Evening journal., 1891-03-20
wlLMINeroN CONFERENCE.
Fowler Opens the Meeting
Pro mptly and Hpstens business.

Bishop Fowler Opens the Meeting
Pro IMPLY and Hnstens business.
Special Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.
CENTREyILLE, Md, March 20.-The
members Of the nj. E. Conference were
late In getting to their seats at the open.
ing of the annual session here yesterday
morning. They stood about the streets
exchanging greetings and talking over
the situation. Eight benches in the front
part of the church had been .set apart as
the conference bar, and these reserved
for the members. Bishop Fowler entered
the pulpit precisely at o'clock and
called the conference to order. At that
time about forty clergymen. few and far
between, occupied the benches. Every
body was surprised at the bishops
promptness. and the tardy members fled
in during the singing of the hymn, filing
nearly the entire reserved space. The
bishop offered brief but fervent prayer.
aaking that the Divine blessing be in
voked upon every member of and the
entire session of the conference.
Bishop Fowler at oncs impressed the
conference and spectators with the fact
that he fully understood his business.
he handles important questions and con
duets the business with precision aud
firmness that astonishes. as we'll as
arouses the reserved body with which he
deals BE makes every decision and gives
necessary directions without moment s
loss Of time.
Business Begun.
With the words proceed to business"
from the bishop, the election of secre-
tarY began. Rev j. d. Rigg was nomi-
mated. Mr. Rigg began TO protest
strongly. He said that for eighteen years
he had acted as secretary and could not
do II any longer. I he bishop smiled and
said that If there was too much work at
tached to the office. moro assistants
would be named. He put the question
while Mr.. Rigg was still protesting,
and the conference shouted FAYE" SIS one
man. Secretary Rigg then chose E. @
Macnichol A. s. Mowbray, w. T.
Valiant and w, r. MowbraY to assist
him.
The election for conference treasurer
resulted in the unamious choice of Rev
c. A. Grise, Phi. d. Mr.. sGrise chose as
Howard, H. s. Dulaney and R. H..
Stevenson.
Hon John Fl. Hoifecker and Revs. j.
~ MIX anu n D. hlUm NIHI MEIc I'D
pointed a committee to secure from the
Delaware Legislature such additional
legislation as may fully secure for the
benefit of conference claimants all sums
which are In the hands of the Board of
Stewards or may hereafter be contribu-
ted to the endowment fund.
Addresses in the interest of the Metho
dist University and the NJ E. Hospitable
of Philadelphia, respectively, were de
livered by Rev DR.. Sam. Small ard Rev
D. Rittenhouse A committee was ap
pointed to confer with the latter pre-
vious to granting him aid The bishop
presented to the conference certificate
FOR 81, 1853 from the Book Concern.
The transfer of Rev. DR.. Jacob Todd to
Philadelphia Conference was voted. To-
night there was a Church Extension
anniversary, Rev j. e. Bryan presiding,
and Rev. 7. E. Terry and Rev. DR. w.
A. Spencer delivering addresses. DE-.
Spencer stated that four Meth 'dst
churches had been erected for every day
last year. yet there was demand for
900 more. He made an appeal for money,
stating that 200 missionaries We're
waiting to go ahead, and there was not
money enough to send one tenth OF
them.
The characters OF all the members
were passed, and the reports of mission
airy collections presented. II was ex-
pected that the Peninsula Methodist pro-
prietors would bring charges against
Presiding Elder Wilson, but while the
| spokesman was absent the presiding
elders character was passed. The matter
may come up again in another shape.