The sun., 1898-03-24
PRESIDING ELDERS REPORTS
Bishop John ?. Newman The
Presiding Officer at Lewes
THE CONFERENCE OPENS
Important Business Transacted at the
Sessions Of the MethOdlsts-..Stan
ing Committees Appointed
Gavel Presented
THE CONFERENCE OPENS
Special to The Sun.

Special to The Sun.
LEwns, DEL, March 23.-The Whining
ton Conference of the Methodist Episco
pal Church opened its thirtieth annua
session in the NJ. +. Church of this towr
this morning, Bishop John P. Newman
presiding.
At $50 o'clock sacramental service
was conducted by the bishop, assisted by
the presiding elders and other members
of the Conference, during which the
bishop gave much sound advice to the
elders.
At the close of this service, the regular
business of the session was begun by
Secretary A. S. Mowbray calling the roll.
There we're 127 ministers answered roll
call.
A. S. Mowbray was elected secretary
and named W. A. Wise, q. H. Webster
and J. D. Riggs as assistants.
c. A. Grise was elected treasurer, and
named Alfred G. Cox, ]. A. Brewington,
w. B. Cooper, f. S. Mace, F. C. Mac
Sorley, J. NJ. Lindale, Julius Dodd, H.
c. Turner and Aloycius Green as his as
sistants.
Mr.. Mowbray was elected statistical
secretary and named H. A. G. Wester-
field, J. II. Geoghan, W. W. Sharp, V.
?. .Northrup,G. P. Jones and G. P. Smith
as his assistants.
The following standing committees,
nominated by the presiding elders, were
elected:
Public Worship-R. H. Adams, d. H,
Corkran, J. D. Reese, W. T. Valiant.
Education-J. NJ. Lindale, J. T. Van
Burkalow, G. T. Anderson, S. J. Morris.
Bible society-T. A. H. O'Brien, T.
B. Hunter, G. II. Williams, H. NJ.
Thurlow.
Sunday-schools and Tracts-W. F.
Dawson, f. S. Mace, 7. G. Smoot, J.
A. Brewington.
Tempeance-Ezra Tinker, j. A.
Arters, D. +. Waddell, Warren Burr.
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society
Il. w. Laytield, |. G. Fosnocht, G.
W. Bounds, H. G. Budd. .,.
Woman's Home Missionary Society
G. w. Bowman, W. R. McFarlane, F.
B. Short, Robert Roe.
Freedman's Aid and Southern Edu-
cation Society,". s. Wickline, W. ?.
Compton, G. W. Burke, c. F. Sheppard.
Missionary Statistics, Local Preachers
and Postotfices-W. p. Taylor, j. W.
Fog!c, F. P. Smith, D. ]. Given, @. S.
Walton, J. M. Collins, George E. Wood,
c. W. Strickland.
Sabbath Observancc-G. ". Burke,
W. l.. White, H. S. Dulaney, A. p.
Prettyman.
Periodicals-E II. Derrickson, G. L.
Hardesty, L. P. Corkran, W. 0. Hurst.
Epworth League-C. p. Swain. John
D. c. Hanna, Aloycius Green, K. X.
Stewards Endowment-P. II. Raw
Inns, +. F. Carpenter, E. p. Roberts, W.
L. 5. Murray, II. S. Goldey, Joseph
>mthers, Joseph Z. Holland, William
II. Jackson.
Ministerial Qualitications-E. c. At
iins, George W. Townsend, John France,
J. w. Easlev, f. H. Nelson, G. S. Baker,
H. S. Thompson, G. W. Prettyman.
Auditing-J. O. Sypherd,sJ. NJ. Mitch
III, J. W. Gray, W. S. II. Williams,
". r. Valiant.
AollltlcllCc hcl1tlollS--C. n. Illll /. u.
Ferry, J. p. Otis, II. W. Ewing, Adam
'tenge, V. S. Collins, c. ?. Wyatt, T. c. !
Mac Sorlcv.
}. NJ. Tallcy was elected Conference
postmaster. p. II. Rawlns, Adam Stem
lie, J. S. Wicklinc and John France were
elected members OF the Board of Stew
Irds.
A draft for S25, the amount appor-
ioncd the Conference from the bequests
II Attllia +. Christman and Caroline
lark, amounting o$l $50, for the bene-
it OF superanuated preachers, was ac.
The report Of tie Episcopal fund was
o the effect that the Conference had re-
civcd from the fund 81 lag, and fell
hort on its apportionment S444.
1t was decided to vote on the CoDstitu-
ional question of equal lay and minis
erial representation, Friday morning, at
0 clock.
Bishop Newman then addressed the
Conference announcing his daily outline.
rom to a. M, to correspondence and
eviction; I to $, recreation; $40, Con-
,rence session; noon, meal and an hour
est; to D. m., meet with presiding
lders; ) to 6 p. M, he will receive lay
lOn.
In the evening from 7 to q he will re-
Give the preachers. He wants the
to call on him and talk freely
bout their appointments.
The Bishop advised the presiding
lders to talk freely with the brethren,
nd said: 81 have no sympathy with pre-.
iding elders, who 60 around in a mys-
erious way and sway their little straw
ceptres.'
The character of each preacher exam
ned was taken up apd Presiding Elder
dams, of Dover District was called, his
haracter passed and he proceeded to
cad his report.
He said among other things that in
he district there was asencouraging growth
n all departments Of church work."
He noticed a marked growth in Ep-
,orth League, and great neglect of
amily devotion. The work of Rev. Col
ms at Georgetown was highly eulogized.
The increase in salaries in the district
mounted to $500.
The number of probationers in the
ist rct is l,400 Mr.. Adams said the
dvance price of farm products was re-
ectcd in all financial work Of the church
DR.. W. +. Corkran, presiding elder Of
he Easton District, was called, his
haracter passed and he proceeded to '