Evening star., 1901-04-01
PLEASANT REUNION
Pennsylvania Conference Guest Of
the Baltimore Body.
MANY PLEASING "REMINISCENCES
Old CIergymen Tell of Early Days
Of Methodism.
THE PROGRAM FOR TO-DAY

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
HAGERSTOWN, Md, April l.-St PauTs
Methodist Episcopal Church, this city
where the Baltimore annual conference Is
In session, is a large and commodious
structure, but 1t was taxed 30 its utmost
today when the reunion of the Baltimore
| end central Pennsylvania conferences was
held within its wallis.
Two hundred and sixty ministers of the
central PENNSYLVANIA conference, which is
meeting this year at Chambersburg, Pa.
came to Haserstowl this morning on a
special train, over the Cumberland Valley
railroad, arriving here at 9:45 o'clock.
They were met at the station by spe
cial committee consisting of Bishop Bow
| man, chairman: s. A. Wilson, J. II. Mar
shal, ]. r. Wheeler. ]. Edward Amos and
]. A Price, and escorted to the church.
Bishop Cranston. who is presiding at the
sided at the forenoon session Of the re-
union exercise. These services opened with
the singing of the hymn. II Love Thy
Kingdom. Lord" followed by prayer by
Rev. DR.. D. S. Monroe secretary of the
central conference, and for the past
twenty-four years the secretary of the gem
eral conference,
Bishop Cranston in his address of well
come, spoke feelingly of the reunion which
had been made possible by reason of the
two conferences Meeting in cities but twen-
ty-two miles apart.
Address by Bishop Foss.
Bishop Cyrus D. Foss. who is presiding
over the central conference, was intro
duced. He spoke at length on the rapid
growth of Methodism, and said the church
was marching on magnificently. He SUBJ
mitted statistics showing the rapid increase
In mo har h Nm, In $to
and believed the present year would show
total increase of 10000 in the whole
Methodist Church.
He spoke of the Baltimore conference as
the mother of the central conference. On
this point however, Bishop Cranston said
there was difference of opinion many of
the ministers believing 1t to be case of
grandmother But whether child or grand
children, he heartily welcomed the visiting
brethren. Addresses were then made by
some half dozen ministers, all of whom
were members of the old Baltimore confer
ence, which formerly embraced the church.
es now included in the central conference.
All of the addresses were largely historical
DR.. s. A. Wilson Of Baltimore told of the
big territory embraced in the old Balti-
more conference. He said Methodism was
advancing with banners uplifted to the
breeZes of heaven and read statistics to
show its rapid advancement throughout
the country. He referred to the personnel
OF the old Baltimore conference, saying
IHdHy VI lueIU were porn leaders. Dr, WILL
son closed with a glowing tribute to the
venerable DR.. John Lanahan Of Baltimore,
now over eighty years old.
DIR. Lanahan Responds.
DIR. Lanahan was compelled to respond
upon reaching the speakers stand and
heard his funeral Grafton from the lips of
DIR. Wilson. In the course of his remarks
DIR. Lanahan said he felt a serious blow
had been given to the best interests of the
church when the general conference re-
moved the time limit. and that another
serious blow would be dealt if the new
constitution were adopted. He closed by
relating his experience In holding camp
meeting at Hancock. this county, sixty-one
years ago. His salary at that time was
500 q year.
Dr. B. H. Hamlin of the central confer
ence in a graphic manner told of the
many changes that had occurred since the
last reunion Of these two conferences
twenty-eight years ago, in Chambersburg.
Pa.
DR.. W. H. Chapman Of Washington said
there survived only sixty-one members Of
the former Baltimore conference, and then
briefly touched on the strong personalities
OF number of the leading spirits of these
early days.
DR.. Samuel Creighton. central conference,
said he Joined the Baltimore conference in
| 1854. his first assignment being the Har-
ford circuit. He described his early I'M
pressions Of the conference.
Another session of the reunion exercises
was held this afternoon, Bishop Foss pre-
siding. The visiting ministers were enter
tanned at luncheon by the Baltimore confer
ence in Chapel Hall.
Work of the Business Session.
At the business meeting Of the confer
| ence today Secretary W. w. Barnes of the
board OF stewards read a revised report.
in which all former allowances were
scaled. He explained this was made neces-
| sary by reason Of the increased demands
Of the board and the decrease in collec-
tions The total receipts for distribution
were $l1 $50. or this amount $500 has been
apportioned to superannuated, about the
same amount to the widows fund and the
balance to the supernumerary fund.
DR.. A. H. Ames, president Of the Train
ing School for Deaconesses In Washington.
delivered q ten-mtnute address in the in
| terest Of that institution.
Conference Love Feast.
Conference love feast was celebrated Sun
! day morning at o'clock. Bishop Thomas
| Bowman. the senior bishop Of the Metho-
| dist Episcopal Church. being in charge.
He was assisted by DR.. Lucien Clark, pre-
siding elder OF the Washington district,
and others. At 1890 o'clock Bishop Grams
| ton preached. The most interesting sery-
| Ices of the day were held at o'clock In
| the afternoon, when elders and deacons'
oiucIh WcIc COiiIeTTeu On ten CdnQlQatSS.
At these services Bishop Cranston was as
sisted by Bishop Bowman, Presiding En-
ders Lucien Clark C. W. Baldwin, H. g.
| France G. H. Richardson, W. I. McKenney
and others Orders were conferred as fol-
| lows:
Observation-Disclosures W. Meeks, Fletch-
! er g. Watson, Arthur e. 6lagle, Vernon n.
| Rfdg1y, George F. Stiles
Eldership-John r. Edwards, William D.,
Beall, William ]. Meeks, Jacob e. James.
| Charles D. Taylor.
Preceding the ceremony Of ordination
| Bishop Cranston made brief address, ex-
| planning the different orders At nirht
Bishop Cranston delivered his famous lee
ture on China" He resided In that coun-
| try for over two years,
| Ine temperance mass meeting held 81
nrday afternoon was presided over by Rev
Thomas NJ. West of Piedmont, w, Va, Adj
dresses were made by Mr. 8. b, Niohoi-
| son Of the Anti-Saloon League, Baltimore.
ana Rev. DR.. L, B. Wilson of Washington.
The anniversary services Of the Church
Extension Society Saturday evening were
presided over by DR.. H. r, Nayior of
Washington, DR.. W. A. Spencer, secretary
| of the board of church extension. head.
H.