Evening journal., 1898-10-01
PREACHERS AT ASBURY
Great Gathering of Ministers
at the Old Church.
VISITORS FILL SUNDAY PULPTTs

TION.
The forty-f1st annual meeting of
the National Assohiation of Local
Preachers of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, convened I'M Asbury Church
this morning at 10 O'Clock, and proved
one of the largest gatherings of church
workers held in Wilmington for several
years. There are delegates in attend
ance from all sections of the United
States. and they comprise men OF al.
walks and Positions OF life. The com
vertion will be in session four days,
and 1t is expected that considerable
business will be transacted.
In addition to the delegates from the
several Methodist conferences in the
United States there may be two and
possibly three representatives to arrive
later from the Wesleyan local Preach
ems Association OF England, which is
a similar body to the association in
this country.
The meeting was called TO order by
Rev. John r. Wright, d. d., of Wash
ington, d. c., and the address Of wei
come on behalf Of the Wilmington Con-
ference was made by Presiding Elder
Robert Watt. This afternoon the re-
ports Of officers and the appointment Of
committees will be the chief business
transacted, and this evening the visit
tors will be welcomed to the city by
Mayer NIcLear, President of Council c.
NJ Leitch and City Solicitor Conrad.
The address on behalf of Asbury
Church will be made by Pastor James
Grove, Ph. d., and on behalf Of the
wilmington Conference Local Preach
ers and Exhorters by DIR. J. II. Simms
and Rev. William Hamilton. The re-
sponses on behalf of the convention
win be by Rev. G. b. Steman, M. d.,
LII. D.. of THE North Indiana Conf-T-
ence; s. T. Sherwood, of New York,
and ]. S. Wilmington, Of Baltimore,
Nd. The choir of Riddles Memorial
Chapel furnished the music at. to-day's
meetings.
To-morrow will be the big day for
the visitors, as arrangements are being
made to have them fill all the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, pulpits IN this
city then. However, the principal SER
vice will be at old Asbury. The music
during the day will be furnished Dy
Asbury choir. At o'clock in thl
morning REV. George #. Kline. Of Eas'
ton. Pa, viii lead a prayer and prais'
service, and at 1890 O'Clock Rev. Georg
Jones. of the Philadelphia Conference
will preach. At Las O'Clock in the az
tcrnoon Rev. William Dambright, o
the Baltimore Conference, will conduc
a holiness meeting, and at o'clock th'
sacramento of the Words supper will b.
administered by Rev. John r. Wright
Jr., of Washington, d. C. The even.
ing sermon at 7.30 o'clock, viii bs
preached by Rev. C. b. Steman, of th'
North Indiana Conference. The pro
gram for the remainder Of the conven.
tion is:
devotional services, reading OF min
utes, report of the fraternal delegate!
!, to London, report e committee on ere
dentiais, report of standing committee
report Of special committees, reading o
correspondence collection Of dues, me
mortal service. 1.45 p. m.-SOng service
devotional exercisess reading OF min
utes, reception of members Whining
ton Preachers meeting, reports of com
mittees, report OF Local Preachers
Magazine and PawihIe Advocate, an
nual meeting of tho Local Preachers
Mutual aid Society. z p. m.-SOng ser
vice by Professor Hudson, devcuona
exercises, report of committee on edu
cation, report of president of Taylc
University.
Tuesday, a. m.-!Devotional exer
cisss, reading of minutes, report o
nominating committee, report o
standing COMMITTEES, election Q
officers. report of unfnisho'
business, song sCrvice. LAS !
m.-Devotioual exsrci ses. reading min
E utcs, reports from co nmittees, miscel
laneous business. 7.15 p. m.-Song ser
vice by Professor Huds son, farewell ser
vices. including five-ndnute address b,
( representatives. OF eac d annual confer
ence.
The delegates who have already ar
rived and are expected to-day includ
Rev. and Mrs George b. Jones, q
Philadelphia; Rev. ami Mrs. John +
$ Wright and John r. Wright
Jr.. of Washington, d. c.; Rev
and Mrs. Hercules Atkins, of Philadel
mia: S. T. Sherwood, "a New York; {
= T. FisIer Mr. and ldrs. Charles +
] Turkingham, Miss Tui bingham, A.
: Smith and Mr.. and AIrs. George w
D Finlaw. of Camden, n. J.; James N
b. Goldy. d. H. Kenny, Mr. and Mrs. WI
liam A. Corbitt, S. Powers and Thoma
. c. Berry. of PhiladelDhia; Richar
rIor+op Mr. and Mrs Geurge w. Myei