The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-04-25
GERMAN BAPTIST BRETHREN.
Annual Meeting OF The Eastern District
OF Maryland At Meadow Branch.

On April Dist the annual meeting of the
Eastern District of Maryland German Baptist
Brethren was held at Meadow Branch, near
Westminster This district comprises the
churches east of the boundary line between
Frederick and Washington counties and west
of the Chesapeake Bay, and includes also the
District Of Columbia. Each church III the
district was represented.
The opening exercises were conducted by
Elder J. c. Murray, of Washington, ID. C.,
and the conference was then organized by the
election of Elder Uriah Bixler, of Meadow
Branch, moderator; Elder George X. Sap
pington, secretary, and Elder Thomas j.
Kob, reading clerk.
The principal business of the Conference
was the discussion and consideration ofQueries
from several of the congregations IN the dis
trict. A query from the Frederick City con
gregalion favoring the establishment of an
old folks home and requesting the appoint
ment of a committee OF five to see what sup
port can be raised by endowment and dona
ton toward such home in Maryland. and to
ask other districts in the state join to in the
movement, was adopted.
query from the Frederick City congrega
ton, asking if it be proper to send members
who belong to secret orders or have then
lives insured as delegates to the meeting, pro
voked prolonged discussion. The answer
No Was finally passed to the inquiry. The
subject afterwards arose in another form. up
on a query from the Pipe Creek congregation
TO be certified to the annual meeting request
ing that body to omit from query now pend
ing the words. "While we do not encourage
investment in insurance companies, we know
of no scriptural authority TO make that test
of church fellowship" This was also adopted.
The query before the annual meeting declares
that "annuiiies, endowments, or employees
accident insurance is not wrong. either NOR
ally or scripturally,' but this assumption WAS
not considered BY the conference.
A query from the Frederick City congrega
ton. asking whether it is proper for members
of the Brethren. commonly known As Dunk
ards, to use the name Dunkard as part Of a
business firms name, was passed to the An
nual Meeting.
Another query, which excited prolonged
discussion, came from the Pipe Greek cougre-
CATION, and involved the proposition wheiher
baptism in a tank, pool or reservoir inside OF
a building is proper. A motion was passed.
BY a vote of % to s, 20 return the query To
the congregation. The Annual Meeting has
decided that such form of baptism Is valid
when ills impossible to perform the rite IN
water outside, running water being Always
preferred.
Another query from the Pipe Greek Church.
asking that members Of the House Mission
Board shall not succeed themselves, aud thai
the term Of Office be three years, WAS returned
without dissent 10 the congregation.
Jesse p. Weybright, OF Double Pipe Greek,
chairman Of the house mission committee. re
ported the work in 3 fairly prosperous coHdi-
ton. with missions at Araby, Long Green.
Watersville. Woodberry, Washington and
elsewhere. The total receipts for mission
work we're S47s.l6, and the expenditures
S2s7.2i OF the SUN Of $500 pledged to the
cause at the last district meeting Slg2 O. re
mains uueollected. With the small sum ex
pended missions we're maintained 81 seven
places. 80 sermons ~sre preached Aud ,, 545
visits were made besides the distribution Of
e,ll2 tracts. 69l copies of the Messenger and
PA articles Of clothing.
Elder W. =. Englar, the Sunday school
secretary. reported that the sam raised BY the
SUNDAY schools during the past year "a
STAG, and during the past three years ST.
554 81. The Sunday schools gave sSl2o9
for missions.
Elder UrIAh Bixler was elected delegate in
the Annual Meeting. which vii be held A.
Bellsfoniaine, Ohio. beginning jane ? JESSE
2. weybrghl was elected 10 succeed himself
as & member Of the Home Aisslon Board.