Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-13
Close Of the Great Methodist Gath
ering in Baltimore.
FOR THE new YEAR
Dr.. NayIor Not Restored to His
Old Place.
FIG HTING FOR REFORMS

Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
BALTIMORE, March 13.-After establish
ing record as one of the most Interesting
of Methodist gatherings in this vicinity, the
one hundred and eleventh session of the
Baltimore conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church came to its latter end last
night with the reading of the appoint
ments. The list-always interesting-con-
tanned only one surprise, and that OF a
minor sort-the younger element In the con-
ference being severely critical of the as
signment of Edward Hayes to Union Grove.
They regard Mr.. Hayes as one of the ablest
of their number and had hoped for him one
Of the higher grade appointments.
DR.. MAYORS friends were very much dis
appointed at his reappointment to the
South Baltimore station; to them 1t seemed
as though Bishop Andrews could hardly do
otherwise than undo the action which
bishop Fowler took year ago, but during
the last eew hours of the conference it was
generally understood that the bishop. after
giving the matter full consideration. de-
cided that there would be at least the APP
pearance of non-existing antagonism to
Bishop Fowler should he restore DR.. Nay
lor to the office of presiding elder.
1t may be stated upon good authority
that strenuous efforts have been made by
prominent churches in some Of the north
ern conferences to secure the transfer of
DR.. NaylOr, but he has steadily declined
all offers, preferring it is said. to continue
his association with the historic Baltimore
conference.
So far as appointments in Washington
were concerned, the announcements by
the bishop could hardly be regarded as
news. for they had all been published in
prise of the reticent few who imagined the
facts to be securely hidden within them
selves.
A Fight for Reforms.
Ministers and others who were without
knowledge as to the reasons which Inn
PEELED the Rev. G. C. Bacon to secure rec
ognition from the presiding bishop yester-
day-many times unsuccessfully-may have
wondered both at Mr.. Bacon's persistency
and at the almost continuous inability of
the chairman to see him when he attempt
ed to tell the conference the something
he had on his mind. 1t is just possible that
the church authorities were not enthusi-
asttc as to the resolutions which Mr.. Bacon
had framed. and would. il such thing
was possible, have discouraged the earnest
young man from Hagerstown.
But Mr. Bacon is of that human variety
not easily daunted. He was very much in
earnest. and although he narrowly es-
capped being shut off by adjournment, he
nevertheless succeeded in obtaining hear
ing and in introducing resolutions which
declared:
l. THAT we favor the admission CT lay
men to the annual conference, in such pro-
portion as shall hereafter be determined.
2 THAT We favor the election of pre-
siding elders by the annual conference.
3. THAT we favor giving coordinate
power to the presiding elders in the cabi-
net"
Introduced earlier in the conference pro-
ceedings. those resolutions would almost
certainly have started debate that might
IN Wa i'm
possible to give them more of attention
than the appointment of a committee in
structed to report at the next session of
the conference
Then there was trouble over the commit
tee. and the friends of the resolutions felt
quite sure that an effort would be made
by those whose privileges the resolutions
are framed to abridge. to shape the COM
mittee SO as to bring forth an adverse re-
port. The struggle was deeply interest
ing one, and in no part more so than when
the Rev. NJ. F. B. Rice of this city was do
ing his best to nominate for membership
on that committee DR.. Job A. Price, For
while 1t seemed as though Mr.. Rice's nomi-
nation of one who was known to be a
champion of the ideas upon which the
resolutions were based would fail for lack
OF recognition from the chair.
Finally when comparative silence pre-
vailed. Mr.. Rice. who had been standing
chair. and in an Enthusiastically sarcastic
manner said: Bishop, may 1 nominate
DIR. Price? The infection went right
home, the nomination was accepted, the
great crowd on the floor and in the gal
leries applauded tremendously, but there
was no smile on the bishops face. The
committee as at present constituted will
surely present strong report in support
of the resolution, and with that will COM
D,ence a movement that may end in reduc-
ton of what are now known as episcopal
prerOgatives.
The Statistical Report.
Statistical Secretary W. L. Mcdowell yes
terday afternoon submitted his report to
the conference. The condensed facts and
figures are as follows:
Church Observation-Disclosures of proba-
TONERS, 5,241, an increase of 1913; full men,
bers, 1850, increase, 1909; local preachers,
147 increase, 3; deaths, $50. decrease, 50.
Baptisms-Children, 3,43S, decrease, 225;
adults, 397, increase. 5.
Sunday schools416, increase, 8; officers
and teachers, 1882, increase, 81; scholars,
so, 795, increase, 6S6.
Church property-Number of churches,
4O4 increase, Z; value, s., 3S6, 200. increase,
$51 400; number of parsonages. IL, de-
crease, 2; probable value, $436, 15O, increase.
$500; paid for building and improving
S1S,3O2 paid on old Indebtedness and church
property, $34,OO7, increase, S6,S67; present
Indebtedness on church property, $2S2, 1O6,
decrease, $5,661.
house rent, $1S5, PA; increase, sSO6; def
ciencies, $3.50; increase, $500; paid pre-
siding elders, $12,O71; increase, s2S2: paid
episcopal fund, 81 1872; decrease, $50; paid
conference claimants. $6,1S2; decrease, ST.
Standing Committees.
The standing committees for the con-
ference year 1S95-1S96 are as follows:
Memoirs-W. L. Mcdowell, F. H. Haven
ner Harry Boggs, w. w. Van Arsdale, C.
E. Guthrie.
Managers of Preachers Aid Society
Ministers, G. w. Cooper. G. E. Maydwell.
w, G. Herbert, H. r. Naylor, w. A.
Koontz; laymen, S. Baldwin. r. Cornelius,
Charles d. Fenhagen, William ]. Hooper.
Conference stewards-G. w. Cooper, J.
A. Price, W. A. Koontz. J. c. Nicholson,
James McLaren.
Board Of church MISUNDERSTANDING eld-
ers ex of1icio; president, B. F. Bennett; vice
president, John Lanahan; secretary and
treasurer, w. A. Leitch; corresponding Sec
rotary G. w. Hobbs; Charles W. Logan, E.
NJ. Hoffman, Page Milburn. Lucien Clark
w r, Stricken, w. T. Conn.
Triers of appeals-T. P. Frost, r. Norris,
T. N. Davis, L. T. Waterman, ]. P. Wright
I'D. r. Naylor. NJ. F. B. Rice.
To preach the missionary sermon-L. T.
Townsend; alternate, Lucien Clark.
Board of church location washington
district only)-Ministers Oliver A Brown,