Milford chronicle., 1904-03-18
lETHODISTS MEET
IN CONFERENCE.
sGay ITS THIRTY.SIXTH ANNUAL
SFSSION At DOVER WEDNESDAY.

e Lay Conference COnVenes Frlda!
nd Saturday. Both Bodies Meet
At Wesley Church. Bishop Fitz.
gerald is Presiding.
The Wilmington M. E. Conference
bened its Thirty Sixth Annual Ses-
on on Wednesday morning in Wes-
Church, Dover, Del. Bishop Fitz
ersld presiding. A larger part of the
orniug session was devoted TO the re-
rts of Presiding Elders Baker, of
nover District, and KOOns, of the Eas-
b District.
Presiding Elder Baker of the Dover
district read his report. He said that
the explO ion OF carload Of dyDa-
hite the new church at Greenwood
Fas damaged to the extent of $1,000
tut the railroad company thoroughly
psired the damage. Seven charges
advanced PASTORS salaries $50 TO 800.
rbe payment of the old ind ebtedness
"a church property received special at
.ention. Considerable money was
spent for church improvements. There
Fere 500 conversions on the district
duling the year.
DR. Baker carefully summarized his
six years as presiding elder. Thirty
charges advanced salaries aggregating
s2.3OO Missions advanced $500 to 5000.
Bishop FitzGerald commended DIR.
Bakers work in the Presiding Elder
shlp,. from which he is about to retire,
and on behalf Ofthe ministers on Dover
district presented bim with Il hand
some gold watch. The recipient re.
pled. expressing thanks for the g'ft.
Rev. w. G. KOOns. Fr-sio."s Elder
of Easton District in his report, gave
Information of the following cOnd-
lions: During the Conference year
only one minister on his district has
died, Rev I. H. Hay es; the laymen
who have died during the pa year
are Walter H. Thompson, of EastOn,
Joseph w Harper, of Still Pond, and
Jonothan X. Williams, of Odessa. The
humber of converts in my district ag
gregated 1000.
Glass meetings, and all spiritual in
terests are much revived throughout
the District.
THERE'S a growing desire on the part
of eur progressive laymen that our
ministers shall be better paid. l am
glad to report that no charge decreases
its ministerial support, and II make
substantial increase.
The handsome new church at Towns
end was dedicated May 3rd; whole
cost Sll 900, of which $500 has been
paid up to this time, leaving balance
of 300 against which stands a sub
scription of 81 300. Green-boro is
building a splendid new church.
Other Improvements are reported as
follows Kent Island, $500; Clayton,
500; Odessa, 500; MarydeI, S225;
1915; Pinev Neck, $500; ST.
MiehaePs, 81 200, Rock Hall. 800 /,
CordOva cancels the debt of $3.50
against its parsonage. Rock Hsll pays
$3.50 on its church debt, and Heuder-
son cancels its debt of $125 !,
The minor benevolences sre about .
he same as last year. We raised our :
general conference expenses nearly in
'ull, and the offering for missions will
Do about S., 200, an increase of nearly
100.
The apportionment of East1n Dis
rict for Conference Academy was
z 600, and it has all been paid by the st
'huTehes of the district. o
Much interest has been manifested +
n temperance work. It
During the month of January Mrs a
Z. 5 Col ins secured the services of l
lrs. N. w. Bass, one Of the national W
rganizers Of the Womans' Home Mis- l
lonary Society, for a ten days cam u
aign on Easton district. Eleven new Ct
ocieties were organized, and 426 new oI o
lembers were added. N
Revs. Louis E. Barrett.J. w. Easley co
nd w. F. Corkran, were loudly applsu- bt
ed as they read some instructions to tn
ne delegates who will be elec e I to
spresent the Wilmington NJ. E Con-
irence in the General NJ. E. Confer
nee The following is the substance
the instructions: To petition the an
General Conference to resume the time at
NIT OF five years to the ministers. To =,
Phold the present discipline of the 81
lureh concerning the amusement So
lestlon. To unalterably oppose any Tt
ackWard steps on the Temperance mi
lestion. The Conference adjourned
l2.SO until the afternoon tession, rel
men convened at 80. The program su
the afternoon consisted of the fol- ev
wing: -,
anniversary of the FTeedman's Aid
10 southern Education Society. Rev. pi
= L. Hoftecker. president, and Rev. ]. afl
. spencer, ID. D., speaker. m,
In the nVanfn0 pov w Z ManoW.