The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-03-14
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Convention of the Jersey City
District at Bayonne Yes
terday.

The Jersey City District Epwortn
League Of the Newark Methodist Episco-
pal Conference held its third annual
convention yesterday in the First Metho-
dist Church, Bayonne. The altar was
adorned with palms and plants, and
draped with American flags and church
organization banners. =
About three hundred members of The
order attended the afternoon session..
which was opened by the district Presi-
dent, j.. V. Forster. The Rev. .. N.
Bebout delivered a brief invocation. The
Rev. George E. Strowbridge. temporary
pastor of the church, delivered an address
of welcome. The response was made by
President Forster. DR.. StroWbrldge
characterized the league as one OF the
most marvellous organizations of modern
times, an association of wonderful growth.
He praised the order for its invitation to
young people TO enter into church work.
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.
Two amendments to the constitution
and bylaws proposed by Robert N.
Coilyer Of Bayonne were adopted.
The first provides that the District
League shall be organized upon the same
basis as the local chapters, the officers to
consist of a president, four vice-presidents,
a corresponding secretary, a recording
secretary and a treasurer, who, with the
presiding elder OF the district, shall con-
stitute a Board of Control. The other
amendment arranges that the District
League shall be composed OF local chap
tiers aud other approved young peoples
societies, and shall be affiliated with the
New Jersey State Epworth League, the
General District Epworth League OF the
Second General Conferences District and
with the Epworth League of the Metho-
dist Church.
The convention discussed tho question,
SIS it beneficial to adopt the pledge Tor
active members?"
The discussion was opened with a ten
minute talk in the affirmative by DR.. G..
T. Pitts. the Treasurer of the District
League.
Ihe Rev. S. D. Jones. Of Hackensack.
argued for the negative. he objected to
asking people into an outside organiza-
ton with an ironclad oath more definite
than the pledge in the church d~ecalogue.
He considered the proposed pledge defec-
tive In the fact that the General Confer
ence of the Methodist Church is likely to
change the requirements of the decalogue
at any conference. He said he would not
sign the pledge.
The Rev, Frank II. Chadwick of Bay
onne, the Rev. Jesse L. Gilbert of Wor-
tepdike. and Counsellor Thomas j. Ken
nedY Joined in the discussion,
The question of the adoption or rel &C.
ton of the pledge after some confusion
over the advisabiliJy of voting on it
under the circumstances was not acted
on.
QUESTION BOX.
The Rev. D.. A. Jordan of Brooklyn,
President of the Second General Confer
euce District League. opened The
Question Box" and entertained the con-
vention an hour.
The report OF District Secretary, the
Rev. Edwin N. Crasto, showed that the
local chapters number ffty-four charters
and tw~enty-eight young peoples So
~cieties, embracing 1857 active members
and 277 social members, a total of 2.134.
During the past year the chapters raised
$3.50.
The evening session began with a YES
per service conducted bv George Fl.
Lincks, OF Jersey City. Several hundred
were in attendance. An address was de-
livered by the Rev. Edwin A. Schell,
General secretary of the Epworth League,
and an offering was collected.
The committee on nominations for OIL
Gers reported as follows, their report be-
Ing adopted unanimously:
President, J. v. Forster, of Jersey City; Vice
observation-disclosures H. Suckes. of Jersey City;
Mrs. w. Eakins, of Jersey City; G. V. Tuthill
of Jersey City, and Robert N. CoIlyer, of Bay
onne; Recording Secretary, Miss G. E. Johns, OF