The Washington times., 1895-03-28

A genuine surprise was sprung at the
Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, South, held at the Mt.
Vernon Place Church, corner of Ninth
and x streets, yesterday, by the announce
ment of a gift of $40, 900 to the confer
ence by Charles shipley, of Baltimore,
to be held in trust for the support of super
anuated clergymen.
When Secretary Armstrong announced
the gift, there was an enthusiastic recog-
milton OF Mr.. shipley's muuificence. A
rising vote OF thanks was given, and ap-
propriate resolutions adopted by the CON
ference.
The session of thesconference began at 8
O'Clock yesterday morning. The services
were opened with an organ voluntary by
Mics Minke, the organist OF the church, after
which prayer was Offered by Bishop John
c. Cranberry, who viii preside over the
deIiberationsof the conference.
Mr. James f.. Armstrong, Of the East
Baltimore district, was made secretary.
and he selected as his assistants q. T.
Taylor, a. Il. Martin, J. p. Stump, II.
s. Coe, w. NJ. Waters, and f. V. REGISTER.
by Secretary Armstrong, and the follow
ing deaths were reported: David Thomas,
John ". Wolfe, William X. Boyle, Ma
bury G. Baltus, Silas r. snapp, and Mil
ton II. Loug.
APPOINTEES FROM WASHINGTON.
Representatives, OF Washington churches
were nominated for the various boards, by
the presiding elder 7. Z. Conson and
J. f. Alexander, board OF missions; j. W
Grabb and W s. Embrey, joint board Of
finance; J. ". Cantor and W. P Hill,
board of education; j. w. Grabb and A L.
johnson, Sunday school board; K. Z. S.
Hough aud p. V. d. Conway, board of
church extension; J. c. Jones and w. s.
Embrcy, board Of Copartage; W. S. En-
brey, committe on Publishing interests;
W. o. Ross and John w. FUR, committee
ON temperance: AID S. V. Hildebrand and
J. V. pugh, committee on Bible cause. Rev
Charles s. Stanton was made postmaster
OF the conference.
The presiding elders were appointed a
committee to decide upon the course of
ins truction OF app Iicants tor the next
four years. A motion made by Rev.
Collins Denny, of Vanderbilt University,
that the presiding elders present be ap-
pointed committee To pass upon applica-
tiOus for membership and transfer from
following c0mittee was nominated:
J. ". Duffy, !. Il. Davidson, A L. shipley,
W. II. Harper, Thomas BiTiey, +. q. Pretty
man, ". X. Marshall, c. Sydenstricller.
The following made application to be
examined for admission on trial:
Charles d. Bulla, c. II. Day, George II.
Ecbols, Seymour Grady, J. b. Henry, W.
Z. Henry, c. T. Jones, j. L. LuttrelI, c.
+. Moore, Frank d. orrick, c. L. Potter,
william L. Reid, J. j. Ringer. H. II. Sher-
man, John A. Taylor, NJ. T. Weikle, V.
" Wheeler.
Dr. Norton. the secretary of the board
or church extension, was called upon by
Bishop Cranberry, and spoke upon the
subject OF church extension. In Dr. Nor
tons report ii was shown that the Balti-
more conference had been increased by
ninety-two churches in the last twelve
years and had paid them $11 ,9s5; four
teen churches have received sums from The
general board amounting to s., 500.
Twcntg-three thousand five hundred and
sixty dollars had been contributed by
the conference, and in the past twenty five
years S577.764 had been collected for the
maintenance or dependents upon the
church. This years conference was as
seSSed s.. 500.
An adjournment was taken at - o'clock
and the afternoon was devoted to the work
OF organizing the various committees.
REV. DIR ..COA'S SERMON.
The church was crowded to its fullest
capacity and many were turned away last
night.
The opening sermon of the conference
was preached by Rev. Samuel Keener Cox,
ID. D., OF Front Royal, Va, who took as his
text Amos Yiii-12 and 13. his object
being 10 show that all efforts OF man to
obtain true Knowledge Of God and his
own higher destiny have been utter failures
unless aided by divine truth.
He diyioed his subject into two thoughts,
the first being "Man has an instructive
desire for the knowlegde of God and the
higher forms OF truth"
lie sand that man left 10 himself forms
no just conception OF himself or OF God,
and il is strange that among the most
polished nations OF antiquity the idea of
a lenient and merciiul God was never con-
ceiyed. when the idea OF a stern, Unmerciful
Master affords 40 peace TO the soul of man.
HIS second proposition was that mans
Thirst for knowledge and truth can only
be satisfied by Gods Word
The Bible is the book of the ages. Those
who have gone before searched it and the
generations long to come must search
il for truth. Ii is Gods promise, and no
part of mans nature does it leave unsat-
isfied.
He closed with an eloquent appeal to
the ministry to avoid sensationalism in
the pulpit. What men need is the old,
old story OF Jesus and His love.
After the sermon the holy communion
was celebrated, Rev. DR.. z. r. S. Hough
lead ing the SacFamental service The