The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-05-28
M. P. GENERAL CONFERENCE.
Sixteenth Quadrennial Session Meets
in Westminster.

The sixteenth quadrennial session of the
General Conference of the Methodist Prot
estant Church, composed of delegates from
the forty Annual Conferences in the United
States, began in the Methodist Protestant
Church in Westminster on Friday of last
week
After short devotional service Rev. K.
J. Drinkhouse was chosen temporary chair
man. At the afternoon session permanent
organization was effected by the election of
DIR. J. w. Herring, Cashier Of the Union
National Bank of Westminster, President,
and Rev. j. f. Cowan, of Pittsburg, Sec
retary.
DIR. Herring was nominated by Rev. II.
B. Appleget President of the New Jersey
Conference and publisher of the Hightown
Gazette, saying that it would be a good
time to put into practical operation the
Methodist Protestant idea of equality
between clergy and laity. DIR. T. II.
Lewis, of Western Maryland College, sec
onded the nomination, saying that he had
hoped to have the pleasure of making it.
"A principle of the church is, he said,
"to elect men T., this Office who have become
distinguished in the service of the church.
We can carry out this principle in the cleo
ton of Dr. Herring. Such action ON your
part will crown a service of twenty-ti years
of distinguished ability and usefulness to the
educational interests of the church. DIR.
Herring is a man in every way competent
to discharge the duties of the office. His
election to it will please the people of this
community. We have the opportunity to
take a step such as no conference in this
land can take. The whole atmosphere of
the land is alive with the question as to the
position laymen should occupy in the church
councils We are peculiarly fitted to take
advantage of this condition of things and
show to the world that in Legislative mat
! ters We are neither ministers nor laymen,
but one body"
Rev. J. A. Thrap, of Muskingum Con
ference, moved that the nominations be
closed, but this was objected to, and Rev.
Webster NJ. Strayer, of Buckeystown,
moved, "in order to exercise our mutual
rights, the nomination of our beloved
brother, DIR. Lawrence W. Bates, of Balti-
more, who is too well known here to need
any eulOgy."
Rev. DIR. S. H. Flood, of Indiana, sec
onded the nomination, and said he had real
ly nominated Dr. Bates earlier in the ses-
sion, but the nomination had apparently
not been noticed.
Rev. Thomas B. Applege, of New Jersey
was also nominated. The vote was taken
and resulted as follows: Votes cast, 81;
necessary to choice, 4G. DIR. j. w. Her
ing, 80; Dr. l.. W. Bates, 20; I. B. Apple
get, I; f. T. Tagg, 2; L. j. Drinkhouse, l;
B. T. Duggan, l; D. S. Stephens, l.
DR.. Drinkhouse declared DR.. Herring TO
have been regularly elected, and appointed
DIR. &. B. McElroy to conduct him to the
chair, Dr. Drinkhouse handing his success
sOr the gavel, with his congratulations.
DIR. Herring made short speech in accept
ing the position. "I am deeply sensible,
he said ''of the honor conferred upon me,
and appreciate it particularly, not because
of the personal compliment to me, but to
the larger body of the church whom you
have chosen me to represent. shall have
to ask your forbearance and often your in
diligence. We will be called to consider
many important and difficult questions, and
while we may differ ,and naturally will differ,
| | know the one interest in all our hearts is to
legislate for the best interests of the Meth
odist Protestant Church and for the King
dom of God"
Secretary Cowan appointed Rev. l.. D.
Stultz, of New Jersey, and Mr.. q. S.
Fleming, of West Virginia, assistants.
SATURDAYS SESSION.
The Conference reassembled in the morn
ing at 8 o'clock, Half an hour was de-
voted to song service and prayer, after
which the roll was called and the minutes
were read and corrected.
The president named the following stand
ing committees