The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-03-22

Rev. benjamin. T. Price. oldest
member Of the Conference. Enter
ed ministry in 1885.
With the election of delegates to
the General Conference only Il dav
distant. the friends of the men who
are now avoweGiy candidates. are
displaying increased activity in be.
half oi their favorltes and prior to
the opening of this mornings ses--
sion OF the Conference, considerable
missionary work was done among
them.
While it is conceded that Rev.
Robert Watt will certainly be a
member of the delegation, and will.
in all probability lead it, there is
no one, no matter how iamiuar he
may be with the views or sentiments,
Of the members of the Cont .rcncc,
who can pretend to predict, with
any arproar hing certainty. who his
associates "n the delegation will
be. and from present Indications it
locks very much like an even race
between all other candidates.
Among 4 good many persons be-
liet prevails that DR.. Watts broth
cr presiding elder, Dr. Martindaic.
will be the second man elected, but
Developments Of the past few days
appear TO have made his selection
by no means certain. There is a
sentiment, which, fortunately, is not
widespread at this time, that it will
be wiser for the presiding elders TO
remain at home this year and give
other members OF the body. men
who are at least the intellectual
equals Of the presiding elders, an
opportunity to participate in the
deliberations of the General Con-
ference, and this feeling may make
itselt manifest at tomorrow S elcc-
tion.
The interest in that election, how
ever, is not confined to the minister
ial members of the Conference, but
is manifested in even a more mark
cd degree among the lalty, and the
meeting of the Lay Electoral
Conference to night is likely to lie
largely attended. For the first
time in The history of the church,
The laymen will elect the same
number OF delegates as the minis
tcrs. and this fact has naturally
heightened interest III the result.
and Increased the rivalry among
those who aspire to be placed upon
the delegation. Among those who
seem certain of election, are Sam
uel II. Baynard, of this tity, and
Congressman John II. IIoiiccker, Of
Smyrna, Among the men who are
most likely 10 accompany them to
Chicago next month, are George w.
Todd, William II. Finn, y. n. Raw
Inns, II. II. Mediord, J. T.. Holland,
William salisbury and l.. 4. p.
Dennis.
BACK TO BUSINESS.
Devotion al services, lasting for
half an hour, and led by Rev. II. p.
Harris, of Scott Church. preceded
tho business session this morning.
At the close Bishop Andrews called
Conference TO order and the bust.
ness OF the day was entered upon.
Vaughn S. Collins. {. p. Collins
and K, II. Collins were app ointcd a
committee tonominatc four trustees
of the Conference Academy at Do
YER.
The roll o! supcrnumcraries was
next called and their characters
passed. They we're: J. W. Poolct
r. II, Rawins, ]. d. Rigg, A. n.
Scott, ]. o. Syphcrd, ]. Il. Todd, G.
w. Wilcox Their relations were
continued.
The relation OF W. NJ. Warner
was changed from supcrnumeratc
to supcrannuatc. W. ". Redmond
a supcrannuate, asked that his re.
lation be changed to an active rcla.
ton. His claim was referred to
the Board of Stewards and the al
committee on Conference Relations.
lie has been in the ministry since
1858.
The relations OF James Carroll, |
Edward Davis, James Esgatc, J.
W. Hammerslcy, {. J. llammitt, &.
A. phocbus, y. T.. Price, W. F.
Talbot, W. T., Tompkinson, +. O.
Il, Wallcn, as supcrannuatcs were
Henry Sandcrson. r. S. Williams !
and W. E. England were reported
deceased. Immediately after, Mr..
Price, the oldest member OF the
Conference, asked that his re lations
be continued. Presiding Elder
Watt, Rey. II. f. Terry and Rev.
+. B. Short, delivered brief eulo.
,ies in honor of the nestor of the
Conference.
AS a special order the report OF
he trustccso Of the Conference Acad-
my at Bower, was called for at 10