The evening times., 1900-02-03

The local congregations of the NJ E.
Church and the N. E, shurch South are
already beginning preparations for two
| big conferences to be held in this city
early in April The Baltimore conferences
of both churches will be held in this city
| beginning the first week in April, and will
continue several days. This is the first
time that the two conferences have been
held here at the same time. The confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church
will be held at the Metropolitan N. E.
Church, Four and half and streets
northwest. and win be presided over by
Bishop Holden. II will be the lI5th an
nual session.
The meetings are expected to be more
than usually interesting as the terms of
three presiding elders expire with the
opening of the conference. besides which
there has eben presented to the conference
since its meeting last year church prop
erty aggregating between $4,000 and $40
0G0 in value. The donations we're from
Rev. W. l.. Bruen, Of this city and com
prised the furnished church building on
Eleventh Street southeast and 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 return
before the conference assemblies but spe-
cial mention will IL is understood, be made
of his libeTality. and ii goes without saying
that he viii be given a vote of thanks.
His generosity Will. il is stated enable the
people of the Twelfth Street Church who
now worship in the new ediiice to own d
parsonage for the use of their pastor
The outgoing presiding elders are Rev.
DIR. L. b. Wilson. OF Washington district;
Rev. ". :. Edwards OF East Baltimore
district. and Rev. ". NJ. Ferguson. Of Bal
timOre district. Each OF those named has
served for the full term of six years aud
cannot. under the Law Of the church. be
reappointed although he can in the Judg-
ment Of the presiding bishop, be trans
ferFed
In the case OF Dr. Wilson it is stated
that he has not only done much for the
upbuilding of he district which has been
under MS charge since lS95 but in addi-
tion. since the beginning of the illness of
Rev. Or. Stricken, pastor of HamIine
Church. corner of Ninth and z Streets
northwest several months ago he mas at
tended to the pastoral duties of the sick
minister. Dr. Stricken is now at a South
ern health resort and is not expected 40
return home before the opening OF the
conference. to which period he has been
granted leave of absence by his congrega-
ton.
Under the rule Of the church, which.
however. is not interchangeable. the location
If each member Of the conference for the
ensuing conference year being a matter
wholly within the province of the presid
ing bishop. and from which decision there
is no appeal there would be bur Cne
change in the pastOrates in Washington
that Of Rev. 4. Belaski AT Union. Twen-
tieth Street near Pennsylvania Avenue
northwest
Among the reports which will be Land
before the conference will be those show
ing that in Washington district the NJ +.
Church has in the neighborhood of 1000 |
members; Baltimore district. about 10 600:
East Baltimore district. nearly IL 1000-
Frederick district about $500. and West
Baltimore district about ~. 800 members |
The total number OF Sunday schools in the !
FIVE districts is about 425. and these have |
about 800 officers and teachers. with near |
ly or quite 81 900 scholars. The estimated |
present value Of the church property. ex-
elusive of pafsonages. in Washington dis |
trict is about 81 900 GOO in Baltimore dis |
triet nearly 81, 100, ,0o0; East Baltimore dis !
trict about S630 zoe; Frederick about $3.50 |
geo and in West Baltimore district nearly |
s625 600 There are upon the conference |
rolls the names of more than 200 preachers |
including these who are on the superannu- |
ated lists and those in the active ministry |
preside over 1872 charges.
There is in the senior EpwOrth Leagues |
an aggregate Of 225 local chapters with |
more than 15,000 members. and in the
Junior Leagues about 1l0 chapters and |
more than 5.200 members.
The annual conference of the Southern |
Methodist Church. which is the 1l6th ses-
sion of the body will be held in Mount |
Vernon Place Church. Rev. j. ". Duffey. /
pastor corner of Ninth and X Streets.
northwest. Bishop Gambler of Georgia |
one of the youngest bishops in the denom-
ination will preside. There will be but
one change so far as at present anticipated
among the presiding elders and this
only because of expiration of term of ser
vce-Rev j. ID. Martin. OF Lewisburg dis
rict. who has occupied the office for four
years The other districts in the confer
nee are: Baltimore. Rev. j. A. Anderson. |
presiding elder; East Baltimore Rev. Dr..
saac w Canter. presiding elder: Washing
on. Rev. j. H. Boyd presiding elder;
Winchester, Rev. B. W Bond. presiding ell
Ter: Rockingham Rev J. E. Armstrong
presiding elder: Roanoke Rev. D. Bush
Presiding elder and Moorefeld Rev. B. f.
BALL presiding elder.
As in the Methodist Episcopal confer
nee the presiding bishop has the authOri-
y to assign any minister in the confer
nee To such church as he may deem best |
or the pastor and people. and changes may
'ccur when the appointments are made Up
Turing the conference which are entirely
lnloOqed for at this time.
One of the most important reports to be
presented it is said, will be that of the
Executive board for the conference Of the
wentieth century thanksgiving Offering
he board is composed of Rev. l. W. Can
er of Baltimore, Rev. J. W. Duffey of
Washington, and Mr.. George r. Hill of
alexandria. 1t was appointed at the meet,
ng of conference last year to superintend
he collection of $62 500 toward the offer
ng above mentioned, and, as stated. that
here might be an active directing force
etween he sessions of the board of edu-
alton, which had special charge Of the
lovement.
aiken during the \conference to render
the bequest of the late Miss Me-
ssa Baker of Baltimore, who willed a
lrge and valuable property to the Wo-
1ans Home Missionary Society of the
difference on condition that the latter
8ise a few thousands of dollars to assist
4 some missionary work in which both
Iiss Baker and the society were interest
L. The conference has nearly $50 preach
RS in the active ministry, nearly 80 local
minister's about 50 900 members nearly | \
90 Epworth Leagues. with almost 5000
lembers; about 600 Sunday schools, with
early 5000 officers and teachers, and 4
early 42 900 scholars.