Evening journal., 1908-03-20
LAY CONFERENCE
BEGINS ITS WORK
Colonel !. 7. Parker and Wal
ter 0. KO feCker Chosen
for General Co ference
TO ELECT TWO OTHERS

In the Sunday school room Of As
bury Church at $50 o'clock this morn
ing the opening session Of the Lay
Conference of the Methodist Church
was held and which, owing to the alb
sence Of Chief Justice Charles b. Lore,
the presiding officer, was called to order
by r. NJ. Cooper, the retiring enrolling
secretary. The opening prayer was
made by r. Fletcher Kane, of Bethel
Summit. Election of officers was the
next order Of business, and resulted in
the choice of Walter o. Hoffecker, Of
Smyrna, as presiding officer, and Clar-
ence A. Short, a professor in Delaware
College, was selected as secretary.
The calling of the roll of delegates
showed that there were present 140
original delegates and five reserve
delegates. Following the roll call Mr..
Cooper gave brief talk on the history
of the lay body, stating that the first
lay conference was held in Laurel in
1872. At that time, and up until 1900,
there was but one delegate to two min
isterial delegates, but in the year 1900
the representation was made equal. He
also outlined the work which would be
taken up by the present Conference.
On motion, Mr. Cooper was given a
rising vote of thanks for his conscien-
tious work during the twelve years in
which he served as enrolling secretary.
The following members Of the Con-
ference were elected as a committee on
resolutions: Joseph W. Foley, A. l..
johnson, Wilmington district; Joseph
c. Parker, c. II. Jefferson, Easton dis
trict: Harry P. Cannon, w. d. Wilson,
Dover district; DIT. w. +. Hall, S. II.
Smith, Salisbury district Mrs. Gym
thia Lofand was named as a commit
tee woman at large by the chair.
BY a unanimous ovte the order of
business of the conference was chang
ed in order to allow the delegates from
the Eastern Shore of Maryland to re-
turn to their homes this afternoon that
they might be on the ground to-mor-
! row when a vote on the question Of
prohibition will be held. Under the
revision Of the business order an cleo
/ tion was gone into for four lay dele
4 gates, one from each district. to attend
| the general conference to be held in
! Baltimore next month. There was
some discussion regarding the selection
of tellers. the result being that w. j.
Davis and w. R. Flvnn, of Wilmington
district; ]. c. Parker and r. r. Bayn-
ard, of Easton district; J. p. Holland
and r. A Hurlock. of Dover district;
| G. II. Townsend and f. G. Eelliott, of
Salisbury district. were endorsed.
Nomination speeches were limited TO
five minutes each. and the following
were nominated to represent Whining
ton, oen to be selected: !. T. Parker, OF
Scott Church; Joseph W. Coley, Of Sill
verbrook; J. w. Wilkinson, Of st.
/ Johns, Cecil county, Nd. Melville
/ Gambrill, of Grace Church.
Nominations from the Easton Dis
trict were as follows: ames Baker, OF
Pomona, Kent county, Md; Colonel J.
A. Mulliken. of Easton, Nd; DR.. A. L.
Sudler, Of Sudlersville, Md; Walter ..
Hofrecker, of smyrna DR.. Sudler de-
sired TO withdraw his name and did so,
but was Immediately again placed in
nomination.
Dover District nominations we're:
Captain G. E. Mcgee. of Milton; A. w.
Sisk, of Preston, Caroline county, Nd. /;
J. Il. Carroll, of Pomona, Nd. John p.
Holland, of Milford.
The vUte on the delegate from the
Wilmington District was as follows.
I. T. Parker, LOG; J. w. Coley, "a; Mel
VILE Gambrill, 8; J. w. Wilkinson, s.
Total vote, 154
The vote for delegate from the Eas-
ton District was as follows: Walter ..
] Hodeclzer. IS; ]. c. Milliken, "a; d..
A. c. Sudler. IS; ]. II. Baker, %.
Nominations for Salisbury District
were as follows: L. f. p. Dennis, of
Crisheldfi Robely d. Jones, of Snow
Hill; John G. Townsend, Of Selbyville.
Adjournment was taken at 1890 o'clock
until 2 p. m.