Evening star., 1899-04-05
MARYLAND CONFERENCE
seventy-6rst Annual Meeting Of the Meth
odist Protestant Body
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
CRISFIELD Nd, April 5.-The seventy
first annual meeting of the Maryland con-
ference of the Methodist Protestant Church
with which the churches of the denomina-
ton in the District of Columbia and Vir-
ginia are affiliated, began this morning in
the NJ. P. Church here. A mass meeting
for the furtherance of the temperance cause
was held last evening under the auspices
of the members of the conference.
After the usual devotional exercises al
today's session the president of the confer
ence read his report for the year just
ended, which was. in part, as follows:
ITO all it has been a year of toll and
trial To us, as a conference, it has beer
a year of progress. We were never
stronger, more hopeful and determined thar
are today. In the review of the years s
work you will find, / am confident, much
to inspire you with gratitude, courage and
hope"
After giving the list of deaths and ordi-
nations during the year. the report con-
tinues:
AT the adjournment of our last confer
ence six charges were left unsupplied, and
two that had asked to be supplied with
two pastors were only given one each.
Soon after the rise of conference Rev. E.
p. Perry was appointed to Evergreen Rev.
6. Edwin Brown to Georgetown circuit,
Rev. David l.. Johnson to Indian river,
Rev. J. H. Robinson to Marley, Rev. w. S.
Sims to Patapsco. Rev. w NJ. Jett to
Vic etsville Rev. E. H. Jones to Williams
port and Rev. w. ]. Glen to Jones' Memo
rial. ReIair was left without an assist
ant pastor until November l. when Rev.
Charles Compiler was appointed. In the
meantime Mr.. Tredway secured assistance
by which the pulpit was kept supplied. l
was not able to supply Heathsville with
an assistant pastor, and the entire work
on that charge has been done by Rev. c.
S. Arnett. Bethel Church, Delaware, has
not been supplied. IL Il
Encouraging Results.
I'VE have met with encouraging results
in our efforts to build and improve churches
and parsonages. The new churches at Sea-
fnrd, Denton. Eldorado and Hebron have
been completed. A new church has been
built at Leemont on Accomac charge; also
one on Bethel charge. New churches are
being built on Georgetown circuit, Mar
II ers. Harpers Ferry! Finksburg and
Cumberland is approaching completion.
West Baltimore and Broadway churches
have been handsomely improved. Lynch
burg Church has been improved to the ex-
tent of making It practically a new church.
Many more churches and nd1parsonages stand
In evidence of this spirit of Improvement.
j. A. Crane has given further evidence of
his liberality in the gift of fine parsonage
"A great deal of new furniture has been
put in parsonages adding very much to the
comfort of our pastors and their families.
Our people at North Carolina avenue
Washington. have met with unexpected and
very serious difficulties in the erection of
their new church. Their condition Is SO
emba rraSsng that they must have assist
ance in order to succeed. That all the facts
might be presented to this conference l
have appointed special committee, con-
sisting of DR.. 7. H. Lewis, Rev. w. NJ. Poi
sal, Daniel Baker and j. N. Warfield, to in
vestgate the whole situation, and see
whether there is any way of giving them
sufficient help. That committee has done
it's work, and Is ready to report to this
ct inference.
Matter of Vacations.
II fear there is a growing tendency to
overestimate' the necessity of a summer va
cation for the pastor and underestimate the
injury that may come to the church there
by. If pastors on circuits must have rest
during the year, think it would be better
for the church if they would take it during
the fnciement weather of the winter. More
attention is being given to bringing the
chiidren and young people into the church
by evangelistc services held in connection
with the regular services.
That all our general interests may have
due consideration, some changes in the
order of conference business are necessary.
When the Superannuated Fund and Church
ference was engaged in no other general
work. Now we have other general interests
OF equal Importance. Place should be made
for their due consideration. Our educa-
tonal work should have more considerati ton.
The Methodist Protestant obtains the great
er part of its subscribers within the bounds
of our conference, and must depend upon
us mainly for support. The same Is true of
our book concern. Under the present ar
rangement their reports are not seriously
considered. Sometimes
sideration is almost crowded out by the
press of other business
Among the recommendations made are:
Il recommend the employment of con-
ference evangelist and the appointment of
committee on evangelistic work be dis
continued.
Il recommend that we discontinue the
observance of the anniversaries of our
superannuated Fund and Church Exten-
sion societies, ard that We discontinue dur
ing our conference sessions all collections
Tor these interests except the collection of
annual membership dues.
p i recommend that in case of the death
OF any member of this conference, the order
of the day for Thursday at II O'Clock, shall
be the report of the committee on obitu-
aries.
Il recommend that a meeting in the in
IGfest or literature. and education be held
thursday evening.
II recommend that a meeting in the in
terest of missions be held Friday evening.
recommend that Aeeting in the in
terest OF ministerial support be held Mon
day evening. 80
Il recommend that the, president of the
conference, as soon after. the rise Of con-
terence as practicable, appoint q chairman
TOT each OF these meetings, who shall make
all arrangements for and preside at them
How To Find Out.
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