Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-03-31
THE BALTIMORE CONFERENCE

THE BALTIMORE CONFERENCE.
Two sessions of the Baltimore Con-
ference of the Methodist Church South
were held in Staunton yesterday, the
last day of the annual meeting.
The question of the rehabilitation OF
the crippled financial standing of the
Wesleyan Female Institute was the
subject of much discussion. Rev. David
Bush, of Front Royal, in his commit
tees report, suggested that collection
be forthwith taken up in the conference,
proceeds to be applied to any debt
owed by the old institution board after
sale of the realty and personally. The
report also suggested that it be the
special duty of each presiding elder to
raise money toward the liquidation of
the debt. The report contemplates
judicial sale of the property, but pro-
poses that the stock company hereto
fore organized shall buy in the property
on reasonable terms. AS stated yester-
day cash subscriptions to the amount OF
about 81 420 were realized, and condi-
tional subscriptions of s., 200, exclusive
of the former, were made. However,
in view of the fact that the present in.
debtedness is reported at something
over $37, 900, these subscriptions appear
to fall far short of a solution of the diff
fculty.
1t was shown that there were sc To-
cal preachers in the conference, 50,5S5
white members and 80 colored mem
bers, net increase in mem bership Of L.
243; 1880 infants and 1869 adults were
baptized, and the Epworth League fig
ures Indicated 165 leagues in the con-
ference, an increase of 67, with q total
membership of 2 160. Five hundred
and eighty-one Sunday schools, with
5000 teachers, have 40,357 scholars.
Five hundred and twenty one church
edfces, valued at 81, 1S6,065, were re-
ported, together with 140 parsonages,
worth $250,000.
Rev. G.. II. Zimmerman, secretary of
the corporate board of finance, report
ed 81 200 turned over to joint board of
finance for distribution at this session,
an increase of 500 over last years fig
ures.
Bishop Galloway, in announcing the
appointments, said
~ believe l know the heart of
Methodist preacher. I know their ex-
periences. 1 have tested the efficiency
of Methodism at every point, and, after
all criticism and defects in its admins
tration, 1 believe it to be the most ef-
icient system for the worlds evangeli-
cation. No body of people is more
loyal to their church than is our PEG
pie. Ours is a great system to find |
places for men and men for places.
We came out of bloody war every
thing gone except faith in ourselves
and our God. The overcrowded condi-
ton of this conference makes it impos-
sible to do as we'll as we should like
to do for many of our ministers. A
young Methodist preacher can general
ly marry the best Methodist girl in his
circuit. Ii We preach a good sermon |
in this muddled materialistic age, we |
do more for uplifting the world. both |
industrially and morally, than a rail-
road or bank president"
There were some surprises in the |
way the preachers were moved about |
on the ministerial checkerboard. In
many cases no change was made in the |
appointments, and only where the time
limit or some other reason made it nee.
essary were the preachers shifted about |
by the bishop, after consultation with
his council of presiding elders. Inter
est settled first in the presiding elder.
ships. Two we're vacant by limitation
and third change was made.
Rev. James E. Armstrong, secretary
of the conference, went from East Bal
timore district to take charge of Salem.
He is succeeded by Rev. Isaac w. Can
ter, who goes from Mount Vernon
Washington, to become pre- !