The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-02-09
Baltimore Conference of the Methodist
Epi-coral Church.


ccssary arrangements tor the entertainment OF
the conference
1t is no easy task dcv diving on the pastor and
congregation, where the Conference holds ITS
session, to provide for their entertainments but
Frederick City is blessed with many homes
where il is easy to accommodate the members
of the Conference. These homes are not only
found among the members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. but among all denomina-
lions The wcIl-known hospitality of the peo-
pie of the various churches ensures many
open doors, through which the Methodist
preachers may pass, and find royal welcome
The Conference has held its sessions ut Fred
erick number of times. The last time was i'll
March, 1877. Seventeen years will have
passed away when the body assemblies in
March, 1894. What changes these years have
brought. During this time 50 whose names
appeared on the Roll of Conference in 1877
have passed to their reward. Among them
were some of the most illustrious members Of
the body.
BISHOP Charles II. Fowler, D. D., Ii. D.,
will preside over the session. This will be the
first official visit of this well-knOwn Chief Oil
Ger. He was elected to the EpiScopacy in 1881.
He is an orator of very great force; Il man OF
strong personality; of deep convictions, and of
tremendous will power. He has made his
mark ON the generation in which he has lived.
As editor of the great official paper of the
church, and as one of the Missionary Secre-
taries he was widely known before his elcva-
bency of this place he has been unceasing i'll
his ubors. At the session of 1877 he WAS pre-
sent and took the place OF Bishop s. NJ. Mer
rill. on sabbath morning, preaching u sermon
that still fingers in the mind of the writer.
1t is hoped that the coming session will be
one of rare spiritual blessings TO the preachers
and people.
a number of constitutional questions will be
submitted to vote of the body, but as they
are Of that character that only touches certain
phases of church polity il is not expected tllat
they will awaken any decided interest. The
one referring to equal representation of min
listers and laymen i'll the General Conference
being submitted to all the conferences, and the
result of the ministerial vote will be laid be-
fore the General Conference OF 1896.
The death of the Secretary of the Confer
encc, Rev. G. G. Baker, will necesstate the
election of another to this place OF responsible
| ity.
The routine business of the Conference al
ways furnishes abundant material for earnest
discussion. The Baltimore Conference is noted
for its corps of able debaters. Hence, dry ses-
sions are almost unknown.
The year closing has been comparatively
successful. while the special revival services
have not been rs successful in the large cities
as in former years, yet the aggregate acces-
sions to the churches throughout the Confer
ence will likely equal last year.
The great financial depression will have its
effect i'll lessening the amount of the contrIbu-
! tons to the various benevolences of the
| church.
Quite number of new churches have been
| erected and handsome reduction made in the
| Indebtedness of the churches.
strenuous efforts will be made to ieach
sum equal to last year for Missions. This may
affect some other benevolence.
A number of changes have taken place i'll
/ the mem Oh the conference inc
| year. Revs. A II. futile, A. NJ. Courtenay and
| j. Edwin Amos have been transferred to other
Conferences, and Revs. Il. ID. Frost, l.. Hub
| bard, L. Z. Townsend and Hugh johnson have
| been transferred to us. Revs. 5. l.. Bryant
and j. +. jenness have also been employed 10y
| the Presiding Elder of the Baltimore District
Rev. ]. +. 0ckeman was transferred from Mt
Washington to Canton, and Rev. q. ". Evans
| from Hanover street to Mount Washington
Rev. I. p. Frost, became the pastor OF First
| Church. Baltimore; L. Il. Townsend OF Mount
| Vernon Place. Baltimore; f. l.. Hubbard of
| Madison Square, Baltimore, and Hugh John
son of the Metropolitan. Washington, d; e.
| The bringing in of men from other Confer
| ences to fill our most important pulpitS, and
| often crowding out the men who have devoted
| their lives to the work OF building up MethoI
| dism in this Conference has given very great
| dissatisfaction. Not that the preachers are OPP
| posed to the transfer system, when admins
| tered with equality, but the abuse of the sys-
TEN has caused the friction. The perpetuation
| of the present plan will lead to some restric-
| lions along certain lines in the future. So far,
| during the year, but two OF the members oil
1 the & inference have died, namely, Rev. w. Ii.
| Pitcher and Rev q. q. Baker. The former
| had long sustained Il non-ehective relation be-
l cause of impaired health. He was man of Il
very sweet and pure SPIRIT greatly beloved by
| those who knew him well; Il true friend, Il
preacher above the average, a'loyal son of the
| Church Il liberal-spirited citizen, a pious and
| devoted child of God. The latter was well and
| favorably known throughout the Conference
| He had filled many of our good charges. He
served six years i'll the Presiding Eldership, was
| for many years the Chief Secretary of the Con-
| ference, and for three sessions OF the General
Conference was one of the official reporters
He was well-rounded man useful, energetic,
| earnest and successful. On the whole few
| men have acquitted themselves in the various
| positions he was called to fill with more honor
| TO themselves or good to the church. The
| memory of these servants of the Lord is pre-
| clouS.
| In the matter of appointments all is coniec-
| ture. In Il few instances churches have indi-
| Gated their wishes and preachers have said, IF
| / am sent to you will come willingly this
4 mi lrn anl IN There
| The necessary changes are lew. AT the same
| time, when the good Bishop shall come to the
| final act in the drama, many will likely take
| up their march to other scenes and associa-
! tions.
| by an examination of the minutes the fol-
| lowing must change: Rev. w. :. Edwards
| Presiding Elder of the Baltimore District, who
| has served the allotted time of six years, must
change, Who will reach the Important posi-
| ton he has so ably filled is unknown. Calcu-
| lations are made, but the outcome remains
with him who is charged directly with the APP
pointment, the Bishop presiding.
| In this district the only other change that
must be made is in the case of Rev. G. ID. Smith,
| who is completing his fifth year ut Grace
| In the East Baltimore District Rev. b. Pey-
| ton Brown. who has reached the limit at East
Baltimore Station must be changed.
| In the West Baltimore District Rev. j. b.
Stitt stands alone, having served Fayette street
| five years, he must go.
Frederick District has but one who has fin
ished his course, Rev. A J. Gill, pastor of the
| Church where the conference meets, Freder
| lex.
Washington District, in the person of Rev.
c. .. Cook, of North Capitol, furnishes the only
case where change must occur.
| Union Square Church, Baltimore, is vacant,
because of the death of Rev. &. q. Baker.
Rev. George Elliott, of Georgetown, ID. c..
will be transferred, rumor has it, to Spring
Garden street, Philadelphia This will leave
| his church to be supplied.
In quite Il number of instances where
preachers have served three years they think
| it best to change. Very many believe the old
rule of three years should never have been al
| tered. The extension of the time has not given
| satisfaction. At the same time there are few
evidences of unrest created by it.
Methodist preachers and laymen are loyal to
| the polity of the church. Where there is the
reverse it is IA rare exception.
The statistics of the Conference of 1893 were
as follows:
Travelling Preachers. 219
Local preachers. Observation-Disclosures. lbs
Members and probationers 1896
Sabbath Schools. Observation-Disclosures. All
Scholars ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Slab
Churches NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1893
Valuation. .......................... S3,329,65O
ParSonugeS... NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. lis
Valuation Observation-Disclosures 1928, 2o0.O0
Raised for various benevolent OBJ
JectS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. SolU,419.OO
The past year has witnessed very marked
improvement in the attendance of scholars ut
the Womans College, and also large contribu-
tons of money towards meeting the expenses
and adding to the endowment. This school has
had marked growth. 1t ranks already as one
nj hn lpadipr iuStitnt ions tho obi of