Evening journal., 1901-03-26
Sessions S Business Conducted
With Dignity andliSpatch
DIR. GRISE GOES TO EASTON
Grace Church Crowded at The Closing
Session Of Wilmington N, I.
Conference

NVhiNhNHNO
Never in the history of VIII
mington NJ e. Conference has
there been held more sue
cetssful and harmonious session
than was the one which ended its
deliberations last evening in Grace NJ
E. Church. There was no halt in tine
proceedings and from its beginning
last Wednesday morning until the
close of the session. the business Of the
body was conducted with thoroughness
and dispatch.
Bishop Goodsell, who presided,
proved himself to be an officer and
counsellor of no smaR ability. He
conducted the session in accordance
with the rules governing the same, and
with as little apparent effort OF con-
fusion as if he were in his own home,
instead of being among total strangers.
His rulings were just and impartial,
and the spirit of Christian forbearance
and love was apparent in his every
action. while at the same time he main
tanned a dignity that commanded the
greatest respect. The opinion has
been expressed by many that Bishop
Goodsell is the most competent presid-
ing officer who ever has occupied the
chair.
Grace Church was filled to overflow
ing again last evening to see the last
of the session. but more especially to
hear the appointments read.
There was great excitement over the
proposed changes yesterday, and al
though the bishop and his cabiret had
the appointment list made there was
SO much dissatisfaction that n special
meeting of the cabinet was held to re-
adjust the mutilated list.
REPORT OF STATISTICAL SECRE-
TARY.
The Rev w. r. Mowbray, the statis-
tical secretary. yesterday afternoon
presented the following report of the
conference:
Probationers, 4,O63, a decrease OF l.
766; full members, 37,737, an increase
of $40; local preachers, 124; Sunday
schools. 1896; Officers and teachers, s.
9O2; scholars, 44,155; churches, 394;
probable value of churches, $1,b17 500;
conversions, 1929, an increase of 292;
salaries Of pastors, 1921 .527, an increase
of S640; house rent Of pastors, Sz0,S73,
an increase of IS; total pastors sup
port s141 300.
The following Visiting Committees
we're appointed: Boston University, A.
| c. Wiley, 7. A. H. O'Brien; Drew
Seminary, J. W Easley, w. j. Duhad-
away, T. c. SmoOt; Dickinson College,
+. J. Cochran. c. S. Baker, s. y. Pill
chard. WOmau's College, L. e Barrett,
r. X. Stephenson, E. c. McNiohol j.
II. Adlms.
FINAL SESSION OF CONFERENCE.
There was TO confusion during the
closing hours of the last session. and
the big congT egdtiOn remained to the
conclusion of the service to hear the
appointments read by Bishop Good
sell. The changes were more sweeping
than was expected, but they wers ac-
cepted without comment. Prior to
reading the list the bishop made a
short address in reference TO the pro-
4 posed changes.
He said he never had attended con-
ference where he had so much assist
anee in making his appointments. 1t
was no exaggeratiOn for him to say he
had at least 200 callers, and ne mad
seen everyone who had called on him.
TO show how accurate the presiding
elders have been in their statements to
me" said the bishop, Il will say that
only in two cases has information
come to me in which did not get the
same information from the presiding
elders. ! don't know OF any human
system that can work better than
that"
The bishop said many pathetic cases
had come to his attention, and fire.
quently he had not only two or three
charges wanting the same man, but the
place where he was located was insist
ling on his return.
1T has not been my habit to change
appointments" continued the bishop
Fl have never said would not but
do say recalling the experience Of the
past year that It would have been bef.
ter had every man gone to the place II
which he was appointed, and thereb,
have caused less trouble and less fric
riOn in the work. Nowhere has a mar
been changed for the sake OF making
change"
CONFERENCE TREASURER'S RE
PORT.
The report of Treasurer II. G.. Buit
s shows the contributions during yea
# s37 .557. with vouchers enough to bring
he amount up to s44.921. The contri
buttons were as follows:
M Wilmington district-MissiOnary 50
| iety, $7.535; Church Extension Society
5O3; Sunday School Union. s112: rrac
I 81 Society. $107; Free0men's Aid ant
# southern Education Society, $3.50; Pub
ic Educational Conference Academy