Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-06
METHODIST REFORM
BALTIMORE THE BIRTHPLACE OF
THE PROTESTANT MOVEMENTS.
First Conference Held in Georgetown
Sixty Years Ago-Some Pioneers
and Founders in the Measures.

Church reunion recently, a representative
OF The Star was advised 10y a rock-ribbed
old Methodist Protestant, or member of the
reformed branch of the Methodist Church
Organization. as the old ehurchman was
pleased to consider himaelf,- that in his
opinion the road was open and in fair con-
dition for the proposed union with the
Congregationalists. Il am, myself" said
he, mot so consistent church member as
I was in younger days, but 1 have had
opportunities for giving the particular sub
ject that has lately received much atten-
ton no little consideration. My ancestors
on one side." he continued, were among
the founders or were at last pioneers in the
movement that led to the split In the
Methodist Church. They were the old fel-
lows who were opposed to bishops and to
what they called a church hierarchy, and
so far as my somewhat limited observa-
ton goes that sentiment is as strong among
the adherents Of the Methodist Protestants
today as 1t was a. the beginning.
Although my memory does not go back
that far" ne continued, all records that
I have noted seem to place upon Balti-
more the honor of originating reforms in
the government Of the Methodist Church.
A general conference OF reformers was
held in that city as far back as 1877, the
proceedings being held in church building
at the corner of Lexington and Paca streets.
There were four delegates to this conference
from the District of Columbia. There were
".
liam King and Nelson Brady. At this con-
ference eight different sections were rep
resented, including New York and Virginia,
and there was quite a contingent from the
eastern and western shores of Maryland
First General Conference.
II presume there are very few now living
In this city who can recollect the first gen.
eral conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church. 1t was held in Georgetown, d. C.'
In the spring of 1894. and though not large
ly attended, the effects were widespread.
It was soon after that that the two oldest
Methodist Protestant churches in this city
were organized. One of these was the
church on the navy yard and the other was
the church then on 9th street between ~
and F streets. This congregation was
formed from a body of secessionists from
the old Foundry Church. Before this was
the Dunbarton Street Church in George
town. and in that old edifce many OF the
bright and shining orators OF the pulpit IN
their day expounded the holy gospel to
many listeners. T. H. Stockton, the great
preacher was in this pulpit when he was
elected chaplain to Congress. Among other
prominent pastors there and here as wen
were several who were expelled from the
regular church organization when the re-
form movement was inaugurated. Among
these was the well-known and greatly be-
loved W. c. Lipscomb, a renowned George
town preacher. Mr. Lipscomb was VIZ
gilman by birth. but was brought up in
Georgetown. His son. Rev. A. A. Lipscom5,
another prominent Methodist Protestant
preacher. was native OF Georgetown.
The discussions and acrimOnies brought
into prominence by the inauguration Of he
Methodist reform movement. l am inclined
to think have all faded away, but l know
that at one time they caused great excite
n,ent and many social arrangements and
ruptures Of long friendships followed in
their wake.
The Reese Brothers.
II couldn't begin to enumerate all the
prominent Methodist Protestant preachers
who have offlciated in the churches in this
religious jurisdiction. 1 suppose almost
all the old church people remember that
quartet of Reese brothers-Levi R.. Daniel
e, John s. and E. Yeates Reese. The death
of Eli YeateS Reese, as many will remem-
Der, was one of the most lamentable oc-
currences that ever happened in the his
tory of the Methodist Protestant Church.
1t occurred soon after the attack by the
Baltimore mob upon the 9th Massachusetts,
Regiment, and was at time of terrible eX-
citement. The Rev Mr.. Reese, who had
not been In good health for some time, got
the notion into his head that his family
was on the verge of starvation. Reason
absolutely deserted his once remarkably
sound brain, and one morning Just after
breakfast, which he took in his sick room,
he stepped into an adjoining apartment
and with a razor severed the carotid ar
teries of his throat.
Almost every Washington man of the
present generation can recollect the Rev. /
Ulysses Ward, who died at good old age.
He was an active pioneer among the Meth
odist Reformers, and was an unstatloned /
preacher and gave literally Of his means
to the church. Many's the time have
heard Brother Ward called upon to lead in
prayer at the old Ninth Street Church, and
among other bright and shining lights that
1 have heard in its pulpit preaching under
the admonition. Pray for the peace of
Jerusalem" were Rev. Josiah Warden, at
one time president of the conference, and
nearly all the divines of the church.
There are some today. I presume, who
will remember the stanch old Methodist
Protestants, John Warden, brother of the
preacher who was for years a curator at
the patent office: Willard Drake carpen-
ter and builder; Peter M. Person and 9TH
ers both in and out of the pulpit, whose
names are embalmed in the church his
tory.
oh yes: think there will be a reunion,
but everything savoring like paternalism
must be relegated to the background. We.
old Reform Methodists can't stand for
that"
RITZ, FIGHT ENDS WITH RIOT.