The Jersey City news., 1906-04-07
William H. Beach Chosen
President and W. s. Peter
Secretary of Association at
Yesterdays Meeting In
West Side Avenue Church
BISHOP KAMlLTON's ADDRESS
He BELIEVES WITH CROMWELL
THAT THE CHURCH SHOULD
NOT DOMINATE THE STATE
ToDAYS PROCEEDINGS.

The eighth annual convention of the
Laymen's Association of the Newark
conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, was held yesterday at Boyd and
Bergen avenues. Business sessions were
held in the morning and William ID.
Beach was reelected president and w. 5.
Peter secretary In the afternoon at 6
o'clock p. NJ. dinner was served in the
Peoples Palace. There were informal
talks at the dinner.
In the evening a public service was
held iE the West Side NJ. E. Church.
> The laymen We're addressed by Bishop
Hamilton. William H. Beach presided
at the meeting. The auditorium and gal
iery of the church were crowded. Chairs
were placed in the aisles to accommodate
hose who did not arrive in time to secure
regular seats.
The Bishops address to the laymen,
hough intensely serious, was punctuated
lere and there with lively sallies of wit
in the way of anecdotes that brought
forth hearty bursts of laughter and his
serious remarks were frequently met with
much hand clapping. He said he had
been selected TO come out of the wild
and woelIy west to preside at this con-
ference in order that no charge could be
made of showing favoritism on account
,f personal friendship in making appoint
aents. He spoke of the onerous task OF
a Bishop in making appointments in
manner to satisfy both ministers and CON
gregations He said the laity was the
foundation Of the church societies and
that it was the responsible unit of meas
ire and consequently it had great re
possibilities as well as privileges behind
1. He said he believed in the principles
Of Oliver Cromwell, who believed that
the church should not dominate the State,
nor did he believe the State should donli-
nate the church The sacrifices, he said,
that the Methodist clergy make in the
way of personal comfort was one of the
Illuminating features of Methodism.
1t may be necessary for me TO take
out men who have been invited TO return
by Their congregations. l want to inn
press upon you laymen that the appoint
ing power is in the hands of and in the
honor conferred upon your Bishops. l
have come all the way from San Fran
cisco to preside here and 1 have no in
terest in any single church that is not
conducted in the interest of all and there
is no way of observing those interests
but by serving all" (Applause).
The Bishop then grew even more Sc
srious as he appealed to the laity to share
some of the sacrifices which ministers
have to make and he waxed e.oquent as
!he criticized the fad Of some congrega-
tions for brilliant young preachers and
their disposition to treat with some cold
ness a minister appointed to their church
simply because he night have few
white hairs in his head.
Il have no fears On that score for my
future" said the Bishop, as he ran the
fingers of his right hand through the
leonine mass of gray hair that adorns his
head. | shall always be provided with
my bread and butter, but there are many
cIergymen whom congregations do not
want because they are approaching old
age-men who have served the church
faithfully and by their exper' 'ence are
still valuab bic workers in the Lords vine
yard. have always been brought up to
respect age, and have great reverence
for the so-called aged preacher"
To-day's programme was set down as
follows:
S.15 A. M.-Deyot:onal Services, Rev.
4. B. Richardson, d. D.. Leader. Topic:
s.The Essential Conditions of Conscious
fsaIvation.' Address by Rev. J. H. How
ard. D. D. A. M.--Business session.
T45 P. Anniversary Of the Total
Abstinence and Prohibition Society, Rev.
Charlee Il. Barnes, .. D.. presiding;
speaker. Hon. II. + Castle. Pittsburgh.
7.45 P. M-In Lafayette Methodist
Episcopal Church. Anniversary Of the
Conference Epworth League, Rev. w. B.
Fleming, presiding; speaker. Rev. Edwin
NJ. Randall, D. D., General Secretary
7.so p. Evangesistic Services, Trim