Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-22
METHODIST CONFERENCE
Changes to Be Made in Local Pastor
ates.
Important Questions to BE Discussed
The Trouble in Trinity Parish
DIR. MAYORS Position.

The local Methodist Episcopal cauldron
has begun to boil most vigorously, and
when the Baltimore conference meets in
Baltimore in little over four weeks from
now, 1t will be about bubbling over. unless
present indications fail. This is the case
with Methodism all over the country, for
the reason that the Quadrennial confer
ence Of the M. E. Church in the United
States Is to meet at Cleveland, Ohio. on
the first Wednesday in this coming May,
and continue in session for some time. The
conference in which Washington is stu
ated is to meet in Baltimore the 18th Of
March, and will be of more than the
usual importance from the fact that some
of the best charges in the conference, both
In Washington and Baltimore, are to be
filled, and also because the great questions
agitating the whole Methodist church will
be foreshadowed in this conference by the
debates which will take place on series
of resolutions presented at the last confer
will be the most important one the church
in this section Of the country has witness
ed in number Of years.
The changes here to be made by the ex-
Hamline, Rev. Ebert S. Todd. D. D., pas
tor; McKendl ee, Rev. l.. T. Waterman, d.
D., pastor, and Gorsuch. Rev. J. H. NJ.
Lemon, pastor. In Baltimore there are
Grace, Rev. DR.. Richard Harcourt. pastor;
Strawbridge and Broadway. It is the gen
eral plan, usually, to interchange, so far
as possible, between the two cities. but
this generally meets with opposition from
the congregations, and it is the custom of
the larger churches to ask for men from
other conferences. This is understood to be
the case in Hamllne of this city and Grace
Of Baltimore. The latter has asked for the
services OF a minister now in charge Of a
prominent church in New York city, and
SO that shuts cut very nice plum for
some Of the local pastors. Where Rev. DIR.
Todd Is to go Is thought to be definitely set
tied. The congregation of Strawbridge
Church has asked for his services, but
there may be some hitch at the last min
ute, as the appointing power is vested in the
bishop who presides at the conference. The
church, however, who takes DR.. Todd does
1t with the knowledge that they will have
to dispense with his services until he re-
turns from his tour, and as the church
mentioned is willing to do this, it is likely
that they will get him. AS to Hamline,
which DR.. Todd leaves, the congregation do
not know who they want as yet, and
everything is uncertain. 1t Is asserted,
however, that they will ask for a minister
outside the conference. and that they do
not want any former pastor. This latter
would shut out DIR. Naylor, who was ru-
mored to be selected for the position. There
is some talk that Hamline will put in an
application for Rev. DIR. j. B. Hamilton,
the financial agent OF Syracuse University,
n
situations in the country. DR.. Hamilton
was present at the Ministers Association
Monday of last week and delivered an ad-
dress, which was well received.
DR.. MAYORS Position.
Though the Naylor question is not ex-
pected to become important, there is suffi-
Gent opportunity to allow it to do so. A
Washington congregation, McKendree
adopted resolutions at it's fourth quarterly
conference last week, asking for him as
their pastor The delegates to the con-
ference were instructed to make a strong
effort to get DR.. Naylor. Now, if those
who are opposed to the doctor put them
selves in active opposition against him or
against this wish of McKendree's there is
chance for trouble Mckendree, however
has something in reserve, and if she don't
get the ex-presiding elder she could hardly
be refused her second choice This is
stated to be the Rev. David Shields, now
or Martinsburg, w. Va, but who is of the
Baltimore conference. Rev. Mr.. Shields is
young man, but has already made his
mark as preacher, and more especially as
pulpit orator. The other pulpit made
vacant by the time limit of five years is
that of Gorsuch, of which the Rev. j. H L.
Lemon Is the present pastor.
Trinity Troubles.
Though there are only three churches
who will have their present pastors taken
away from them by operation of church
law, there is one that may be so deprived
by the operation or efforts of some mem
bers of the congregation. This is Trinity,
located on 4th street southeast, and very
desirable place in every way. The present
preacher in charge of Trinity is Rev. Mar
tin F. B. Rice, D. D., but who has only
served three of the five years allowable
The trouble in DR.. Rices congregation, so
one OF the members puts It, dates back
about two years, when the project Of build
ing new church was started. The church
at that time had just sold for a cash con-
sideration valuable piece of ground,
which it owned, and with this purchased
two lots at 9th and c streets southeast.
business matters connected with the pro-
posed erection of new church here de-
veloped spirit of unfriendliness, and ut
one time the rupture threatened serious
difficulties. DR.. Rice has, however sue
ceeded in smoothing matters over some
what, but not entirely. His quarterly con-
/ ference neglected to call him, because, as
the same gentleman referred to says his
friends were in the minority. What the
conference did do was to select commit
tee of three to go over to conference and
look after the interests of the church, but
as the three gentlemen appointed are I'M
derstood to be unfavorable to DIR. Rice
this may mean that the doctor will not be
returned without an effort. In any case,
efforts are being made looking to the pre-
vention of any trouble at the conference,
ether in a spirit Of unfriendliness.
Bacon Resolutions.
Outside Of the changes of pastorates, the
conference will attend to number of other
matters, but by far the most important
will be the consideration Of the Bacon
resolutions as they are called The Bal
timore conference has. of course, no power
to incorporate any such amendments in the
| constitution, except SO far as their dele
gates to the quadrennial conference, Sc
lected with reference to their views on the
subject, may individually effect The
Bacon resolutions arc being discussed under
different names, but in substantially the
same forms, in large number of confer
ences Throughout the country. The Metho-
dist press has also taken a hand in the
controversies, and a widespread debate is
taking place. The author of the Bacon
resolutions is Rev. Geo. C. Bacon of Ha-
gerstown, Md, and are as follows: First.
Resolved, That we favor the admission of
laymen to the annual conference in such
proportion as shall hereafter be deter
| mined; second that We favor the election
of presiding elders by the annual confer
ence, and, third, that we favor giving CO.
ordinate power to the presiding elders in
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