. ID. Halieron OF jersey
City, presided. He announced the funds
Of the society last year amounted 70 sll.-