The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-05
M. {. CONFERENCE
Annual Meeting Opens To-
day In the Mother Church
In Halsey Street,
Newark.
BISHOP FOWLER PRESlDES
Brethren From Near and Far
Meet and Talk Shop
The Opening Session.

met in this church, which is the mother
of Methodist Churches in the City OF
Newark. When in 1908 the foundation
stone was laid it was called Wesle.
Chapel.
This church took a very high place
among the churches of the old Philadel-
phia conference and one of its first pas
tors was Isaac Wiley, afterwards trans
lated to the Episcopacy. Samuel Y. Mon
roe was it's first field secretary. He was
accidentally killed in the Bergen cut OF
the Pennsylvania Railroad in Jersey City
Other pastors we'll known in the confer
ence of the church were:-Rev. DR.,
Charles Larew, Rev. DR.. James Freeman,
Rev. DR.. Richard Van Horne. Rev. D,
Laws, R, Dunn, who died recently in East
Orange, Rev. MT. solomon Higgins. who
lost his life on the steamship president
in 1871, Rev, VIM. Eakins, formerly pastor
OF St Paul's. Jersey City, Rev John At
kinson, formerly of West Side Church,
Jersey City, and its present pastor is Rev
Daniel Halloran. who until last year was
in Simpson Church, Jersey City.
quaint, unpretending briek-fronted
church has at its rear a little grave
yard
.sWhere heaves the turf on many a moul-
dering heap,
Each in his narrow cell forever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet
sleep"
Although usually a quiet neighborhood,
all this was changed this morning at a
very early hour. Downstairs the class
rooms resembled the shop floor OF the
big dry goods store opposite. Men We're
pulling and hauling trunks filled with
books and religious literature, fixing up
long tables, arranging a postoffice, pre-
pairing cloak rooms; putting up partitions
for committee rooms, and if they werent
actually working they made a great show
of doing something.
Presently the pastors began to arrive
from all sections, because the Newark
Conference boundaries include churches
in New York and Pennsylvania, and what
with the How are you, BROTH
er?" and exchange of ministerial gossip
the hubbub was almost deafening.
Among the early arrivals were the Jer-
sey City pastors. Presiding Elder J. R.
Wright, whose headquarters are at the
Continental Hotel, vas closely followed by
Rev. R. NJ. Aylesworth, Rev. Charles r.
L Il. -.
Rev. c. Little, Rev T. C. Mayham and
Rev. D. B.. F. Randolph, and many brought
their wives and daughters with them.
Bishop Charles H. Fowler. I'D, LID,
who will preside at the business session
was in the church at an early hour hold
ing interspersed conferences with his cab
met, consisting of the presiding elders of
the Newark. Jersey City, Paterson and
T71.-oI.Ntl, 5s-trf1f- -ocnonffyr0lu Pow -
p. Hammond, ]. r. Wright, John Krantz
and G.. w. Smith. As for the minor clergy,
they b~uttonholed each other on the all
important topic of Where do you expect
to go?' This, of course. meant to what
pastorage, the brother would be removed
and had no reference to a future state.
Conference this year, the knowing ones
said, will be strictly a routine affair.
There are no ''interneeine" differences to
adjust n no delegates to the general
conference to elect; that takes place next
year. But as Burns said: Nae man can
tether time nor tide" and this saying has
a deep significance when applied to a
Methodist Conference. 1t is no exaggera-
ton to say that of@all religious gatherings,
conferences and conventions none can sur
pass the brethren of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church for perfect liberty of debate
and liberty to rake up any old subject
and thresh it out. An accidental speech
of an incautious brother is liable to set
the rest of the brethren by the ears and
then there is a blaze.
Brethren, stop talking and come into
the church upstairs for the service
shouted Rev. Daniel Halleron, suddenly
appearing in the doorway of the genera
assembly room, where there was such q
racket in progress. Brother Halleron is
chairman of the committee of arrange
ments and those who knew him in Jersey
City know well what a hustler he is. He
broke up the groups and drove the min
listers before him like a pack of sheep into
the church above, where Bishop Fowler
was patiently awaiting the arrival of the
brethren. A few palms and a giddy look.
ing azalea stood on the table in front OF
the Bishop, and this was the only bit OF
color in the gloomy church.
The Sacrament of the Lords Supper
having been observed, the brethren set
tied themselves down to the opening of
the business session. Tables for the Sec
r~etaries were dragged in and the ladies
were incontinently hustled to the rear
seats and galleries, the brethren being
Only allowed to sit within the OAR Oh
conference which sacred enclosure
meant two-thirds, of the area OF the
ground floor. !.
conference will please come to order
said Bishop Fowler, slightly tapping on
the table in front of him, and then max
ing a sign to the former secretary, the
Rev. DIR. Dodd, that gentleman proceeded
to call the roll. After that the election
Of officers took place with this RESULT
John F. Dodd, secretary; c. w. Nc
Cormick, assistant; F. Bloom, engrossine
secretary; J.. A. Gutteridge, statistica
secretary; A. M. Palmer, treasurer. as
sistants to statistical secretary e: n
Crasto, S. R. Doolittle, w. c. TimbreH
Frank Chadwick; assistants to treasurer
IA. Cole n j. w. Ryder.
The next half hour was consumed II
arranging times for special services ant
BIZ consent the Memorial service will tax
Mace on Monday morning at l0;30. f'oul
bl ethren have died during the year.
The standing committees We're next erect.
ed. and they were the same as last yea
with the single exception of Rev: H
BIIchtel. who lakes the place on the SAP
hath observance Committee OF Rev
Lewis r.. Dunn,-who died recently. Th'
Missionary Cause-F. c. Baldwin, T. Q
Mayllam. Chas Larew.
Church Extension-W. C. Ruth, j. q