Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-15
TIE METHODIST CONFERENCE.
Its Next Annual Session to be
= Decidedly Interesting.
MANY PASTORAL CHANGES LIKELY
Three-fourths of Wilmington
n District Affected.


Notwithstanding it will be in an off
year, one in which no changes in the
presiding eldership are expected, the
next annual session of the Wilmington
Methodist Episcopal Conference, which
will be held at Cambridge, Md, COM
mencing on March 22d, Bishop Cyrus
ID. Foss of Philadelphia presiding, will
be decidedly interesting. Interest will
centre in the pastoral assignments.
During the three months preceding the
conference session, there will be much
scheming and speculation. Many pas
toral changes are likely to be made on
all four districts, but most of them
will be made on the Wilmington dis
trict. 1t is estimated that three-fourths
of the pastors on the Wilmington dis
trict, chiefly ministers serving in this
city and Cecifcounty, will not be in
their present charges next conference
year. The majority of the preachers
expected to make changes have served
their charges not more than two years.
The number of pastors who desire to
labor in new fields and the churches
which desire new pastors is nearly
equal.
There is great curiosity as to who
will be assigned to the pastorate of
Union Church, which will be vacated
by the Rev. John d. G. Hanna, d.
d. A month ago, the Rev. Thomas
E. Martindale, D. D., presiding elder
Of the Salisbury district, was officially
asked whether he would consider a
pastoral invitation from Union, and
replied that he desired to continue in
the presiding eldership. Members of
the church think that the Rev. Adam
Stengle of Georgetown, the Rev. Alfred
Smith, D. D., OF Dover or the Rev.
II. S. Thompson of Delaware City
would prove worthy successor to DR..
Hanna. In the event of Mr.. Stengle
or DIR. Smith going to Union, DR..
the pastorate vacated by the appointee.
sidered for several days will doubtless
cause commotion. It proposes the
Rev. W. L. s. Murray, d. D., for
Union, DIR. Hanna for Asbury and the
Rev. James Grove for st. Paul's. In
the event of the retirement of DIR.
Murray from its passionate, the Rev.
Isaac L. Wood of Middletown will be
st. Paul's preference. DIR. Murray re-
Gently accepted an invitation to return
to st. Paul's, and that church will moi
part with him next spring without a
struggle. DIR. Hanna is also mentioned
for the pastorate of Mt. Salem Church.
Despite the fact that the Rev. Ralph
I. Coursey has been invited to return
to Harrison Street Church, the Rev. s,
M. Morgan of Snow Hill is mentioned
as likely to become its pastor next
conference year
Goodman Church recently extended
q pastoral invitation which was de
clined. In the event of the retirement
of the Rev. John France from its pas
torate, he will, it is said, withdraw
from the active ministry, but continu,
to reside in this city.
If Mt. Salem Church cannot obtair
DR.. Hanna, it may ask for the Rev. w
p. Compton, who will probably be sue
ceeded at Port Deposit by the Rev. A
s.. Mowbray of Elkton. The church il
the latter town desires to secure tn,
Rev. L. e. Terry of Harrington.
The Rev. f.. B. Short has accepte,
an invitation to return to the pastor
ate Of Epworth Church.
1t is said that pastoral changes will
probably be made at Wesley and Kings
wood Churches. In the event of tn
Rev. Edgar s. Mace retiring from tn
Kingswood pastorate, the Rev. G. P
Jones of Cherry Hill will probably b
asked to serve that church.
The Rev. r. Irving Watkins has bee
invited to return to New Castle, an
DR.. Smith to Dover.
1t is expected that the pastors
changes on the Wilmington distric
will exceed those made at any cor
ference session during the last 10 year:
Besides those mentioned above, tn
following charges may make changes
Bethel, Charlestown, Cherry Hill
Chesapeake City, Chester, Christians
Mt. Lebanon, Mt. Pleasant, NORTH
east, Rising Sun and Rowlandville.