Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-03-16
THE N. /. CONFERENCE.

The annual conference of the Methodist
Church of New Jersey, that opened at At
| lantic City on the 7th instant, bas been of
great interest. An interesting feature ef
last Tburdays session was the reports of
Presiding Elders, from which we quote:-
The report OF Presiding Elder Edmund
Hewett, of the Bridgeton District showed
that during the year the Rey Mr. Hewitt
had travelled 5000 miles, preached 140
sermons, and held 2ls quarterly confer
ences, in addition TO several love feasts
He delivered number of addresses. In
this district there are 81 churches valued
at S616, 900 and 4s parsonages estimated TO
be worth Sill 900 In this territory there
has been over 600 converts during the year
and an encouraging growth shown in every
branch of church work In this district
there are 81. appointments which will be
increased to IS, as Newfield Is to be sepa-
rated from Malaga. There are 96 Sunday
schools with ], 700 officers and teachers and
Is, 700 scholars. The debts on most of the
churches have been greatly reduced and in
many instances entirely wiped out.
Trinity Church, Millyille, has cancelled
debt Of $40, 500 and burned the mortgage
at a jubilee service Revivals held during
the year were shown TO have been most
successful. The most encouraging of these
services were held at Ocean City, where the
councilmen and other city officials professed
religion
CAMDEN DISTRICT.
The next report. which was equally en-
courag.ng was that Of the Rev. George L
Dobbins. presiding elder of the Camden
district. Quarterly conferences throughout
the district were not attended as we'll as
they should be- For SIX years DIR. Dobbins
has presided over this territory and has had
the pleasure OF seeing many important
charges take place. He is now retiring
from the office. In closing ne said -
This has beer. a most remarkahle year
to me. Now I 90 out. not knowing whittier
/ I go. In this district So, ,562 is paid
yearly in pastors salaries. In the cause
OF beneyolence, declared DR.. Dobbins,
TOO few sermons are being preached Our
pastors are slow to sees and deela E that the
gospel Of Jesus Christ Is the power of God
unto salvation frem civic evils
IN this district the churches have all
observed ehildfen's day services. Three
Sunday schools have organized mission
AIRY societies, and the rules respecting re-
ligous instruction Of the children are
being observed.
Many Of the chulcnes and parsonages
have been improved during the year. The
chn1ch at Cross Keys has added tower
and bell Through the generous contri
buttons OF j w Sparks. the parsonage
connected with that church has been greatly
improved In this district the revival
spirit has also existed, 200 probationers
being reported The congregation at Cen
i nary Church Camden, has paid off $12,
ONO of its Indebtedness on the new church
property. MI. A. G. Hart has paid the
mortgage on the parsonage, which is now
nee from debt. This year a new church
viii be erected at Gloucester.
NEW BRUNSWICK DISTRICT.
The Rev. John B. Haines, presiding ell
der OF the New Brunswick district opened
his report by saying that the charge at
South River, made vacant by the disappear
anee OF the Rev. J. F. Cordova, in May,
had been filled by the Rev. S. T, Horner of
the New York conference. Both of the
home and foreign missionary societies
should be cordially and generously recog-
nized by our churches, continued Elder
Haines. IL the New Brunswick district
which is divided into IS groups for united
work in evangelism, there has been much
good done during the year. In conclusion,
the elder said =.
In this district many missionary meet
ings have been held, at which enthusiasm
prevailed The time is at hand when lay
men OF the church need TO carefully attend
to the temporalities Of our church and thus
give our ministers time for the study of the
world and make calls among the members
Of their respective congregations. In the
past 12 months, during which time in all
churches combined more than 250 weeks
Of revival services had been conducted,
| ], 200 persons had been added TO the
membership.
The report went on TO say that convic-
tions concerning the liquor traffic were
growing in strength, and thai most OF the
church people stand ready to battle this
inquiry.
The state is recognizing our ministers,
concluded the Rev. Mr.. Haines, by draw
i ;,x~ xho,rn ~, tho GRAND ivsyv and I rpfnsla