The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1908-03-21

lie iOin annual session oi the VIII
mington NJ. f. Conference opened in
Asbury Church, Wilmington. on We'd
nesday morning. Bishop Dan A. Good
sell presiding Rev w A. Wise was
reelected Conference Secretary, nam
ing as his assistants Revs. w. RMow-
bray. l.. L. Poole and w. Z. Green
field. Rev H. A. G.. Westerfeld was
re elected, statistical secretary. The
Rev Henry G. Budd was reelected
Coniernce treasurer The Conference
Stewards elected were Rev. l.. F..
Barrett. Wilmington district; Rev. p.
H. Rawlings. Dover district; Rev. J.
\. Arters. Easton district: Rev. c. w.
prcttyman, Salisbury district, After
the appointment OF the standing COM
mittccs and the Bishops opening adj
dress, the passing OF the character OF
the ministers was called for.
Rev 4. w. Lightbournc, pastor of
Wesley Church. Dover. was reported
by Presiding Elder Morgan, as being
the subject oi charges preferred by
Rev $. p Shipman and Rev T. n.
Cantwcll alleging that the credentials
nu which h. W1s admitted into the
Wilmington Conference from the Con-
pr,pational Church were irregular and
invalid The hearing OF the charges
was referred 90 e select committee Of
~ The meetings 81 which are secret.
Il !, ALLEGED that DR. l.ighthouruc was
aware al the irrcVularity of his Gre
don.ia's and ;ha, they have disappear
ed since hr was admitted 10 Confer
cncc.
Prior referring the charges io the
committee there We, a discussion. in
which Rev. DR. lightbourne declared
there was a rumor to the effect that
some ministers oi the Conference had
contributed To fund To defray the ex-
pcu>cS 81 the prosecution. and he did
NOT think that any clergyman who had
made such contributions should be eli
gihle TO Sit a a member 81 the select
committee or Jury. Bishop Goodscll
declined 10 pass upon the question OF
the eligibility OF men who may have
subscribed to such fund to sit upon
The select committee. inaSmuch as he
had no knowledge that such contribu-
tionS had been made.
The following ministers were chosen
to try the charges :-Revs. w l..
White T. II Webster, Charles a Hill,
G. p Jones. Luther f. Poole. +. +.
Carpenter. 5. Y Pilchard. g. s.
rilchard. c. S Thomas. ]. =. Outten,
! ". Colona, {. w. Strickland. f. J..
Cochran. w o. Hurst J. =. Otis and
X X Stephenson
Rev. Cantwe'l and Rev Shipman are
conducting the prosecution for the
Conference and Rev T T.. Terry and
Rev. +. H. Dashicll are counsel for
DIR I.ighthournc
The witnesses Tor the prosecution
were sharply questioned 10y DR..
ighlbuurnc, hc showing remark
able capacity N this particular
II is stated that the hearing may
bring out q political condition exist
'ng IN the Conference which will come
n, surprise even to those who have
been more ar les, familiar with its
workings
Dr Tighibournc and his counsel.
aside from their close cxamina-
tiun ui the witnesses are keeping 4
discreet silence as to the defense they
V'll employ md refuse to divulpe any
thing ~ connection with the hearing
which va, closely guarded from the
public
The annual Missionary sermon was
preached bv the Rev A. w. Light
bourne on Tuesday evening,
GROWTH OF METHODISM.
"Mcthodism in the United States
ha, enjoyed a remarkable era of pros
pcrity during the past four years.
said Bishop Goodscll, in h.s address.
"lt seems almost incredible the gains
made III single year previous" Con
tinuing. Bishop GoodScll stated that
above all deaths there was a gain OF
100000 converts year. There are
now in the United States 1850. 600
COMMUNICATE, and 100000 in foreign
countries The property oi the
churches and parsonagcs in the coun-
try amounts to SIS6.ooo,ooo, showing a
gain OF SsI.ooo.ooo during the past
four years, or SSooo.ooo year. In
schools and colleges there is an in
vcstmcnt oi S4o.oooooo and an cndow-
mcnt oi SCI 100000 There are 10000
students in all grade oi church schools.
THURSDAYS SESSION
Was taken up with routine business,
Presiding Elders reports, and elcc-
tioncerng for delegates to the Gen
cral Conference which meets at Bal
timorc next May. The committee,
trying the charges against Rev A. w.
Iightbournc, continued the hearing OF
the case.
The Conference disposed OF the mat
ter surrounding the rclnquishng ot
the pastoratc by the Rev Fred f. Me
Knscy, OF the Red Lion charge, a
few weeks ago in few minutes by ac-
ccpting his request to Presiding Elder
\. s. Mowbray that he withdraw from
the Conference. This is equivalent 10
the minister being dismissed from the
Conference Behind the investigation
is said to have been actions which
were referred TO MS unmiuiStcrial, but
which in their character were said to
have been unusual. The Rev McKin-
sey did not appear at the Conference,
The lay Conference, composed of
the lay delegates from the various dis
trcts opened its session in the base
f~t.-.t. -. IA.