Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-31
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
METHoDIsTS WILL MEET In BAL
TIMoRE TOMORROW.
Consolidation Of Foundry and St.
Paul's Churches to Be Considered
Local Pastors to Attend.

The Baltimore annual conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church will begin It's
10th session In Baltimore tomorrow morn
ing, and a large number of clergymen and
laymen of that denomination from this city
will leave Washington tonight for the mon
umental city. The conference will close
next Monday night 1t Is expected that the
appointment of ministers will be announced
next Monday morning.
One OF the most important matters of
local interest to be decided at the confer
ence will be the proposed consolidation of
the ST. Paul and Foundry Churches. There
seems to be considerable diversity In the
wishes of members of both. congregations
with respect to this consolidation, and the
factions for and against the union will con-
tend for a hearing before Bishop Fitzger-
aid, who will preside at the conference,
and whose decision will determine the mat
ter in SO far as the authority of the church
is concerned.
Messrs. Ball. Harding, Brown, Sewall and
True. who compose the joint committee ap-
pointed by the congregations, will urge the
proposed consolidation. and, 1t Is stated, a
number of members opposed to the plan
will contend against the union. 1t Is I'M
derstood that a petition signed by about
200 members of Foundry Church opposing
the consolidation will be presented 20 the
bishop.
Appointment Of Pastors.
The appointment of pastor to this COM
bined congregation. should the bishop give
his saction to the project. will be another
matter for consideration of the presiding
officer. If the union is effected it Is
thought that Rev. Robert M. Moore will be
appointed to the charge Members of St
Paufs Church, however are urging the
nv rirt,, 81 b. nrf af hot
congregation, Rev DIR. George w. Miller.
Other changes which it is expected will
be made in local pastorates will be in the
charges of Douglas Memorial Church, Ry-
land Church and Eldbrooke Church in Ten
leytown. A large number of the other
Methodist churches of theScity have re-
quested the return of the present pastors
for another year. and also the retention of
Rev. DR.. H. r. Naylor, the presiding elder
of Washington district, in his present posi-
ton.
The conference will be held in the First
Methodist Church in Baltimore, of which
Rev. Hugh Johnson is pastor.
Epworth League Celebration.
Preliminary to the opening of the con-
ference the Baltimore Conference Epworth
League will hold an anniversary celebra-
ton in the First Church in Baltimore to-
night, and a delegation of about seventy
five Epworth Leaguers from Washington
will go to attend the exercises in that city
tonight a special car. The train will
leave Washington about $40 o. clock this
evening. Rev. A. H. Thompson of Wilson
Memorial Church, this city. will deliver an
address at this meeting on 1.-The Social OPP
portunities of the EpwOrth League and
Rev. DR.. L. B. Wilson of Foundry Church
will offer the opening prayer. The Lyric
Quartet of this city will also furnish music
for the occasion.
The Washington party will include the
members of the district league cabinet and
many prominent Epworthians from various
chapters throughout the city. The party
will return to Washington late train
tonight