The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-09-12
THE GERMAN BAPTIST ANNUAL MEETING
Visit Of the Location Committee to West
minster-The Prospect of the Meeting
Being Held Here.

minster-The Prospect of the Meeting
Being Held Here.
The people of Westminster have evidently
made up their mind that nothing shall be left
undone on their part to secure the big Annual
Meeting of the German Baptist Brethren in
Westminster in 1897.
In response to a call Of A. H. Huber, ESQ.,,
chairman of the preliminary meeting, held
during the early summer, another meeting was
held in Masonic Hall, Wantz Building, this
city, on Monday last. w. II. Vanderford
Esq. was secretary. The meeting was not only
large and representative, but a degree of
earnestness was exhibited that indicated that
our people meant business. The proposition
of DIR. Lewis and the committee, Messrs.
Herring, Grimes, Reifsnider and Billingslea
was submitted to the meeting. This PROPOSE
ton hands over to the Citizens Committee, of
Westminster, the College Buildings, except
Levine Hall, and grounds of Western Mary.
land College for the use of the Annual Meet
ing without any charge whatever, requiring
only that the replacement or renovation shall
be at the expense of committee The enter
prising generosity of this offer has been com
mented on by every one as being calculated
to further encourage our citizens to make the
meeting success in case Westminster is
selected. Subscription lists were submitted,
the principal one being that suggested by
Mayor Joseph W. Smith that she would be
one of any number TO meet the expenses of the
Annual Meeting" This paper was signed by
all OF the business men present, as was also
another paper to execute contract with the
College.
On the following day, Tuesday, the location
committee of the church reached Westminster
on the 4.23 p m. train from Frederick, where
they had been examining the site offered by
the Business Mems Association of that city.
The location committee consisted of Elders Z.
w. Stoner and I. j. Kolb, of this county, and
Elders s. H. Utz and G. S. Harp, of Frederick
county. The other member, Charles D.
Bonsack, of this district is lying i'll at home
with fever. The committee were accompanied
by Elder John S. Weybright, of Carroll coun-
", and Elder Sappington and DR.. P. D.
Fahrney, of Frederick county. The latter
named gentleman-also minister of the Ger
man Baptist Church-appeared as a repre-
sentative of the Frederick City claimants.
The location committee were met at the depot
by committee consisting of Messrs. George
W. Albaugh, John l.. Reifsnider, (. 0.
Grimes, A. H. Huber, E. NJ. Bish and NJ.
Schaeffer, and in garages driven to the College
grounds. Here they were cordially received
by DIR. Lewis and Prof. Mcdaniel, who es-
corted the committee over the buildings and
grounds. 1t will not be ont of place in adj
vance of the decision of the committee on
location to say that the magnitude and ap-
pointments of the buildings and grounds of our
well known educational institution surprised
them. The annual meeting of 1891, held on
the grounds of Keenan, College, Hagerstown,
Nd, was the most successful meeting in every
way ever before and since held by that church.
That success was considered in large meas
ure due to the conveniences offered by the
college and yet Keenan, College did not rep
resent one-fourth of the capacity, comfort aud
convenience offered by Western Maryland
College. The college authorities of the home
institution not only presents the buildings and
grounds, but the use of the furniture is also
placed at their disposal Lodgers are usually
Accommodated with mattresses placed on the
floor. With this arrangement adopted at
Western Maryland College from $500 to 5000
persons can find convenient quarters in the
main buildings and wings alone. Beside these
the Seminary and Gymnasium buildings can
be used for the same purpose. Besides, the
time that the meeting begins, which if held in
Westminster, will be about June 18th, the
Alumni Hall will be sufficiently advanced to
give accommodations to q large number OF
people. The visit to the grounds terminated
at College Chapel. An informal meeting of
the committee was held in this building. Mr..
Huber, of the Westminster citizens, recon-
mended the submission of their proposal pro-
viding the same was done by DR.. Fahrney who
held in his possession the Frederick proposal.
The Doctor was not ready so to do because of
the absence of certain members of his COM
mittee. The location committee concluded to
postpone action until Frederick was ready.
After short drive around our little city the
committee were entertained by several of our
citizens at their homes.
On Wednesday, accompanied by Messrs.
Huber, NJ. Schaeffer, E. o. Grimes, John s.
mittee had interviews with the officials of the
Western Maryland, Pennsylvania and Balti-
more & Ohio r. R. Companies. The Western
Maryland authorities gave every assurance of
their disposition to have the meeting held at
Westminster.
The interviews with the Pennsylvania and
B. & 0. authorities were unsatisfactory. The
former road, however, promised TO take such
steps rs would prevent discrimination against
the holding of the meeting in our city.
Further information has been promised by
both roads before the final meeting of the To-
cation committee. At q meeting of the latter
body, held upon the close of these interviews,
it was finally agreed that the conference at
which should be decided the place for holding
the Annual Meeting for 1897 should tuke place
at Westminster, Wednesday, Sept 10Th, at
8. 10 a. IN; that the Frederick proposal should
be submitted by DIR. P. D. Fahrney, with such
further statements as he desired to make, and
that the same on the part of Westminster
should be done by Mr.. Huber. All of the
gentlemen composing the party returned home
the same evening