Middletown transcript., 1899-03-11
WILMINGTON NJ. E. CoNFERANCE.

The 31st session ofthe Wilmington Meth
odist Episcopal Conference, which is COM
posed of the churches of that denomination
on the Peninsula, located in the State of
Delaware, and on the Eastern Shore of
Maryland and Virginia, will convene at
Cambridge, Nd, this month. with Bishop
Cyrus D. Foss, D. D., LII. D., presiding.
Nineteen years have elapsed since the con-
ference of this denomination last met in
| that town.
The presiding Bishop was born January
17th, 1884, at Kingston, n. Y. He Hegraduat-
ed from Wesleyan College in 1854, when he
was appointed teacher in mathematics at
Armenia Seminary. He was a member of
the New York Conference from 1856 to 1876,
when he was elected president of Wesleyan
University, which position he held until
1880, when he was made Bishop, with head
quarters in Philadelphia.
The Wilmington Conference was former
ly part of the Philadelphia Conference,
when, in 1869, it became independent of
that body by holding its session at Har-
rington, Del. The number of churches
then was 90, but since that time it has in
creased to 394. The number of ministers,
then enrolled was So; now there are 1874
with 122 local preachers without charges
The membership of its church in 1869 was
19,6SS, while now the number is 42,5GS.
The number of Sunday school scholars en-
rolled when the conference was first organ
lied was 21,670, having increased until
this year there are 44,SS7. The value of
church property in 1869 was estimated
at 81, ,026, $50, while at the first conference
the value of the church property was esti-
mated at ST ,83I,770.
During the past year death has claimed
two of its most valued members-the Rev.
]. B. .Quigg, of Wilmington and Eev. W. B.
Walton, of Salisbury. During the past year
the following ministers have been trans
ferred:-M. D. Hackman, the Wisconsin
Conference; Ezra Tinker, to the Erie Con-
ference; Frank Fletcher, to the Troy Con-
ference; W. T. Valiant, TO the New Jersey
Conference, and NJ. D. Nutter, to the West
Virginia Conference. James Crow came
from the Erie Conference and J. L. Wilson
from the Troy Conference.
There is now living in Elkton one of the
oldest ministers of the Wilmington Confer
ence-the Rev. Benjamin F. Price. Mr..
Price has been engaged in ministerial Ia
bors for over 65 years.
On Monday and Tuesday preceding the
opening of conference the examination of
candidates for admission to the ministry
will be held. On Tuesday evening there
will be reception to members by the Ep-
worth League. The business sessions of the
Conference will be opened Wednesday
morning with the Sacrament of the
Lords Supper. The program is as fol-
lows:
Wednesday, 9 a. m. the Sacrament of the
Lords Supper. Conference session. p. m.
the Wilmington Conference Historical So
ciety will celebrate the one hundred and
twentieth anniversary of the introduction
of Methodism into Cambridge, Md. Ad-
dress by the Rev. DR.. George A. Phoebus.
Freedom Garrettson and the Cambridge
Jail" 7.30 p. m. the Freedmen's Aid and
Southern Education Society. Speakers, Drs.
John W. Hamilton and c. H. Payne.
Thursday, 8 a. m, Conference session.
p. M, the Woman's Foreign Missionary
Society, speakers, DIR. John f. Goucher
and Mrs. E. B. Stevens. 7.30 p. M, the
Church Extension Society, speaker, DR..
Manley s. Hard.
Friday 8 a. M. Conference session. 3 p,
M, the Woman's Home Missionary Society.
Mrs. G. G. Browne. presides. 7.3O p. M,
the Missionary Society. speaker, DR.. Pal
| mer.
Saturday 9 a. M, Conference session. 2
p. M, Conference session and the memorial
service. 7.3O p. m, the temperance annir
versary, the Revs. James Grove, D. D., and
F. Burgette Short.
Sunday, 9 a. m, the conference love feast
in charge of the Rev. Dr. T. E. Martindale.
1880 a. m, preaching by Bishop Foss, fol-
lowed by the ordination of deacons. Up.
m, preaching by the Rev. Dr. Henry Baker
of Grace Church, Wilmington followed by
the ordination of elders. 7.SO p. M, preach
ing. Also at 7.5o p. M. the anniversary Of
the Epworth League, in Grace M. E. Church
South, speaker, DR.. Joseph F. Berry.
| Monday 8 a. M, Conference session 2
p. M. Conferences session. 8 p. M, business
meeting OF the Conference Rpworth League
in Grace NJ. e. Church. South.
"Pentecostal services in charge OF the
Revs Alfred Smith and Ralph T. Conrsey,
These services will be held every afternoon
during conference week, and win begin
| Immediately at the close Of the afternoon
l anniversary meetings.