Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-27
Methodist Annual Conferences to
Meet in This City.
BOTH TO ASSEMBLE In APRIL NEXT
Probable Changes in Each and
Questions to Be Considered. ..
STATISTICAL EXHIBITS

For the first time in the history of the
two bodies the Baltimore conference of the
NJ. E. Church and the Baltimore confer
ence of the NJ. f. Church South will meet
this year at the same time in Washington.
The one hundred and fifteenth annual ses-
sion Of the Methodist Episcopal Church will
begin April at Metropolitan Church. cor
ner Of AZ and c streets northwest, Rev.
DR.. Bristol, pastor. Bishop Halden. who
has just returned from visit to Europe,
where he presided at the meetings of the
second conferences under the care of the
denomination In this country. will preside.
The meetings are expected to be more
than usually interesting, as the terms of
three presiding elders expire with the open
ing of the conference, besides which there
has been presented to the conference, since
its meeting last year. church property ag-
value. The donations We're from Rev. w.
L. Bruen Of this city, and comprised the
furnished church building on 18th street
southeast, as published in The Star, and a
smaller and less costly structure on the
south side of the Anacostia river, near the
suburb of that name. Mr.. Bruen Is absent
from Washington and is not expected to re-
turn before conference assemblies: but spe-
cfai mention Will. 1t Is understood. be made
concerning his liberality, and it goes with
out saying that he will be given vote of
thanks. His generosity will, it is stated,
enable the people of the Twelfth Street
church. who row worship In the new edi-
flee, to own parsonage for the use of
their pastor
Outgoing Elders.
The outgoing presiding elders are Rev
DIR. l.. b. Wilson of Washington district,
Rev. W. s. Edwards of East Baltimore dis
trfct and Rev. ". NJ. Ferguson of Balti-
more district. Each Of those named has
served for the full term of six years and
cannot, under the law Of the church, be
reappointed, although he can, in the judg-
rnent OF the presiding bishop. be trans
ferred. In the case of DR.. Wilson 1t is
stated that he has not only done much for
the upbuilding of the district. which has
been under his charge since 1895. but in
addition, since the beginning of the illness
OF Rev. DIR. Stricken pastor of Hamline
Church. corner of 9th and p streets north
west, several months ago, he has attended
TO the pastoral duties of the sick minister.
DIR. Stricken is now at q southern health
resort and is not expected to return home
before the opening of the conference, to
which period he has been granted leave of
absence by his congregation.
Under the rule of the church. which. how
ever. is not Interchangeable, the location OF
each member of the conference for the en-
suing conference year being a matter
wholly within the province of the presiding
bShop, anu from wnth decision thefe is
no appeal, there would be but one change
in the pastorates in WaShington-that OF
Rev. A. Bielaski at Union, Goth street near
Pennsylvania avenue northwest. In the
Baltimore district Rev. William Sheers,
pastor of Patterson Memorial. will be sent
to a new charge for the same reason that
prevails in the case of Mr. Bielaski. and in
the East Baltimore district Rev. w. f. Bird
of Havre de Grace Will also be assigned
elsewhere.
The fact that three presiding elders will
vacate their present positions may necessi-
tate many transfers of ministers who will
not have served the number of years a
preacher may remain at one charge
Revs. Wilson, Edwards and Ferguson are
among the conference leaders and rank
with the ablest men in the body, and II
each of them Is not transferred to another
district as presiding elder for another term
he is almost certain, it Is believed, to be
appointed to the passionate of one or the
best churches within the bounds of the
conference.
Ministers and Laymen.
The position of the members of the con
ference on the absorbing question of equa
| ministerial and lay representation in future
general conferences of the church, begin
ming with that to be held in Chicago ir
May, is that the lay delegates in the higher
| body shall consist of one layman for each
annual conference except where the con.
gate, In which case each will be entitled
| to as many lay delegates as it has Of min
isterial delegates; also that the general con
ference shall not allow more than one min
| isterial representative for every fourteen
| members of annual conference, nor les:
number than one for every forty-fve; mol
more lay delegates from any annual con
ference than there are ministerial dele
gates from such annual conference. pro
vided that when there shall be in any an
nual conference a fraction OF tWo-thirdS the
number which shall be fixed for the ratio Of
| representation, such annual conference
shall be entitled to an additional delegate
| for such fraction: also, that no conference
| shall be denied the privilege of one minis
| terial and of one lay delegate.
| Among the reports which will be laid be
fore the conference will be those showing
| that in Washington district the NJ ~
Church has in the neighborhood or 3,o0'
| members; Baltimore district about lOOOO
| East Baltimore district. nearly II 600; Fred
| erick district, about $500, and West Balti
| more district, about 1O5o0 members Ih
| total number of Sunday schools in the fiv'
| districts Is about 423, and these have abou
1900 officers and teachers, with nearly o.
| quite SIS, 900 scholars. The estimated pres
| ent value Of the church property, exclusive
| of parsonages. in Washington district Il
| about 81, 100000: in Baltimore district near
| " ST. 10000: East Baltimore district abou
| $500, 200: Frederick about $3GO,OOO and II
West Baltimore district nearly SG25 900
|
/ names of more than 200 preachers, includ
| ing those who are on the superannuatet
\ lists, and those in the active ministry pre-
| side over 1872 charges,
| There Is in the senior Epworth League
| an aggregate of 225 local chapters will
| more than 1900 members, and in the Jul
| Nor Leagues about 40 chapters and more
| than 500 members.
| The Southern MethOdlsts.
| The annual conference of the Southern
Methodist Church, which is the 116th SEES
| sion of she body, will be held. also begin
i ming April f. in Mount Vernon Place
| Church, Rev. j. W. Duffey. pastor, corne
| of 9th and X streets northwest, Bishop
Gambler Of Georgia, one of the younges
bishops in the denomination, Will preside
There will be but one change. so far as a
present anticipated, among the presiding
| elders, and this only because of expiration
of term OF service-Rev. j. D. Martin o
| Lewisburg district. who has occupied tn,
office for four years. The other districts IL
| the conference are: Baltimore, Rev. ].
| Anderson. presiding elder; East Baltimore
Rev DR.. Isaac W. Canter, presiding elder
| Washington. Rev. j. H. Boyd, presiding
| elder: Winchester. Rev. b. W. Bond, pre-
| siding elder: Rockingham, Rev. ]. E. Arm