Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-20
N THE CHURCH ES

1t Is the general opinion in Methodist
circles in this city that the delegates who
Will represent Washington at the general
conference of the denomination, which is
to be held in Chicago in May next, will
have opportunities to discuss some of the
most important questions ever brought be-
fore what is known as the highest body in
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
1t is understood that an earnest effort
will be made to change the organic law of
the church, so that in future bishops will
be elected for a term of years instead of
for life-the rule ever since the assembling
OF the first quadrennial conference, nearly
one hundred years ago.
The laymen of the church will also il is
expected, have much to say in the next
general conference Heretofore there has
been an impression in some quarters that
lay men have been in more than an arith-
metrical minority. Regarding this, promi-
nent minister said: Even in moral and re-
liglouS affairs it is not stimulating to know
that any class or assortment or aggregation
OF men can be outvoted Summarily, when
ever an issue arises wherein Christian men
may find themselves in healthful and right
competition with other men 1t is well to
remember that there never has been in the
Methodist Episcopal governing body any
collision between the ministers and laymen
which has not had its parallel in amicable
contests between exclusive ministerial con-
cal element in the general conference could
be similarly outvoted by laymen, one may
be sure that the former would have
promptly and vigorously organized an
have done the same in justice to themselves
should not excite the least of wonder or
adverse criticism
Rev. DR.. S. NJ. Newman, pastor of the
First Congregational Church, Washington,
was in Baltimore this week by special invi-
tation at conference called for the pur-
pose OF deciding what was best to be done
in the case of the principal Congregational
Church in the last named city, the death of
several leading contributors having placed
it in position where it had become nom
supporting. The determination was reached
at the council to accept the invitation of the
Associate Reformed Church to consolidate
with it. The first suggestion to bring the
two churches together was made several
years ago. when the late Rev. Wayland D.
Ball was pastor of the Associate Reformed
and the late Rev. DR.. E. A. Lawrence pas
tor of the First Congregational Church, but
the matter was dropped without being pre-
scented to the two bodies. About two years
ago it was suggested again by individual
members of the two congregations, but no
action was takea because of the existence
of a debt on the Associate Reformed
Church.
When DIR. Ballartine resigned the pastor
ate OF the First Congregational Church last
June, tie matter was proposed again, and
committee from the Associate Reformed
Church was appointed to prepare plans
upon which consolidation could be effected.
The plans thus prepared by the joint COM
mittees of the two churches We're submit
ted to a meeting of the congregation of the
First Congregational Church, held October
%. when consolidation was rejected.
Two weeks ago the matter was again re-
vived, at the instance of the board of trus-
tees of the First Congregational Church,
who recommended that the council, which
met this week, be called to advise the
n : IN of
The First Congregational Church was or
ganized in 1852 and the other in 1897. The
latter was affiliated at first with the Pres
byterian church, but withdrew in 1925
Since then it has maintained an independ-
ent organization.
1t is expected that quite number of Luz
therans of this city will go to Baltimore
Monday next to attend the Tooth anniver-
sary of the birth of Theodore Fliedner, re-
storer of the Apostolic Order of Deacon
esses The organization which will have
the exercises in charge is officially repre-
scented in Washington by Mr.. Cornelius
Eckhardt who is a member of the deacon
ess board. The first deaconess mother
house was opened at KaiSerworth October
is, 1886, by Theodore Fliedner January /,
1900, there were eighty-five mother houses
kaiserworth type, with 1900 at work in
$500 places in every quarter of the earth.
The Baltimore mother house, in which the
Lutherans of this vicinity are especially in
terested numbers twenty-seven deaconess
pfObatlOnerS ana canuluateS. Mother houses
in the conference of American Lutherans
are located in Baltimore, Brooklyn Cci-
cago Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Omaha and
Philadelphia
Rev. DR.. NJ d. Babcock who was re-
Gently called to the pastorate of the Brick
Church, New York, has formally severed
his connection with the Baltimore synod,
of which the Presbyterian churches in the
District of Columbia form a part, and will
soon remove his family to his new field of
labor The meeting at which the pastoral
ties were severed was held at Westminster
Md, and a letter received in this city
speaking of the proceedings at the meet
ing. says:
1.-The severance of official ties was not ac-
complished as easily the members of the
presbytery imagined Nearly every other
preacher present had come with rebellion in
his heart, and the ever-rising question,
What right has the New York presbytery
to take our foremost preacher? After an
hour or two of reasoning together. how
ever. they concluded to let the pastor go.
Several strong opposition speeches were
made. and one divine raised the point that
the whole procedure could not be anything
but unconstitutional. Through it all DIR.
Babcock behaved as bashfully as a newly