Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1896-02-20
THE M. E. CONFERENCE.
Some of the Matters to be Thought Out at
Bridgeton by the Gathering of Nj. L.
Ministers to be Held in this
City.


Ministers to be Held in this
City.
On Wednesday, the 18th day of March
next, the sixtieth annual session of the
New Jersey Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, will convene in the
Central Church at Bridgeton. The Con-
ference has met but five times in it's his
tory at Bridgeton: In 1888 in Commerce
Street Church, when Bishop Hedding
U presided; in 1858, at Commerce Street,
Il Bishop Morris in 1864, at Commerce
HStreet, Bishop Simpson; in 1873, at Trim
4 ity, Bishop Scott; in 1886, at Commerce
Street, Bishop Hurst.
\, Bishop Isaac w. Joyce will preside at
8 the present session, for the first time.
He was born in 1886, entered the ministry
i in 1885, and was elected Bishop in 1888.
His residence is at Chattanooga, Tenn.
There will be plenty of important mat
ters to come before the Conference, among
which will be the election of clerical and
lay delegates to the General Conference,
\ which meets in Cleveland, Ohio, in May
y next. Each annual conference is entitled
(ito two clerical delegates and one lay dele
{Sgate for each forty-five ministers, MAX
hng the representation from the New Jer
FHey Conference consist of five clergymen
Ethnd two laymen. Senator William III.
NSkirm, of Trenton, and DR.. A. X. Street,
gof Camden, were the lay delegates to
Mthe last General Conference, which met
4fin 1892 at Denver. The candidates this
#iyear are Senator William HI. Skirm, and
MGeneral James S. Rushing, of Trenton
@C.W. Shoemaker, of Bridgeton; Thomas
MJ. Alcott, of Mt Holly, and Charles II.
8Butterworth, of Camden.
My The greatest interest perhaps to the
Mhmembers of the annual conference CEN
tres in the appointments, and upon this
&point but little information can be Sc
#cured. The Presiding Elders, who have
Ythe matter very largely under their con-
troll, are keeping very close mouthed.
They seem to be aiming to keep every
IN Nthingquiet, and are not taking anyone in
their confidence.
y The General Conference will have
nany important matters brought before
it, which will demand wise and careful
consideration. An effort will be made to
abolish the time limit entirely, and give
pastors and people the privilege of MAIN
tanning the pastoral relation so long as it
may be mutually agreeable.
ts The question of admitting women as
Il delegates to the General Conference has
I been up for several years and will be
presented again this year. 1t will even
tually come to be the law of the church,
but whether this year or not is an open
y question.
Another change suggested will be the
election of the presiding elders by the
ministers of the Conference, instead of
appointing them by the bishop, as now.
The introduction of lay delegates into
the annual Conference will also receive
attention;
Other questions that are designed to
Z make radical changes in the policy of the
y church are also suggested, and which will
II in time, no doubt be incorporated in the
Y government of the church.
First, Diocean Bishops, with term of
eight years.
Second, the complete abolition of the
Presiding Eldership.
Third, laymen in the annual confer
ences of the church.
Fourth, female representation in every
department of social and legislative
work.
Methodism is one ofthe powerful Chris
tian denominations of the world. The
aggregate membership is about three
millions, with q, 1000 churches, estimated
in value at $126,OOO,OO0. There are two
hundred high grade educational institu-
tions, valued at $27 ,OOO, 900, and her pub.
fishing houses in this country, and for
eign lands embrace capital of $500, 900.
In her humitarian institutions, hospitals
and homes is invested $3.50, ,OOO, 900, and it
is estimated that the Methodist Episco-
pal Church expends about $50, 100000 to
keep this splendid ecclesiastical and
benevolent machine in motion.
The great book concern, has for
few years declared a dividend
of$l20,OO0 among the 12O conferences, for
the benefit of the supernumerary minis
ters, widows and orphans, who are
needy.
This great church is presided over by
eighteen Bishops. Two, however, have
no jurisdiction in America, Bishop Tho
burns diocese being India, and Bishop
Taylor, the Bishop of Africa.
Sheriff,s Sale.
On Saturday Sheriff Shinn sold at pub
lie vendue, three properties. The Eli
Elmer property in Fairfield was sold to
several BUYERS. The farm in Fairton
containing about forty acres, was pur-
chased by E. Coates Swing for $1,000.
The Sheriff also disposed of a propertv