Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-25
SOUTHERN N. E. CONFERENCE
BALTIMORE DISTRICT REPRE-
SENTED AT ROANOKE.
Board and Committees Appointed.
Rev. James E. Armstrong Unan!-
mously Elected Secretary.
Special Dispatch To The Star.

| Special Dispatch t" The Star.
ROANOKE. Va. March 2,.-The Balti-
more conference of the NJ. +. Church
South opened promptly this morning at
o'clock. There is a large attendance OF
visitors from all over the conference as
we'll as ministers and delegates. Bishop
Wilson presdes and is in good health des-
pitc his years and the recent illness of
Mrs. Wilson. Rev. James +. Armstrong
was unanimously chosen secretary ana
Rev. T.. V. Register. presiding elder or
the Washington district, is first assistant
secretary.
The various boards and standing com
mittees were appointed MeSSrS p. Y.
ID. Conway of Fredericksburg. d. l.. Coon
and y. l.. Pugh of Washington and II. Is.
Field of Alexandria were appointed on
tour boards.
Rev S. X. Cox. DID, formerly OF Mount
Vernon Church, Washington. is very III
AT his home in IIarIisonbnrg:
Rev. |. ". Canter. formerly OF Mount
Vernon. is in poor health. and il he
shall ask - be supcrannuated as ii is ru-
mored the conference will reSretiullE
grant the request.
that Bishop Wilson. the venerable leader
of the denomination. is able TO attend
and is likely to preside throughout the
week. Ii had been feared that the illness
of his wife, which made an operation nee
essary upon their return from their tour
of the world several weeks ago. would
make it necessary for him to stay at
home; but she has been better in the last
few days.
Question of Time Limit.
The question of the time limit. which is
set at four years in the Southern Me no.
dist Church and is rigidly enforced has
of late been discussed by leaders of that
denomination, who favor discretionary
power to extend the limit, and advocate
that it be placed IN the hands of the
bishop.
At the same time leaders OF the NJ e.
Church. which has no time limit. are de-
batting the adviSabiity of return either
to thd five-year limit in vogue up to 1850
or to the three-year limit IN vogue from
1883 The possibility of each denomina-
ton stepping around on the question To
the attitude now held by The other is
mote. iperhaps. but the speeches and pub
isled articles by leading thinkers of potn
show ,hat such might occur
For the last two weeks the Methodist
Episcopal preachers of the city have held
meetings at which the time limit dis
cussed. and with the approach of confer
preachers of the southern church those
who are his year affected or will hc in
their order have given serious thought to
the question of change.
Bishop Cranston to Preside Here.
Bishop Earl Cranston will preside over
the Methodist Episcopal conference in
Washington, beginning April L. This gath
ering will be of greater Importance than
usual. because it will be prelude to the
general conference in Baltimore. from
May TO about June 4. The selection of
the delegates to the general convention
will be a big item of business.
Rev. DIR. G. w. Baldwin. VINO has been
foremost in the effort to get the gathering
for Baltimore: Rev. Dr. j. c. Nicholson
Rev. Dr. John +. Goucher, president of the
"omans College, and others being
mentioned. Five are to be chosen 1t is
possible that the preachers of Washing
ton will unite on one of their number
and that other selections of the conference
territory will come in for consideration.
At the annual conference it is likely
that d project for some permanent worthy
memorial to Bishop Francis Asbury to be
erected in Baltimore, probably with the
financial aid OF the general body. will be
launched. Bishop Asbury was president
Of the general conference which met in
Baltimore a hundred Years ago and
which May dedicated the Eutaw' Street
Church edifice.
thodist Protestants to Meet.
At the Methodist Protestant conference
which will meet in Snow Hill and be pre-
sided over by Rev. j. NJ Sheridan, the
president. important changes i'm the pas
torates in Baltimore are though likely to
be made.
The question of uniting with the Congre-
gational denomination is apt to be one of
the most important TO come up. The Sc
lection of delegates to the general con-
ference-which will meet next month in
Pttsburg-is likely to be an interesting
Occa sion.
Rev. DIR. +. T. Tasg. the president of
the general conference, is member of
the Maryland conference. Rev. Dr. Thorn
as ii. Lewis. president of Western Mary
land College, has been one of the most in
huential members OF previous general
gatherings.
Both of these are likely to have an i'm
pOrtdnt influence on what action is taken
on the question of church union II is
understood that Rev. Mr.. Sheridan will be
reelected president with little more than
Il formality. Plans for the extension of
the denomination are likely to be given
much consideration.