The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-03-21
Baltimore Conference, Methodist Episcopal
Church.

Church.
The session of this Conference will be
held in the beautiful Grace NJ E. Church, of
Baltimore, of which the Rev. DR.. Don S.
Colt, is pastor, April 2, 1902. This will
be the third time the Conference has met
in this Church. Bishop w. L. Harris,
presided over the session of 1879 here,
and Bishop c. p. Foss. the session of
1889. At the coming session, Bishop
Edward 6. Andrews, will hold the reins of
authority. Although seventy and seven
winters have touched him, he is most re-
markably we'll preserved and his mental
powers show no abatement. Few men
have enjoyed such perfect health. During
his thirty years in the Episcopacy, he has
never missed Conference by reason of
any personal illness. Bishop Andrews is
"Knickerbocker" by birth, his father
was leading member of the Methodist
Church for many years. His brother was
for years the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of that State. With the older men,
bers of the Conference he is quite we'll ac-
quainted. For eight years he was the
resident Bishop at the Capital of the
Nation.
The removal of the time limit by the
General Conference of 1900, has thrown
around the appointments degree of I'M
certainty, heretofore, unknown to
Methodism. The wisdom of this is very
seriously questioned throughout the Con
ference. Under the law of the Church,
previous to the last General Conference,
it was no trouble to name the necessary
changes. Now all is uncertainty. All
may change or no one may change. It's
true that in number of instances, the
official Boards of number of the
Churches, have given expression to their
desires. and likely in majority of in
stances these will be- recognized. How far
as these wishes will be observed no one
can say. The changes that seem almost
sure at the present time are as follows:
Rev. ]. F. Heisse, now stationed at Wes-
ley Chapel, Washington, will be assigned
to Fayette Street, Baltimore, succeeding
Rev. ]. B. Stitt; Rev. Charles L. Pata,
will succeed Rev. w. NJ. Ferguson, at
South Baltimore, Mr.. Pata has been the
pastor of St. Johns Independent Church;
Rev. Harry D. Mitchell was invited to
Wesley Chapel, Washington, but the in
vitation has been declined. Quite num-
Der of preachers who have served charges
for three, four and five years, have been
asked to return. In one case, that of
Rev. w. G. Herbert, pastor of Caroline
Street, the return for the seventh year has
been unanimously requested. From all
the facts your correspondent has come in
possession of, it looks as if the changes
will be as many as i'll former years. The
following items may be OF interest to
your readers: are closing their sixth
year, their fifth year, II their fourth
year, SO their third year, 46 their second
year, 60 their first year. The last num-
Der represent the changes the first year,
that the time limit was removed.
There is limitation on the Presiding
Eldership. No Presiding Elder can serve
the same District for a longer period than
six years. None of the occupants ofthat
office have served that long. and there
will be no change in these positions. The
present Presiding Elders are: Revs. c.
Herbert Richardson, H. S. France, c.
W. Baldwin, w. J. Mckenney. and H. r.
Naylor. The first two are closing two
years, the next two. five years. and the
last named, one year. DR.. Naylor, who
is the Presiding Elder of the Washington
District, was in this office for three years
before and removed by Bishop Fowler
Last year he was reappointed by Bishop
Cranston to the same District. The re-
moval gave much dissatisfaction, and
his reappointment, would seem to have
meant his vindication.
Rev S. l.. Bryant, who was chosen his
sixth year at St. Paurs, Washington
was transferred few months ago, to
the Heyde Park Church, Chicago, one of
the prominent churches of that City.
There are no outside questions likely |
to be discussed at the coming session, al |
though no one can tell what may come |
before the body. The Conference always |
takes the highest ground on all moral |
issues, and never fails to give expression |
to it's views. More than likely the Sab
bath question will receive more than usual
attention. from the fact that certain
things have recently occurred as will call
for a deliverance along certain lines i'll a
most positive manner.
The interest of the Woman's College in
with the Twentieth Century
Thank Offering, will receive careful at
tention.
During the year the following members
of the Conference have ended the work on
earth and passed to the higher ministries
of Heaven. Revs. Thomas j.. Cross, James
D. Still. Matthew A. Turner and George
w. Cooper. Mr.. Cross entered the Con-
ference in 1867. Mr.. Still in 1859, Mr..
Turner in 1888. and Mr.. Cooper in s4S.
The average of the year of their ministry
was 4sA years. They were men ofgreat
purity of heart and life and their reward
was sure. The:following report made at
asst Conference, should receive careful