Evening journal., 1891-03-14
LAST EDITION
ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR IT'S
TWEEN TY-FouRTH SESSION.

Fowier-Mr. Collins to Leave scott-Dls-
satisfaction at ais RemovaI-"He Rode
a BfcycIe.n
The Methodist Episcopal Church at
Centreville, Md Ia which the twenty
fourth annual session of the Wilmington
Conference will be held, beginning on
March 10. ia a nearly new and very pretty
brick edi6ce Improvements, including
finishing aud furnishing, have recently
been made at cost OF $1,000. The
church was established In 1903. and the
membership now numbers 225, and the
Sunday school, $50.
The interior improvements include new
pews from Michigan, hardwood ceiling,
new pulpit and eight memorial vim
dows These alterations make the Cen
terville church one of the most beautiful
in the conference.
Rev. Charles A. Hill has been pastor
OF the church for four years and the off
cial board has unanimously requested bis
return for another year MIR. Hill's father,
Rev. Charles Hill, former presiding
elder Of the Wilmington district, was
also pastor of this church for three
years Rev. John France. the beloved
presiding elder of the Eastern district,
In which Oentreville charge is located,
y
retire at this conference
Preparations for Conference.
Arrangements for entertaining the
200 ministers, who will be in attendance
at the conference, have been completed.
Other extensive preparations are being
made, and the prospects are that this
will be one of the .'brsezlest" as we'll as
the brightest sessions held since its
foundation.
full choir, composed of Centreville
vocalists entirely, will furnish music
during the special services. Miss Lollie
Coursey will preside at the organ, and
William H Smith and William c. Reese
will be the cornetists OF the choir,
Misses Sarah Coursey, Bessie Falowfield,
Lidie Larimore and Dora Bramble are
sopranos; Mrs. @ e. Hartman. alto
Edward Coyell tenor; James Parrott,
bass.
The Presiding Bishop.
Rev Charles Il. Fowler, D D., LII D.,
of Minnesota, is the presiding bishop at
the conference. He was born in Canada
in 1886 and has devoted his entire life to
chs ministry. He obtained an excellent
education In early life When he was "a
years old he went to Chicago where he
was engaged 10 ministerial work until
1872 He subsequently became editor in
chief OF the New York Christian
Advocate, the principal organ Of the M
E. Church Previous to this he was
president Of the Northwestern Academy.
He continued as editor of the Christian
Advocate until 1880 He is said to be an
excellent presiding officer. He has been
a bishop eleven years.
Important Proceedings.
II is said that there will be very little
distasteful or disagreeAble work to be
done by the conference. There are few.
il any, complaints against the actions of
any Of the ministers, and the character of
nearly every one viii be passed.
At some sessions of the conference,
much of the time, and even more than
the time established, has been consumed
in hearing complaints against the charac
ter or doctrine preached by some
of the ministers. The approval of
the conference organ, the Peninsula
Methodist, will probably not be as strong.
if 1t is approved at all, as in previous
years The friends of the Conferences
Chronicle, Rev ]. A. B. Wilson's paper
it is alleged, will at empt to have that
Journal adopted as the conference organ
If this is done "breezy" time is sure to
follow.
Changes in Pastors.
Presiding Elder Murray was seen this
morning and said that, although every
thing would be subject to the bishops
approval, he presumed that many pastors
would change places at this session. THE
present prospects are, said DR.. Murray
''that a greater number than usual
will be changed in the Whining
ton district this year. Many of
the churches have extended calls to
different ministers In the conference, but
the matter of sending them will come
directly under the bishops action, and
he will use his best judgment in grant
ing or refusing the requests"
There will be several changes in this
city alone. Rev. Jacob Todd. D. D.. of
Grace Church will be transferred to the
Philadelphia Conference. Rev. John Y.
Dobbins, d. D., Of Trenton. N. j., will
succeed him at Grace Church. Rev Ada N
Stengle pastor Of Union Church, will be
sent to another charge and Rev. Z.
L Hubbard, Phi. D. Of New Castle,
will, no doubt, be his successor. Rev.
ID. H. Corkran. of Epworth Church, will
be given another field OF labor and his
PROBABLE successor will be Rev. Isaac
Jewell of Rising Sun, Md. Mr. Cork
ran may be sent to Hockessin.
Rev. VS.. CoIlins's Removal.
lub pIODhulc tuHukb III buc pASUOIaba
of Scott Church has created mnch com
ment in this city and, in fact, through
out the conference. At the last quarterly
conference Of the church, the official
board. instead Of asking for the return
of their pastor, Mr.. Collins, who has
been there but three years. invited the
Rev. J. p Otis of Port Deposit, Md to be !
come pastor. The only grounds that
they would name for taking this action
was that they believed in the three
years and opposed the five years system. ="
At first the action of the quarterly
conference met with the unanimous
disapproval Of the young people Of the
congregation, with whom Mr. Collins is
q great favorite. They said that the old
people we're opposed to Mr.. Collins solely
because he was too live, too
popular with the young people, and rode
q bicycle and INDUCED in other worldly
pleasures, which they deemed unbecom
ing dignifed minister. The younger
members finally acouiesees, and decided to
welcome the new pastor cheerfullY as any
was ever received, although they feel
sorely hurt at being obliged to sit back
and see their favorite pastor and brother
pushed out, as they termed it.
A prominent member of Scott Church,
and alao n MANNER of fha Enworf h