Evening journal., 1904-03-02
WOMEN KEPT
FROM MARKET
NJ. P. CONFERENCE
To MEET IN APRIL
Important Matters Will Be
Discussed at Meeting in
Baltimore
MEMBERSHIP AND PROPERTY

The seveniy-slxth session Of the Mary
land Annual Conference Of the Methodist
protestant church, will meet in Alnutt
Memorial church. Chester and Lombard
streets. Baltimore. on Wednesday morn
ing. April 6, at Q o'clock. The nrst thing
In order after the devotional service will
be the presidents report OF the district
for the year. The president. the Rev. f.
IN. Little. d. d.. who has -erved but two
years. will be elected TO the presidency
again. as the time limit for the president
Is nvo years.
From present indications &c IS believed
that there will be quite a good many
changes this year. However, It cannot be
definitely determined. as there Is no time
limit IN the pastorato OF the Methodist
Protestant Church. There arc a few min
istcra as well as very few laymon. who
arc dissatisfied with the. no-llmlt plan;
but il has worked 40 WE'LL thus far, that
q is not believed possible to ever change
back again TO "a limit Two years ago the
advocates of time limit, used all their
strength TO have the present law changed,
but were overwhelmingly defeated.
The Maryland Conference Is one Of the
largest IN the denomination, both IN point
OF number and regarding the territory
covered.
I The coming conference win have a mem-
bersliip of about 825. This number IS COM
posed OF both ministers and laymen. as
the Methodist Protestant Church from ITS
very beginning gave the laymen equal
representation IN both tho General and
Annual Conferences. The laymon are not
only equal IN numbers. 70 the minister's
but have equal rights upon the conference
floor, both in voice and vote. They also
serve on all committees with the min
isters.
Interesting Conference.
The Maryland Conference has territor,
Towering Maryland. Delaware and th,
District Of Columbia, and, also severa
churches In Pennsylvania. New Jersey ani
Virginia. This is to be one of the mos
interesting conferences held since the OF
, lganizl'tion OF the Methodist Protostan
Church, seveniy-six years ago.
one of the most important items OF bus
iness coming before the conference at thi
session is the subject Of organic churcl
union with the congregational and unite
brethren denominations. Three meeting
have already been held--two 10 Pitlsburg
Pa, and one Ga Washington. ID. c.. o
commttees composed OF members from
these three denominations. This joint com
mitteo has formulated basis for the iirs
steps toward organic union: but thcs
lplans adopted by. this joint committee mus
be submitted 70 the general bodies OF cacl
denomination TO bo adopted by them be
fore the union can be perfected. Even thei
it must,be decided favorably by two-thlrd
lof the conferences OF the Methods
Protestant Church before II will becom
law.
p Though there may be some strong oppo
; lsitlon at this session Of the MARYLAND
q conference, yet 1t Is believed that IL vii
be passed upon favorably. with a larg
majority.
Ang,her interesting item OF business a
this session win be the electing OF ror
resontatives 10 the General Conference
which meets in Washington, ID. c.. 81
May. when this highest body in the dc
nomination win have TO deal with IN
above mentioned union question. IN
growth OF this branch Of Mcthodhm ha
been an extensive one this conference yea
= Especially IN the Maryland district and
lis believed that the reports viii indicat
a growth equal to. If not exceeding tina
OF any previous year Tor many years.
The Rev. J.. w. Kirk is pastor OF th
church where the conference is to b
held. and Is one Of the most successft
ministers in the conference.
This conference has two churches
+ wilmington. First Church Seventh an
S Walnut streets. the Rev. Dr. George J.
Wolfe, pastor, and Second Church. Fift
avenue ands Anchorage street, the Rev
James J.. Nichols pastor.
, The size of the local membership 10
lows: Full members 235Si; probatoner
u ,367; unstationed ministers and preacher
Z l6S; total 25.0i9. There are 300 appointment
, 290 churches and 95 parsonages. The valu
Of church property Is Si,293,7O0; and th
q value Of parsonage property Is Sis510.
|, In the bounds Of this conference, thoug
not be,onging exclusively TO lt, are Wes
lern Maryland College and Westminsts
g genealogical Seminary. both OF which az
: valuable fully equipped and OF a hig
g standard.
q The Rev. T. II. Lewis. d. D., Is pres
q dent Of the college, and the Rev. II. J.
4 Elderdlce. ID. d.. Is president Of the Thee
logical Seminary. Both Or. LOWS and Di
IrrfI.~Itoa ira f,l.ar,1Iara Of the tTarrlo n