Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-02-18
GATHERING
OF r1ETHODISTS

HARRISBURG, Feb Flour
olergymen Will celebrate their fiftieth
anniversary as ministers of the gospel
at mi.centenuial service which
Will be held during the 36th annual
session of the Central Pennsylvania
conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in the Fifth Street Methodist
Church, of Harrisburg, during the
week of March 23d.
These clergymen are the Revs. Sam
ueI Creighton, of Mackeyville, Clinton
county Dr. d. S. Monroe, of Shamok
in; George Warren, of Tyrone, and
Richard Hinkle, of Everett, all of
whom will make addresses at the semi
centennial service.
One of the most important matters
that will come before the conference
will be the election Of six delegates to
the general conference, which meets at
Los Angeles, Cal, tire first week of
May next. Heretofore the custom has
been TO elect the five presiding elders
Of the various districts of the confer
ence as delegates, but there is gener-
al desire among the clergymen to get
away from this custom and it is pre-
dicted that there will be several past
ors in the delegation this year,
The business sessions of the confer
ence will be held in the morning from
to u O'Clock and will be presided
over by Bishop G. O. McOabe, of
Omaha, Neb. In the afternoons and
evenings there will be anniversary
exercises at which addresses will be
made by some of the leaders of the
Methodist Church in this country.
The committee in charge of the ar
rangements have completed their plans
for the gathering and the Rev. B. H.
Hart, pastor of Fifth Street Methodist
Church, says comfortable quarters have
been secured at private residences for
all the visitors.
The conference proper will open at
O'Clock on Wednesday morning with
the celebation of the Lords Supper,
in which Bishop McCabe will be as
sisted by twenty ministers. Immedi-
ately after an organization will be
effected and then memorial service
will be held The Rev DR.. J. NJ.
Berry, of Chicago, editor of the "Ep-
worth Herald, who is regarded as
one of the leading aspirants for the
bishopric, will make the principal ad
dress at the anniversary OF the Ep-
worth League and Preachers Aid
Society on Tuesday evening.
Rev DR.. W. L. Mcdowell. of New
York, secretary of the board of educa-
tion. who is also favorably mentioned
for the bishopric, will address the an
niversary of the Educational Society
on Wednesday evening The same even
ing Rev. DR.. W. p. Thrilled, of Gin
cinnati, Will speak at the anniversary
of the Freedmen's Aid Society. Rev.
Dr. Frank Crane, pastor of the Peo-
ple's Temple, Boston, will speak at
the anniversary Of the Temperance
Society on Thursday evening.
On Friday evening there will be a
musical concert at which an admission
OF fifty cents will be charged. Those
who will participate are Professor
Ryder, formerly organist of the Ire
mont Temple, Boston Mrs. DeLong of
Philadelphia, noted viOlinist; Prof.
J. W. West, of Philadelphia. cornetist,
and a Harrisburg orchestra of ten
pieces. The Missionary Society will
hold its anniversary on Saturday even
ing at Grace Methodist Church. The
principal speaker will be the Rev. Dr..
A. B. Leonard, OF New York, secre-
tary Of the Missionary Society.
The lay electoral conference compos-
ed of one lay delegate from each past
oral charge in the conference, will
meet at 10 O'Clock on Friday morning
at the Ridge Avenue Methodist Church
This conference will also elect six
delegates to the Los Angeles confer
ence. The layman's association, com.
posed of two delegates from each past
oral charge, will meet at the same
place on Saturday afternoon.
The Rev. DR.. Joseph Smith, Of Red
lands, Cal. will hold a pentacostal
service each day during the conference
from 4 to P. NJ. The Church Exten-
sion Society will be represented at the
conference by the Rev DR.. James NJ.
King, of Philadelphia. The Rev. DR..
Leroy Bolt. president of Ada Univer-
sity, Ada, Ohio, will visit the confer
ence on Saturday and Sunday. The
pulpits of all the Harrisburg churches
will be filled by the visiting clergy
men on Sunday, March 21th.
There will be special music at all
the services in charge Of Mrs. John H.
Conkling, chorister of the Fifth Street
Methodist choir