Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-04-14
METHODIST pROTESTANTS.
The Seventeen session of the Maryland

Ine rev, A.. II. Melvin was yesterday |
week reelected president OF the Mary
land Annual Conference Of ths Methodist
Protestant Church, which began it's 10th
session at Lafayette Avenue Church,
Baltimore.
The election OF officers Was suspended
to allaw the introduction OF tho fol-
lowicg resolutions, which were unani-
mously adopted and ordered ssnt by
Telegraph to President Mckinley;
1--WE are deeply concerned about the
grave questions now threatening dis
turbance OF the peace OF our country.
We deprecate the dreadful evils of war
and pray that our merciful God will
spare US this awful scOurga
Resolved, That We will pray that
the Coo Of all peace will guide the
PresidHnt and tho Congress- in such
counsels and 10 the adoption Of such
measures az will lend to peaceful al
justment of the questions between this
country and Spain"
Four ballots were required for the
selection Of secretary, as the Rev. II.
IL. Elderdice begged to he relieved from
re election to the Office, which he bad
held for five years. Tho contest In the
ballot was chiefly between the Rev.
Dorsey Blake, who was finally success
full, and the Rev. +. I. Benson, who
led in the vots on the first three ballots.
Secretary Blake chose as his assistants
the Revs. 0. p. Nowlin and j. II. S.
Ewell.
The following officers were also
elected: Conferences steward, Louis
Randall, who announced II. 7. Reed as
his assistant church extension steward,
Avery Donavin; superannuated fund
steward, W. II. Ltsinger; foreign
missionary steward, a. n. Ward, gen-
eral home missionary steward, A. S.
Beane; educational steward, @. ".
Hines, postmaster, L. d Stone.
President Melvin, in his annual report
OF the work within the bounds Of the
conference, recorded peaceful and
prosperous year. He announced the or
dipation to elders orders of ths Revs.
II. +. Wright, j. f. Bryan and f. A.
Holland.
Material progress vas noted in
churches built and dedicated at Girls
field. Finksburg. MiIlville and on Po-
tomao circuit At Delmar charge a neat
church was built. The debt was paid
on Greenbackville Church and 1t was
dedicated. Remington Church has been
completed and used First Church,
Washington. has purchased brick
church and parsonage on Fourth street,
A lot has been purchased at Cumher-
land, Md, on which will be built a
new church, the old church and par
sonage having hsen sold. New churches
are under way at North Carolina
avenue, Baltimore, and at Seaford and
Denton charges. As the result OF re-
vival held in Hchoolhouse at Harper's
Ferry new church will be built.
Church improvements have been com
plated at jonning's Chapel, on Lisbon
circuit. and at Stewartstown, on the
circuit of that name, A parsonage has
heer built on Union circuit, and one
has been bought on Beaver Dam cir
cult. a feature of the improvements is
their substantial nature
President Melvin estimated the ag.
gregate given for general interests and
for pastors salaries about the same az
last year. At the same time he deplored
The reduction Of pastors salaries in Q
few cases, which he said caused EN-.
bsrrassment and hardship. Sometimes,
he said. the cause was that too many
men we're put into given territory ant
the expectations Of Improvement in the
work were not always realized.
For church extension work President
Melvin said SO much was used for oil
churches which do not grow that littl
was left for new work. He recon
mended that tho Baltimore Church
Extension Society be given the appro
priation for work in that city in orde
TO have il more wisely expended durinI
the year than could be done by speciti
appropriations at the conference session
The Hume for the Aged at West
Minister was recommended for NOR
cordial support.
Western Maryland College and tn
Westminster Theological Seminary wer
recommended. The latter was said I
be growing and improving and realizin
the most sanguine expectations he'll
for il.
Another recommendation was tina
: Violettsville be made s separate charg
for the hotter prosecution OF the work
The Rev. j. McLain Brown was recon
menhed to be employed as conferenc
evangelist at salary OF $500, as tn
efforts of the evangelist during the yea
have shown gratifying spiritual an
material results.
President Melvin announced tha
Mrs. Il. A. Reese had continued he
generosity to the conference by cor
:, tributing 5000 toward the support {
the work The Pipe Creek Beneyoleu
! Society was credited with $3.50 given
men in active ministerial work. TIL
u Board of benoficence Of st. John
Church, Baltimore, WAS given cred
= for helping ministerial students in pu
suing their studeH
y The discussion over one or two dali
l. sessions for conferences business WI
settled in favor OF one session from
:, until : O'Clock, except on the openin
= day, when an afternoon session is n
= quired for the election of officers, I'll
u Rev. DR.. +. I. Tagg advocated Il
! change. The Rev. j, ID. Kinzer spoil
:, for shorter session, but his suggestiC
II was not regarded iavorably.
IL A committee of twu ministers az
d three laymen will be appointed by col
q ference TO investigate any plan Il
/, church building or improvements whit
J makes necessary the aaking OF he
r. from abroad and report upon it befo
a aid ia asked upon the COMMITTEES
recommendation.
The annual conference sermon W
,r preached by the Rev. A.. W. Math
le from the text, land Elijah said IN
10 her, fear not, but go and do as thu
=, hast said, but make me a little ca
IN first and after for myself and son"
in applied the sentiment to church wu
w and giving to benevolsncss.
D. At night tho annual communi
n. service was conducted by Preside
r. Melvin. After the service a memoir
was read by the Rev. S. d. Southerla
of the Rev. II. Scntt Norris, tho on
be conference member who died since t
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