Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-08
FRIEND OF THE CHINESE.
Baltimore Conference M. E. Church
Takes Significant Action.


| Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
| BALTIMORE. Md. April S.-A presiding
elder of the Baltimore conference of the
| NJ. E. Church stated this morning that the
| conference could not adjourn today unless
| three sessions are held. the last one ex-
| tending far into the night. Even this morn
Ing the list of appointments has not been
| completed by Bishop Andrews, in spite OF
the two long meetings which the bishop
had yesterday with his cabinet. Besides
presiding over yesterdays session and
| meeting with his cabinet, the bishop met
several church committees, one of which
wag from the Douglas Memorial Church
Washington. 1t seems that that congrega-
tior is divided and at this writing 1t is
likely there will be no change, and tina;
Rev. S. M. Hartsock will remain pastor OF
| that charge another year.
A member Of the conference. who Is gen.
e:ally we'll informed, stated last night that
| these changes had been decided upon by
the bishop: Wesley Chapel Washington
Rev. DR.. w. NJ. Ferguson; Yayette street,
this city. Rev. j. Fred. Hesse: Govans-
town, Rev: Dr. j. B. Stitt; Hagerstown,
Rev. Dr. F. M. B. Rice Union Square, this
city. Rev. H. F. Douns; West Baltimore
station, Rev. George l.. Bacon St. Paurs
Washington Rev. DR.. G. w. Miller.
Rev. DR.. Hugh Johnston introduced res
olution yesterday asking the conference to
indorse the amendment or repeal of the
Chinese restriction act. After preamble
which stated that the act makes invidious
and cruel exception of the Chinese" and
that 1t Is exceedingly unjust and cruel to
discriminate against the people of only one
nation the resolution reads:
Resolved, That this conference do most
respectfully, but most earnestly, ask Con-
gress to amend the existing restriction
act that justice be done to all Chinese i'm
migrants as we'll as to those now living in
or country, and that all nationaities may
De placed on an equality under the laws of
our own land;
Resolved, That the presiding bishop be
requested to appoint three members of this
conference whose duty it shall be to ap-
pear before the committee on foreign af-
1SirS ana make special and earnest appeals
in behalf of the Chinese, who are greatly
wronged by our present exclusion act"
Kew. DIR. j. c. Nicholson, pastor Of Trim
ity Church, Washington. moved that the
resolution be laid on the table His mo-
ton was lost. and then it was decided to
refer 1t to special committee composed of
Revs Hugh Johnston. ]. c. Nicholson and
l. I. Wideman.
Rev. w. A. Koontz offered a resolution
yesterday providing for the appointment of
a committee to confer with a committee Of
the Laymen's Association touching the
matter OF transfers Of preachers into the
conference. The Laymen's Association
passed resolution providing for such a
committee at its meeting last Friday. The
conference committee is composed as fol-
lows: Baltimore district, L. T. Wideman:
East Baltimore, w. L. Mcdowell: Freder-
lex, E. T. Mowbray; Washington. Page Mil
burn: West Baltimore. j. A. Price,
The conference decided to hold it's next
meeting at First Church. this city A reso-
tuition was passed requesting the bishop to
appoint a committee of five to act con-
Jointly with the presiding elders in consid-
ering the question Of having the conference
provide for Its own entertainment and to
devise ways and means of carrying out the
same If approved.
Memoirs of members of the conference
were read yesterday as follows: Rev. James
D Still, who died May 49, 1901, read by
rev. =; T. Dudrear: Rev. Thomas ]. Cross,
who died August 81, 1901, read by Mr.
Dudrear; Rev. Matthew A. Turner, who
0led October II, 1901. read by Rev Page
Milburn, pastor of Union Church. Wash .
lngton; Rev. George W. Cooper, who died
January -, 1902, read by Rev J. R.
Wheeler.
Shortly before noon committee from St.
faul S. Washington, composed of Messrs
A b. Brown and H. B. Cohen, arrived at
the conference In response to a telegram
stating that a hitch in the ARRANGEMENTS
for pastor has occurred.
Inc congregation had extended an inyi-
taton to Rev. DR.. G. w. Miller formerly
a pastor of Grace Church, this CITY. but
VINO had only nominal appointment last
year.
Because of the overcrowded condition of
the conference 1t was decided last night at
the meeting of the bishop and his cabinet
to continue DIR. Miller with a nominal an
polntment. and send some preacher in the
active ranks to st. Paul's Mr. Brown. as
spokesman protested against such an ar
rangement. and said it was of vital i'm
portance that DR.. Miller be appointed II
was finally arranged that the Committee
appear before the bishop and the cahnat
this afternoon.