Evening star., 1898-11-05
IN HE CHU re H E S

in the Maryland conference, of which the
churches of the denomination in Washing
ton form a part, withcelebrate their seven
tieth anniversary one week from tomorrow.
Few churches in modern times, it is de-
ciared, have grown has the Methodist
Protestant. In this branch of Wesleyism
the Maryland conference has the honor of
being the largest and most powerful in the
denomination
The Maryland annual conference of the
Methodist Protestant Church organized in
st. Johns Church, Baltimore, April =, 1879,
with ten preachers, no members and no
property. 1t now comprises 145 preachers,
$40 churches and parsonages, 4Z5,UOJ mem
bers and nearly $4,000 Sunday school schoi
ars and officers. In the lase fifteen years,
the only period of accurate record, they
| have lost by with drawaIs ,430 members
and received from other churches 3, 7:,3
members; have lost by Withdrawals eleven
preachers, and received into the itinerancy
ninety-two preachers.
1t appears from an examination of the
minutes that the last ten years have been
the most prosperous in the history of the
church. In that time it has made net in
crease In membership of AZ per cent in
ltinerants. - per cent: in the value of
church property, 36 per cent; in Sunday
school scholars and officers, AZ per cent;
In the amount raised for church expenses,
IS per cent, and in amounts raised for pas
tors salaries, 35 per cent 1t now owns
church property free from debt to the
amount of S1,10O,OOO, and annually pays
$193, ,595, or IS per member, for the support
of the church. and to the pastors an aver
age salary in money and house rent of s631
a year-this, besides providing a fund of
nearly 5000 to guarantee relief to super
animated preachers, their widows and or
phans
At banquet given by prominent Presby-
terians in Pittsburg few evenings ago,
Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe, pastor of the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church,
was personally presented to the guests
During the evening Dr. Radcliffe made an
address, in the course of which he said he
thousht 1t a happy coincidence that the
banquet of the union was held on the day
when all were asked to celebrate the close
of the war with Spain
we are now q great COSMOPOLITAN ma
tion," said Dr. Radcliffe. There is a Mon
roe doctrine, but there is also a Mckinley
doctrine, and Imperialism Is in the air We
are marching toward the setting sun. ad-
advance until the Anglo-Saxon of America
shall meet the Anglo-Saxon of Europe
somewhere in the heart of Asia. Then will
be established imperial America"
The doctor spoke of imperial Presby-
terianism, and said he was not afraid of
the word. and held that the motive of an
| institution justified its existence. He aa-
vocated imperial America on a high plane
and prayed for imperial Presbyterianism
as the sublime, commanding system of all
church organizations
Will accomplish the most glorious results
for America and for the world" said Dr.
Radcliffe. THE church must go where
America goes. The bugle blast has hoen
sounded Gods voice is ealing onward
The hammer of Gods truth is in the hands
of the church. and the hammer must fan In
Porto Rico, Cuba and the Philippines. In
lne expression OF truth. in the declaration
of the word of God, and In meeting our
duty we cannot stand still'
The Rock River NJ f. laymens confer
enee, which started the movement for
equal lay representation In the general con-
ference, met few days ago and resolu-
hons We're adopted expressing delight that
SO many conferences have indorsed the
proposluon for equal lay representation in
the general conference. and that eighteen
have given 1t a unanimous support: also
expressing the hope that the Rock River
conference would be added to the list: ap-
pleciatlon 10 the church for their cordial
advocacy and support of the desires of the
great body of laymen of the church to unite
IN CARRYING forward the financial and spir-
itual interest of Methodism; grateful
thanks for the generous response of the
brethren Of the Rock River conference in
promptly submitting to the other annual
conference the proposition to so amend the
constitution OF the church as to provide
Tor equal lay and clerical representation in
the general conference; belief that the fa-
vorable action taken by the conference on
the proposition was. in large measure
attributable to the unanimity and cordial
ity of the Rock River conference action.
its pleasure. with thanks. for the splendid
success which has attended the work of
our associations officers and executive
committee who have borne every respon-
sibility and carried out all plans for the
advancement of the laymen's movement
with wisdom. Christian courage and a zeal
for the ultimate good of Methodism" The
attendance was very large numbering near
ly $50 delegates.
The commission which has been detailed
by the home mission board of the South
ern Baptist connection to make an inVesti-
cation of the condition of the properties of
the board located in Cuba left this week
for Havana.
1t was determined by the board to send
a commission to Havana some time before
hostilites were declared, and the visit
would have been made early last spring IL
the war had not prevented.
The Baptists of the United States It is
understood have some very valuable prop
erty in Cuba, which has been purchased
from time to time through the agents of
the home mission board. One of the prin-
cipal pieces Of property is the Baptist
church in the city Of Havana. This build
ing was formerly a Spanish theater, and
for many years was one OF the most popu-
lar places Of amusement In the Cuban city
The Baptists bought the building about
three years ago.
There are other buildings in Havana
which are owned by the home mission
board, besides several residences and va
cant lots, all of which aggregate a total
valuation of about 100000. Rev DR.. Diaz
the converted Cuban. who for many years
was the agent of the home mission board.
md yvho oil Nnok1. -