The sun., 1898-10-01
BIG METHODIST GATHERING.
National Association of Local Preach
ers Meets Here Today.

AT 10 o'clock this morning, the forty
first annual meeting OF the National As
sociation of Local Preachers of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, will con-
vene in the Asbury Church, this city.
The delegates in attendance will be
from all sections of the United States,
and they will comprise men of all walks
and positions of life. The convention
will be in session four days, and it is ex-
pected 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 pos
sibly three representatives from the Wes-
leyan Local Preachers Association Of
England, which is similar body to the
association in this country.
Rev. John r. Wright, D. d., of Wash
ington, d. c., will call the convention to
order and the address of welcome on be-
half of the Wilmington Conference will
be made by Presiding Elder Robert Watt
This will be followed by the reports Of
officers and the appointment of commit
tees at the afternoon session.
In the evening the visitors will be
welcomed to the city by Mayor McLear,
President of Council C. M. 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 Preachers and Exhorters by DIR. J.
H. SiI' ms and the Rev. William Hamil-
ton. The responses on behalf of the
convention will be by the Rev. G. B.
Steman, NJ. D., Ii. d., of the North
Indiana Conference; S. r. Sherwood of
New York and j. S. Wilmington of Bal
timore, Md.
Tomorrow will be the big day for the
visitors, as arrangements have been
made to have them fill all the Methodist
Episcopal Church pulpits in this city.
The principal service will be at the old
Asbury. The music during the day will
be furnished by the Asbury choir. At 8
O'Clock in the morniug the Rev. George
F. Kline of Easton, Pa, will lead a
prayer and praise service and at 1890
o'clock the Rev. George Jones Of the
Philadelphia Conference will preach. At
Las O'Clock in the afternoon the Rev.
William Lambright of the Baltimore
Conference will conduct holiness meet
ing, and at O'Clock the sacrament of
the Lords Supper will be administered
by the Rev. John B. Wright, Jr., of
Washington, D. G. The evening sermon
at 7.30 o'clock, will be preached by the
Rev. G. B. Steman of the North Indiana
Conference.
The program as arranged follows:
Monday-S.45 a. m.-Song service, de-
votional services, reading of minutes, re-
port of the fraternal delegates to London.
report Of committee on credentials, re-
port OF standing committee, report Of
special committees, reading of CORE.
spondence, collection of dues, memorial
service. las p. m.-Song service, devo-
tional exercises, reading Of minutes, re-
ception of members Wilmington preach
ers' meeting, reports of committees, re-
port of Local Preachers Magazine and
Pawline Advocate, annual meeting OF
the Local Preachers Mutual Aid Society
p. m.--Song service by Professor Hud-
son, devotional exercises report of COM
mittee on education, report Of president
Of Taylor University.
Tuesday-9 a. m.-Devotional exer.
cises, reading of minutes, report OF nomi.
mating committee, report of standing
committee, election of officers, report Of
unfinished business, song service. 1.45