Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-24
COLORED METHODISTS
Washington Conference to Meet Early in
March.
Various Questions to BE Brought Up
ms to Methods Of Church Organf-
xatfOn and Management.

While on his way east to preside at the
Baltimore Methodist Episcopal conference
on the 18th Of March. Bishop William F.
Warren Of Denver. Col, is to stop over at
Charleston, W. Va, and supervise the de-
liberations of the Washington conference
of colored Methodists. which meets March
f. As in the case Of their white brethren.
this annual conference possesses more than
the usual interest, from the fact that 1t
will select delegates to the quadrennial
conference of the Methodist Church at
Cleveland in May. At this general confer
ence both races Of Methodists deliberate
together, while in their annual conferences
they are separate. The Washington con-
ference is one Of the largest and most in
f1uential In the whole church. as it COM
prises the states Of Maryland. Virginia,
West Virginia and the District OF Column
bia. The Washington district alone en-
braces twenty-five appointments. represent
ing more than that number of churches.
The churches located in the limits of the
city are as follows: Asbury. Rev. Dr.
Daniel w. Hays; Mt Zion. Rev. S. A.
Rev. J. F. Chestnut; Simpson, Rev. L. E.
S. Nash. The presiding elder is Rev. DR..
w. II. Brooks. OF these churches there Is
to be only one change, however, by ex-
piration of the five-year limit, and another
in the suburbs. that at Sandy Spring.
The former is that of Ebenezer. corner OF
18th and ID streets southeast, Rev. Alex
ander Dennis, pastor, and Rev. X. IL. Alex
ander pastor Of the latter charge. 1t is
possible however, that the bishop may see
fit to change some of the younger men in
this district to accommodate ministers who
have been longer in the service.
Question of Delegates.
Ebenczer is to take action in a day or so
looking to the presenting Of name for
the bishop to appoint. but 1t is thought
likely that the pastor SO obtained will not
be transferred man. but one from within
the conference confines. Another question
more important to the majority Of the To-
cal Methodists Is VINO are to be the dele
gates to the quadrennial conference. The
Washing. on conference Is entitled to three
ministerial and Two lay delegates. The for
mer are of course, chosen by the confer
cnce proper by the ministers themselves.
but the latter are selected by quadren-
NAL lay electoral conference, which will
meet the third day of the session. Friday.
AS in the case of their brethren of the
Baltimore conference the selection of these
delegates may depend upon how the cam
didates stand in regard to the three ques-
lions embodied in the Bacon resolutions
submitted for adoption by tie former. The
important questions brought up for discus
sion at the former usually find their way
to a place among the debates of the latter,
and this is particularly true of the colored
MethodiStS. At the local ministerial ASA
cation the resolutions have been debated
pro and con for some time past, and as a
result sentiment is about evenly divided
in regard to them. On one portion OF the
resolutions the ministers are about a
unit. and that is on the provision which
allows of there being a lay representation
among the annual conferences. This. how
ever is understood to mean, so the colored
Mcthodists take it, that the laymen so ad-
mitted will not be IN tho same numbers
as the ministers, but in ratio similar to
that of the representation to the quadren-
NAL conference.
Other Questions of Policy.
On the other two questions, those Of
electing presiding elders and not having
them appointed by the bishops, and Of CIV
ing the elders so elected coordinate power
With the bishops in appointments Of indi-
viaual pastors, the ministers as majority
do not seem to favor them, but, 1t is
thought, are rather inclined 10 the meth
eds now in use. Several pastors are talk
ed of for the positions Of delegates to the
general conference and Washington may
get one of them, especially as she has not
had one for number Of years. Among
the names of ministers who have been
mentioned in this connection are those of
the presiding elder, Rev. William H.
Brooks. Rev. Daniel ". Hays and Rev. j.
w. E. Bowen. The latter. though now pro-
fessor of history at Cannon Theological
College, Atlanta, Ga, still retains his con-
pastor formerly Of the local Asbury
cellent chance to be a delegate.