Evening star., 1899-04-11
LAST DAYS SESSION
Conference of Southern Methodists
Drawing to a Close.
ADVERSE REPORT IN VALIANT Case
Or. Wightman Asks to Be Placed
on Supernumerary List.
THE CARS PEACE PLANS

THE CZAR'S PEACE PLANS
sion Of the Baltimore conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South will ad-
journ sine die this afternoon, upon the con-
clusion Of the memorial service, which will
begin at o'clock, in the Mount Vernon
Place Church. Just before the time for ad-
journment Bishop J. c. Cranberry will read
the list of appointments of ministers to the
various charges under his control. That
will be the supreme moment to which the
delegates have been looking forward since
the opening of the session. There will
necessarily be number Of changes among
the pastors. Those who have not exhaust
ed the limit of their present charges may
hold over, but all others will be transfer
red to other fields of labor. Those who will
have to make change will prepare to
move Immediately upon their return home,
80 as to be comfortably ensconsed in their
new fields by the 1st of May.
This mornings meeting of the conference
was a busy one. The Valiant incident,
which has provoked much discussion ana
given that young gentleman much no
toriety. came up again. 1t viii be remem-
bered that Saturday last Mr.. Joseph F.
Valiant of Baltimore, ordained deacon
of the Methodist Protestant Church, was
admitted into full connection with the Bal
timore conference. Sunday evening he was
allowed to take ordination vows. MONDAY
morning his case was reconsidered by the
conference on the ground that the commit
tee recommending his admission thought he
was to be placed on one years trial. HIS
case was referred back to the committee on
admissions. This morning the committee
reported adversely, recommending that Mr..
Valiant be not admitted, with the proviso
that nothing in the resolution carrying the
report should be unfavorable to the young
mans being employed by a presiding elder
to do an assistants work.
The opening devotional exercises were
conducted by Rev. w. e. Henry.
The report of the committee on publish
ing interests was received. 1t recommend
ed that the Baltimore Christian Advocate
be published the next year by four young
Knott as editor-in-chief, and Revs. F. j.
Prettyman J. H. Light and w. 5. HAM
mond as assistants. The report was
adopted.
gave figures showing favorable condition
of church membership and property
throughout the various districts.
DR.. wightman's Request.
DIR. John T. Wightman addressed the
conference, asking to be placed on the
supernumerary list. DR.. Wightman de-
clared that for fifty years he had served
the church faithfully, never being absent
from his pulpit for a month. During his
pastorate he had spent a fortune, and had
never asked a board OF stewards lor sai.
ary Dr. Wightman was for some time
the pastor of Mount Vernon Place Church.
and is well known in this city He IS SAID
to have never failed In his duty. VISITING
infected hospitals he took the dying In ms
arms and comforted them. DIR. Wightman
said he coveted no mans dollar and he
did not ask nor would he receive com
pensation from the conference.
Dr. Armstrong. the conference secretary,
made an address. praising Dr. Wightman
in tie highest terms and recommending
that he be placed in surerannuated rela-
ton, rather than upon the supernumerary
list. Drs. Bush. Ferguson and Cox all
spoke elowingly of the venerable minister's
work for the church. His case was re-
ferred TO the committee on conference re-
lations with instructions to place DR..
Wightman on the suDerannuated list
A report from the Epworth League board
was read. The number of chapters of the
league in the conference is 2l3, and the
membership S.303. 1t was announced that
the conference Sunday School convention
and Epworth League rally will be held
some time during the coming summer at
Salem, Va.
On motion a subcommittee from the
board of missions was appointed for the
purpose of amending the charter Of the in
corporated board of finance. The object
of this Is to permit the finance board to
receive bequests and donation for mis-
sions and other church objects outside it's
present province
DIR. Cox read report from the board of
church extension, which was adopted. Rev.
Peter H. Whisner addressed the conference
on the subject Of the report.
Church in japan.
Bishop Wilson, who recently returned
from China and Japan, next spoke. He
said he wanted a fund to be used in pur-
chasing lot in Yawatahama, Japan, on
which it was proposed to erect a church.
The Japanese were willing to bear one
half the expense. Bishop Wilson called
for voluntary contributions stating that the
sum wanted was 1925. The amount was
secured in fifteen minutes.
Reports of a routine nature We're received
from the Woman's Home Missionary So
ciety, the committee on district conference
records and the committee on Bible cause
respectively. All were adopted.
Rev. James H. Boyd, presiding elder for
the Washington district, arose and de-
clared it was his painful duty to ask that
Rev. James S. Gardner be placed in super
annuated relation. He said Mr.. Gardner
was too modest to ask the favor for him
self. Rev. Mr.. Gardner has been in the
church service for forty-six years and is
still active in every movement connected
with Southern Methodism. DIR. Gardner
spoke of his own case. asking that the
board of conference relation be given lib
erty to do what 1t deemed best with him.
Dr Armstrong spoke 1eel1ngly or mis- long
connection with DR.. Gardner Tears welIed
in his eyes as he paid beautiful tribute
to the faithful minister. The case was re-
ferred to the board of relations, as re-
quested.
A report from the board of missions
showed that the funds collected for foreign
work aggregated $4,000; for domestic mis-
sions, 5000
A rising vote of thanks was extended the
MethodistS of Washington for the cordial
and hospitable entertainment of the con-
ference.
Approval of Cars Plans.
resolution was presented and passed
indorsing the peace plans of the Car of
Russia. The resolutions recited that as
servants of the Prince of Peace the Metho-
dist ministers commend the cars attitude
and movement, and hope the day is not
far distant when the sword will be beaten
into the plowshare, the spear made into
pruning hook.
The conference adjourned, after singing
the doxology, and met again for the final
meeting at 3 o'clock. Appropriate services
i'm oF tba