Evening journal., 1904-03-18
SIDE LIGHTS OF
THE CONFERENCE
3'an Correspondent Evening Journal.
The InscrutabIe Bishon.

~'-N-ffHNVNl Af1 14lrB journal,
The lnscrutable Bishop.
Dover. March 1S.-BIshop Fitzgerald
Is inscrutable. The ministers say that
such a man never before presided over
a session OF the Wilmington Confer
ence. Cordial to all. he Is confidential
with none. He is a gracious, kindly
sphynx.
lie is man absolutely without
frills" and is simple and direct in
every respect. IL Is customary for the
bishops, In opening a conference. TO
make an address, probably OF half an
hours duration, in which they partial-
~ outline their policy and state when
they may be seen by the ministers. Not
50 Bishop. Fitzgerald. He called the
conference TO order without speech Of
any sort and he has said very little
since. He Just transacts business and
diaposes OF large amount of Il. He
talked more IN presenting the case OF
knives and forks TO DR.. Watt yester-
day than at any time since conference
began
That he win make his own appoints
ments Is the consensus Of opinion
From here Bishop Fitzgerald viii go
70 New York TO preside at German
conference
Preachers and Addicks.
Some OF the preachers thought it
was not in really good taste for Ad-
dicks TO hold a political convention
here In Dover while conference was I'M
session. The sensibintes OF several
were awfully shocked. therefore. when
champagne was served al the table at
which Addlcks and his followers dlned
on Wednesday. They said it made no
difference that Mr.. Addicks did not
drink anything himself. but II was
very bad Judgment for him to allow
his cohorts to do so IA the same dining
room with ministers Of the gospel.
Alice Needs Prayers.
The Rev. C. H. Wyatt Is a nice fell
low bright and well liked by his
brethren IN the conference He Is be-
ing entertained al the Hotel Richard-
son by United States Senator Alice.
Walking up 70 the Senator Mr.. wy
att extended his hand and thanked
him for the courtesy.
Il am sorry that / can make no ade-
quate return" said Mr.. Wyatt "But
win pray for you"
Do said the senator. 4 need IT,"
Trials Of a Presiding Elder.
one of the presiding elders tells
funny story on himself-though II aid
not seem funny to him at the time. He
found himself bound for an obscure
charge for the purpose OF holding a
quarterly conference. He was not quite
certain Of his way and so he followed
a light which he thought beamed forth
from the church. A man and woman
suddenly appeared from nowhere and
at the same time she exclaimed "See
that mani'
"Then she didn't see me-" says the
presiding elder for 1 won't head over
heels down an embankment and was
out OF sight
Fortunately. he landed on a pile OF
brush which had been dumped upon a
choice collection of tin cans. bottles
and other rubbish. else he might have
been painfully hurt
He picked himself up and being un-
injured. hut pretty wen shaken up. he
resumed his journey to the church and
found It without further adventure
He conducted the service. preached a
good sermon, as usual then came Ia
the final prayer The pulpit was one
OF the small, wooden affairs seen In
country churches. AS he said LET us
pray" he put his hands too heavily
upon the pulpit, which had anything
but firm foundation. 1t tottered.
swayed and stretched out toward the
congregation and the watch of the
presiding elder, which lay upon it. went
flying out into somebody's lap. and
the presiding elder nearly followed IT,
Matters were adjusted quickly. how
ever, but that presiding elder made one
Of the shortest prayers in his career.
Preachers Funny Letter.
Conference Is the greatest event of
the year IN the lives OF Methodist min
listers. They ool< forward TO it from
one year to another, as the season when
they may erect old friends meet new
ones and in numerous instances have
a good time generally.
Naturally great preparations are
made for these annual events, but In
some instances they miscarry a little
and as a usual thing many amusing
little happenings result.
There is scarcely Methodist minis
ter alive who does not enjoy a Joke.
leither on himself or his bretheren-but
mostly the latter and naturally enough
they are laughing at a story now go
ing the rounds
One OF the brethren received notif-
cation that he would be entertained Mt
a certain residence in town. This made
IL necessary that his wife. who desired
TO attend the conference. seek enter
tainment at hotel. The GOOD lady
felt a little timid at being at hotel
alone and so her husband wrote to the
proprietor Of one Of the hotels in town
about their terms
Il should like Mrs. So-and-So to be
at your house during conference. I
shall be entertained by Mr. and Mrs.
Blank at meals, but how much would
YOU charge me 10 sleen With my ,,,ifo o.,