Middletown transcript., 1907-03-23
WILMINGTON CONFERENCE N SESSION
Bishop Berry Who Is Presiding Fsvors
Open Cabinet

Open Cabinet
SMYRNA, DEL, March 20th.-B Bishop
Joseph T. Berry, who is presiding over
the Wilmington Methodist Conference
caused stir at the opening session this
morning by declaring in favor Of the
ssoppn cabinet that would remove the
cloak Of secrecy from prospective APP
pointments, and also by asserting that
the latter-day practice of churches ex-
tending ''calls'' to ministers to become
their pastors was an innovation that
should have no place in Methodism, al
though he believed in the old fashioned
way OF churches expressing their prefer
ences for pastors.
Inasmuch as at the Wilmington Con-
ference sessions heretofore there have
been secret sessions of the Bishops cabi-
net, OF which the four presiding elders
are members, and little has been di-
vulged of contemplated appointments un-
til the slate ministerial assignments
has been practically finished, the utter
ances of Bishop Berry ELECTED undivided
attention from the clergymen, as they
realized that new order of things would
prevail under the new Bishop at least.
Bishop Berry, while one of the strongest
men intellectually and as an orator in
the church, has been Bishop but little
more than two years. His remarks were
made shortly after conference had orga-
nized, and in effect he said:
81 wish it distinctly understood that
the entire membership of this body shall
govern appointments as far as possible.
There has grow among you here in the
East system of calls that are supposed
and may heretofore have had great
weight in deciding the assignments of
ministers. Calls will notgo, will not de-
eide the appointments for me. OF course
I like to see the laity express preferences
lUr certain ministers and shall carefully
listen to suggestions, but all ministers
here are to have from me square deal,'
and in order that this may be so there
will be no secrecy about selections. The
rule OF holding minister in ignorance
until the very last moment of conference
as to where he is to be sent will not pre-
vail here. Every member of this confer.
ence will know almost as quickly as will
his presiding elder what has been decided
upon, go that any member can come to
me if lie has objections to his assignment,
and the matter can be adjusted. / don't
believe in sending any minister anywhere
to be miserable for year, and will not
do it.
''There has grown up a sentiment
among Methodists in recent years to get
rid of-the old men and fill their places
with young men. People want old doc
tors and old lawyers because of their ex-
perience, but they do not seem to want
old ministers. propose to take care Of
the old and middle-aged men and give
them assignments compatible with their
ability and their worth. | am sorry to see
that many of the young men encourage
this sentiment, forgetting that they really
are working against their own interests.
They are helping to build up custom
that will shelve them before they have
reached their prime. 1t is wrong and
| eI,oul,l ,,ot ,,rorau bara -
Conference Organizes
The conference session opened with a
devotional service in charge of the Rev.
DR.. G. II. Morrison. At the roll call
most of the ministers responded and prac-
ticalIy all the absentees came in on the
evening trains.
The Rev. W. A Wise was elected Sec
retary for the third consecutive year.
He named as his assistants the Reys. L.
E. Poole, w. E. Greenfield and W, R.
Mowbray.
Tie Rev. Ii. A. &. Westerfeld was
feIected statistical secretary and named
as his assistants the Revs. H. B. Kelso, j.
L. johnson, g. S. Thomas, G. r. Ellis,
Milton McCann, W. E. Gunby, ]. II.
Geoghegan, A. w. Goodhand, F. N. Faulk.
Ener, F. ]. Moore, J. NJ Mitchell, ]. A.
6rewington, J. NJ Kelso. and G. w.
Strickland.
The Rev. II. G. Budd was elected treas.
urer aud his assistants are the Revs. j.
NJ. Arters, J. w. Prettyman, g.. G. Will
Iiame, F. r. VanDyke, V. E. HilIs, J. G.
Richardson, E. B. Taylor, 0. s. Jones
and j. K. Easley.
The Rev. ]. T. Prouse was elected con
ference postmaster.
Score Congressman Burton
While the presiding elders iii their re
ports read to-day commented on loca
option legislation enacted by the Genera
Assembly, now expiring, it remained fo
the conference to score Congressman
Hiram r Burton for his alleged opposi
ton to local option. The subject cam'
before the conference body in the follow
ing resolution, offered by the Rev. Drs
| s. NJ. Morgan, Robert Watt and G. ?
J Jones:
''Having heard with great pleasure tha
our representatives in the Senate OF tn
J United States, II. A. Richardson ant
Henry A. DUPONT at banquets recentl
given in their honor, excluded the use Q
wines, we wish to record our hearty aI
i proyal, and in the name OF our churc
and the moral community to commen
| their acts in this respect.
Last Monday night our Representative
! in tile lower branch of the national Coz
: gress. DR.. Hiram L. Burton, made