The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-24

ninth session of the Wyoming
annual conference. This will be
session of great Importance in that
delegates are to be elected to the gem
eral conference which convenes one
I'm four years-which meets this ye'f
in the city of chicago and consumes
the entire month of May in delibera-
tions and law-making for the govern
ment of the church generally. The
delegates are of two classes-clerlcdi
and lay. Previous to 1872 all delegates
to the general conference were clergy
men. but in the year stated laymcn
were admitted, two for each confe"-
ence. except such conferences as couir
onfy send one clergyman, then san
conference was entitled to but one lay
man. The annual conferences are en-
titled to one ministerial delegate for
every forty-five members. The Wyom-
ing conference has a ministerial MEM
bership dncuding probationary of 25c,
thus emitting her to two delegates.
Two laymen are to be elected and three
provisional. with the expectation that
there will be equal ministerial and lay
representation.
During the past year there have been
seven deaths in the conference ranks
as follows: Almus ID. Alexander,
Philip Bartlett, Joseph Hartwell. j. w.
Hewitt. ]. X. Peck, James Scholield.
j. II. Weston. Only one of the above
was in active work. namely. James
Schofied, who was pastor at camp
town, Pa. the others being among the
honored superanuates.
There will be some changes in the
pastorates this year growing out of
time limitations. The following have
served their respective churches the
full pastoral term of five years: a. w.
Cooper, Hawley. Pa; S. c. Simpkins,
Peckvile, Pa: NJ. d. Fuller, Owego.
n. Y: $. B. keeney, Windham. Pa;
G. r. Henry. Anderson, Pa; William
Edgar. Providence church, Scranton
ra.: Wilson Treble, Wyoming. Pa.
OF the above two are in the Homes
dale district, two in the Owego dis
trict and three in the Wyoming. 1t is
rather singular that in neither the
Bnghamton, Chenango or Oneonta dis
tricts are there any five-year men. and
only seven in the entire conference.
Last year there were nine five-year
men and. judging by conference fig
ures, 70 furnish the nine with proper
places it necessitated 1903 pastoral
changes, so that on the basis of last
year in order that the seven must be
cared for. seventy-eight changes might
be made. There are go pastoral
changes out of which five are marked
ITO be supplied" leaving 2l5 marked
with time of service. Here is how it
Is: 103 -year-men. SO two-year men,
30 three-year men, II four-year men,
five-year men. The extension of the
time limit to five years has not length
ened the time of pastoral service. for
according to the figures as thus given
the average pastorate is a fraction IN
der two years.
One of the plans which will be
warmly discussed in the coming con
ference is that proposed by Rev. j. F.
Warner, presiding elder of the Homes
dale district. who desires to have this
city annexed to that division under the
name of the Scranton district. That
his proposition will meet with much
opposition is certain.
An unusual situation will confront
the bishop and his cabinet this year
in the fact that contrary to custom the
supply of ministers Is far in excess o.
the dem Ed. The number of young
men who ask admission to the con-
ference from theological semnaries is
being greatly increased. The following
is the programme to be observed a the
conference in April:
Tuesday evening. April 17-Temper.
ance anniversary, Hon. j. G. Wooley
speaker.
Wednesday morning Sacramento
service, conducted by Bishop Foss; II
a. nl., business session, election of Off
% N
m.. statistical session, missionary ser
mon. Rev. II. b. Benedict, Montrose
7.30 p. m, missionary anniversary.
Thursday-S.30 a. m, devotional ser
vice; a. m., business session. 2 p. m.
Wyoming Conference Historical soci
ETY.: 7.30 p. m, Freedmen's Aid ant
Southern Educational society. Rev. d
j. H. Race. of Chattanooga.
Friday-S.30 a. M. devotional service
a. M, business session.: 10 a. M, bal
loting for delegates to general confer
ence; p. m. Womans Home Mission
ary society anniversary. Mrs. w. II
Pearce, presiding; election of lay dele
gates to general conference: 7.30 p. m.
anniversary board of educat ton. Rev
DR.. l.. L. Sprague, DR.. Raymond. DR.
Day, DR.: Butts, Dr. Goucher.
Saturdays a. M. devotional ant
Foreign Missionary society anniver
sary, Mrs. NJ. S. Hard, presiding; 7.3
p. m, Preachers Aid society anniver
sary, Veteran Grand Army of the Re
public association.
Sunday-9 a. m, Love Feast: 1890 a
M. sermon, Bishop Foss; ordinate o
deacons; p. m, memorial service ant
ordination of elders. Sunday evening
great Epworth league rally. address b,
Rev. Dr. c. NJ. Gifiin.
Monday-9 a. M, business session;
p. M, conclusion Of conference, bust
ness reading of appointments.
An unusual feature of the conferenc,
Is the calling together of the cabine
by the bishop on Tuesday morning o
conference week, indicating that ther,
will be rush of proceedings. Grea
interest centers in the session, as tn,
balloting for delegates to general con
ference will consume much attention
Many friends and admirers of Rev
R. +. Y. Pierce both In his congrega
tion and outside will offer felicitation
because of the announcement tina
Temple college, Philadelphia wshe
to bestow upon him the degree O
doctor of divinity. This honor whicl
has been pressed upon the popula
pastor of the Penn Avenue Baptis
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