The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-03-22
Bal imore M. E. Conference.

| last session OF the general conference bel
in May 1904.
At the time when this honor was cor
ferred. he was the secretary of he Boar
of Education. His ministerial life hs
been largely devoted to educationa
work. For a number of years he wa
the Chancellor of the Denver University
In this position he made profound i'm
preston on the Methodism of the west
which led to the subsequent honors whicl
came to him. He is one of the broat
minded men of the church. and as
scholar, ranks high. So far his admins
tration of his high office has been EN-
inently successful. He will be cordial,
| welcomed by the members of the confer
ence and no doubt, his administration o
the delicate and important matters com
mitted to him by the laws of the churcl
| will give satisfaction. 1t would be {
marvellous event, in the history of tn
conference, if every appointment mad
should receive the endorsement of tn,
body. Perfection in this particular ha
not been attained as yet. The Bishops
with the advice of the presiding elders
| do their best for the good of the churcl
and the preachers. There are churche.
| whose demands cannot always b,
granted, and there are preachers, whose
wishes cannot be gratified. Hence
friction follows. 1t is generally on thu
surface, and does not irritate the body a.
a whole.
Marvellous has been the administra
ton of the Bishops in this particular
The loyalty of the preachers in accepting
the places to which they have been as
SIGNED hO haan rar Iyo1 ,Ia (lua-
those who have sent forth the laborers
and the toilers who have gone forth tc
gather the harvest for the masters gar
ner, there has been the guiding hand o
the great head of the church. Under the
present system of no limitations on the
pastorate, conditions ave arisen which
makes the administration in tie matter
of assigning the preachers to theil
charges, a difficult problem. Whatever
argument may be adva1 cd in favor o.
this new order. no one who carefully
studies the subject, can Il )se their eyes
to the fact referred to.
The presiding elders are under restric
ton and cannot remain longer than six
years on a district. At the coming ses
sion of the conference, Rev. Dr. H. R.
Naylor, presiding elder of the Washing
ton district. must change. Who his sue
cessor will be is question that Bishop
Mcdowell alone can answer. Many ol
the preachers would be pleased to see
Rev. George E. Maydwell, D. P, who
has been the secretary of the conference
for many years, receive this honor. He
is closing his eighth year at Waugh
Church, Washington. Others whose
names have been mentioned in this connec.
ton are Revs. J. St. Clair Neal, E. L. Wat.
son. c. E. Guthrie, F. M. Bristol and w
F. Sheridan. All interested in this mat.
ter must possess themselvts with patience
until the Bishop shall make the announce.
ment. The Washington district is one Of
the most important in Methodism, and
without doubt. the Bishop will carefully
weigh all the facts before the selection is
made. The other presiding elders. Revs. M
F. B. Rice, w. l.. Mcdowell, ]. F. Heisse
and J. c. Richardson will continue at
their important posts. They are all men
Of energy, ability and success. They are
making good record The offices they
fill is not the most inviting and the duties
they must discharge are difficult. Likely
little better appreciation of the men
and their work would be of advantage
to the church.
1t is a very difficult matter to forecast
about the appointment as every man
can be returned to his present charge.
From the present outlook the number
of changes will far surpass that of the
previous year. Quite a number of the
preachers are ready to change and likely
a number of charges may desire that
changes shall take place. There is a
that the hO
have been for a number of years in their
present charges should change. Their
continuance is an embarrassment to the
proper adjustment of the work. The
following men have served their present
churches beyond five years, which was
the limit before the change of law by the
general conference. Rev. w. 6. Herbert,
Caroline street, Baltimore, eleven years;
Rev. c. o. Isaac, Anacostia, Washing
ton, D. c., ten years; Rev. F. M. Bristol,
Metropolitan, Washington, nine years;
Rev. g. E Maydwell, Waugh, Washing
ton, eight years; Rev. ]. A. Jeffries, Alex
andria, Va, seven years; Rev. c. E:
Guthrie, Park Place, Baltimore; Rev. w.
F. Roberts. North Avenue, Baltimore
Rev. ] E. Smith, Grace Church, Wash
ington; Rev. E. l.. Hubbard, McKendree,
Washington; Rev. E. L. Watson, Harlem
Park Baltimore. six years; Rev. B. F.
Devries, Mount Vernon. Baltimore; Rev.
c. M. Yost, Montgomery; Rev. W. M.
Ferguson. Wesley Chapel, Washington;
Rev w. H. Weech, Walbrook, have
served FIVE years. There are men who
have served four, three. two and even
one year. would not object to change.
There are special reasons often for
changes, such as health conditions. Edu-
cational advantages for children need for
larger salaries to meet the necessary ex-
penses of life. These are important
reasons and cannot be overlooked by the
appointing power. Men who have for
years had better advantages than some
of their brethren. as worthy, should be
inspired to carry out as far as they can
the golden rule. The Methodist Minis
try is great brotherhood. The cords
of sympathy which unite the body is
tender, and should be made more so.
Some events have transpired during
the year which has caused universal Joy.
First in order was the great canvass for
$50 900 from the conference rs its share
of the 100000 needed by the Woman's
College of Baltimore, to force it from
debt. This was completed early in June
The second event was the successful
effort to secure the meeting of the General
Conference of 1908, in Baltimore. The
last success has lately crowned the
efforts of the committee having the
matter in hand. Whatever action that
may be deemed necessary will be taken by
the conference in regard to any prepare.
tions for the coming of the General Con
ference to Baltimore.
The present year has been one of sue,
cess in all departments of the work Of
the church. Revivals have been quite
general and likely over three thousand
have been received on probation, new
churches have been erected, and improve.
ments made to many others. Old debts
in a number of instances have been paid
During the year death has claimed the
following members of the conference
Rev. James R. Caddew, Rev George H.
Corey, Rev. John M. Slarrow, Rev,
Thomas Wood. Rev John W. Steele and
Rev. J. H. Brunges withdrew from the
church and ministry during the year
There are 233 members on the conference
roll, Rev. ]. H. Start, now nearly IS
years of age heads the list. He entered
the conference in 1S45. Rev. John w
Hedges, entered the same year and still
abides in the flock. The membership OF
the conference including probationers re.
ported last year was $4,000; Sunday
School scholars. 65,452: churches, 400
parsonages, 143; valuation, 81, 53l. 235.