Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-22
HOLD SESSIONS IN BALTIMORE
SOUTHERN METHODIST CON
FERENCE MEETS TOMORROW.
important Church Questions to
Come Up-Six Washington Pas
tors to Attend.

Much interest Is being manifested III
Methodist Episcopal Church South cir
cles in the annual Baltimore conference
OF that denomination which opens in the
Monumental city at a preliminary serv-
ice tomorrow evening. when Rev. j. IL.
Light of Front Royal, Va, will preach
The first business of the conference will
begin the following morning. All the
sessions will be held in st. Paul's Church,
Fayette street, near Carrollto navenue,
Bishop Alpheus W. Wilson will preside.
The six ministers representing the
Methodist Church South of this city
will leave Washington tomorrow after
noon in order to be present at the even
ing service. They are Rev. J. Howard
Wells Of Mount Vernon Place Church,
who will be with his father-in-law, E.
W. King, Auchentoroly Terrace; Rev. C.
NJ. Hesser of Emery Chapel. who will be
the guest of j. +. Gontron of West
Franklin avenue; Rev. William Eustace
Henry Of st. Pauls Church, with ]. b.
Myers of 2719 ST. Paul street: Rev. j.
w. Smith of Epworth Church, with j..
l.. Steinbach, 2s21 St. Paul street; Rev.
5. *. CockrelI of Marvin Church, with l.
w. Davis, TO North Carrollton avenue.
and Rev. w. III. Ballensee of the West
Washington Church. with Mrs. Laura
King of 1871 West Fayette street. All Of
companied by their wives.
All will doubtless be returned by the
conference to the local churches with the
exception of Rev. Mr.. Ballengee. who
has been at the West Washington Church
for the past four years, which has been
set as the time limit for a clergyman to
remain as the pastor OF church.
Change in Diocese.
Probably the most important change
That will Inc made the conference uill
De the Encouragement of dioceses SO as TO
bring all Southern Methodist Episcopal
churches in Baltimore into one district
under one elder. Both of the present pre-
siding elders for the two districts into
rs the time limit. These arc Revs. John
A. Anderson and 3. w. Bond. Some of
the suburban churches and those on the
eastern shore now included in the Balti-
more districts will probably be added to
the Washington districts.
Besides the two presiding elders the
only compulsory change in Baltimore is at
Trinity Church. where Rev. Forrest j.
Prettyman has served the time limit. Rev.
q; H. Fielding. pastor of Caenarvon
Church, has also served the time limit,
but he may be retained at the discretion
u Bishop Wilson.
Church School Question.
Another important matter which may be
brought up for discussion Is the owner
snip of church schools. This was warmly
discussed at the last conference The par
ticular case in point is the ownership of
Randolph Macon College for men, at Ash
land. Va. and the Woman's College, at
l-ynchburg. To avoid a former law of
Virginia that school property could not be
owned by churches the ownership of these
colleges was vested in a self-perpetuating
board of trustees. Previous to the last
conference the board of trustees applied
Tor the inclusion of their schools in the
list OF institutions benefited by the Car
neSie retired teachers pension fund. The
provisions made by the pension board Of
iAis fund. however, bar all state and sec
tartan schools. The board of trustees OF
the Randolph Mace institution claimed
that legally their institution was not
sectarian.
This point caused comment as il was
iclt that the church Lad a moral owner
ship. and that the benefit or the Carnegie
fund should MOI be received II ownership
had TO be denied.