Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-04
HELD SECRET SESSION
BALTIMORE CONFERENCE PASSES
UPON CANDIDATES.
Examinations Are More Rigid Than
Formerly-List of Those
Admitted.
pecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.

| Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
| BALTIMORE, Nd, April 4-For over
! three hours the Baltimore Conference
Methodist Episcopal Church, now meeting
| in First Church, this city, sat in secret
! session yesterday to consider the reports
| on the examinations and qualifications of
| candidates for admission on trial and of
! those pursuing the conference course of
! studies Owing to the crowded condition
| of the conference, which mas antiquated
! the Methodist boast that there is
! preacher for every pulpit and a pulpit for
! every preacher" the examinations have be-
| come more difficult and the Investigation
of ministerial qualifications more rigid.
Last year a secret session was decided
upon for a consideration of these sub
jects, and that action probably established
| a precedent for the future.
OF the six candidates for admission on
| trial the case of c. Turner Jones was
| discussed at length, and it was decided
not to admit him. Rev Charles 7. Coombs
| who because he wears a Roman collar.
| vest closed in front and a silk hat, looking
| much like a Catholic or Protestant Epis-
| copal clergyman, also came In for DIS
| cussion. Mr.. Coombs' case was before the
! conference last year, when he was con-
tinued in the studies of the fourth year
| He was again continued in the same
studies for another year, he having failed
in some of his examina tions. 1t was stated
that Mr.. Coombs devoted much time to the
building of a new church at Hyndman,
Pa, where he is in charge, which other
wise could have been given to his studies.
Those admitted on trial are r. J. Nichol-
son. A. H. Mckinley. w. c. Harden Guy
A. Luttrell c. S. Holland. The following
| were advanced to the studies of the second
year: F. r. Bayley, c. G. Girelins. B. w.
Meeks, A. B. Wood j. H. BrungeS, G. L.
Jones. C. E. Ely, L. M. Ferguson, U. S.
Wright These were advanced to the stud
les of the third year and We're elected to
travelling deacons orders today: L. W.
Gosnell, ]. w. H. Beale ]. H. Jeffries and
C. H. Wagner. The following were elected
to orders and will be ordained tomorrow in
Jones; local deacons. j. r. Boblitz, w. L.
Lynn, ]. NJ. Belts and c. S. Hawley; trav-
cling elders, Vernon N. Ridgley. Fletcher
G. Watson, George F. Stiles, A. f.. Slagle
and ]. M. M Gray.
Rev A R. Snedegar was admitted into
the conference on a certificate of location
from the Virginia conference. New devel-
opments became known last evening In
reference to the effort to have Rev. L. T.
Frost, who has been invited to the pastor
ate of First Church. transferred into the
want to transfer DR.. Frost in with cor
responding transfer out. Accordingly com
mittee from DIR. Frosts church. Newark,
has invited Rev; L. A Ferris: pastor 70, OF
committee of Mount Vernon place at once
protested against the transfer OF their pas
tor and result. Bishop Warren, who
presided over the Newark conference, wired
Bishop FITZGERALD: mo Ferris, no Frost
Upon the solution of this case many ap-
pointments depend.
A committee from Douglass Memorial
Church, Washington, saw Bishop Fitzger-
aid yesterday after the meeting OF the
Laymens Association, and requested that
Rev. ]. w. R. Lumnalt be sent as pastor
to that church. Bishop Fitzgerald told
the committee that the committee on pulpit
had already officially invited Rev. George
C Bacon, and that he would send Mr.
Bacon if he made any change at all
7 Association of the con-
ference met in the chapel Of the First
Church yesterday. The following ohcers
were elected fer the ensuing year: Presi-
dent George w. F. Swartzell Washington,
D. c.; vice Observation-Disclosures district,
Summerfield Baldwin; East Baltimore dis
trict, VIM. T. Conn; West Baltimore dis
trict James E. Ingram; Washington dis
trict Robert " Belt: Frederick district, z.
r. Brantner; recording secretary, john 5.
Barker, Washington, p. c.; corresponding
secretary. David Abercrombe, Baltimore,
Md: treasurer, Edward s. WeStcOtt WASH
ington. D. c.
These officers, together with the follow
ing named, constitute the executive COM
mttee: Baltimore district, Dr. d. H. Car
Evans; West Baltimore district, Walter
kirwan; Washington district, E. F. Simp-
son; Frederick district D. P. Miller.
The association decided to discuss next
year the wisdom of the removal of the time
limit on the pastorate by the last general
| conference. In support of resolution to
this effect, Mr.. Summerfeld Baldwin made
an address IN favor of a restoration Of the
time limit with certain elastic features. He
was loudly applauded.
An interesting discussion on Our Boys
and Girls and How to Retain Them was
opened by Mrs. J. Ellen Foster of Wash
ington. Mr.. j. s. Rawlings read paper on
the new constitution of The church which
was adopted at the last general conference,
and explained the features which are of
special Importance to laymen.
He said the new constitution places the
eligibility of women delegates to the gen.
eral conference beyond doubt. He con-
Guided with a plea for the admission of
laymen to the annual conference.
Bank at I,awton Rohhed