The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-09-23
NJ. E. CONFERENCE.
'i1'S-Ih'rd annual Meeting a, Nan.
nington.

-! 'I-'tC annual session of the
! west virginia conference of the Meth
o1Ist Episcopal church will meet in
Warrington on September %. Risbon
Luther b. Wilson, D, D.. LII. D.. will
preside This conference covers tba
state with the exception of a small ser
tioh OF the eastern panhandle a Iarga
part OF southwest Virginia. including
the city OF Staunton, is also included in
the conference.
/ There are eight great districts aacb
under the constant supervision Of q dis
ltlct superintendent. The members of
the church within the conference rrp.
Der 2"2OO, with 1851 probatjonprs ad-
ultiohai. There are SIG church buildings.
valued at Sl,S79. 80; 1873 parsoragas
valued at 1888, 1873; !, 087 Sunday schools
with an enrolment of 64.72,. The
membership Of the annual conference @
composed Of lT3 who are full members.
70 ministers who are candidates FIR f1II
membership: 50 members who a~a M,
.he Superannuated list through age or
lhnrmlty' and 10 members who from
some Just cause have not been engaped
IN active work during the past wear
In addition there are SO supplies. who
while not members of the conference.
ar doing regular work and must ranort
to the conference. There are 81 wido,ys
OF deceased ministers who are claimants
on the funds of the conference. Last
year there was paid to these widows
and the superannuates the sum of
! So, 486.
/ Al the conference session every
charge sends in a full report of work
ana the character of every minister
comes up for examination, and no name
Is passed unless it is declared nothing
agsmst him." No men in the world
undergo such an annual scrutiny as
Methodist ministers. The morning SEES
slons Of the conference are devoted ia
! business and the afternoon and evening
sessions to the work of the great banev-
client societies, such as missions. educa-
Iioh' temperance and conference claim
ants; and to committee work. There
are ~ standing committees. which make
reports concerning missions, education.
treedman's aid, church extension. Sab
bath observance, and, indeed. on every
subject that commands the care of the
church
An important part of the session is
the examination of young men who are
, candidates for the ministry The con-
! ference has four years course of
study, and the mastery of which would
be equal to a seminary course. and no
one is admitted into full membership
and ordained as an elder until he has
completed this course. After a full ex-
/ ANIMATION on the English branches
young men are received on probation.
at the end of two years if they have
passed the examination and made
good in the work they are received in
to full membership and ordained as
deacons, and after two more years and
the completion of the course of study
they are ordained as elders.
Perhaps the part of the conference
work in which the people are most in
terested is the appointment of the min
listers. There is no longer time limit
in the church A minister NAV stav
any length of time deemed necessary in
charge. But the theory UNDERLYING
all appointments is thai the minister is
appointed only for single wear. and if
ne returns 1t must be by reappointment.
Often the work of adjustment which
assures each minister of appointment
and each church of minister. causes
unexpected changes. Men who expect
to go back are changed, and men who
expected to change are returned: like
wise churches expecting changes are
disappointed, and those not desiring
changes are surprised at change. 1t
is no easy matter to make $50 appoint
ments, take care of the work, and salts
fly 200 and more ministers and 60, 900
people.
Another cause of changes among pas
tors is the completion of the time of a
district superintendent. whose term of
office is limited to six years; the coming
again into the work of men who for
some cause have rested year or more,
and finally changes demanded by dissat-
istied ministers or charges. All these
tend toward changes. This year three
district superintendent finish their
terms. Asbury Mick, of the Hunting
ton district; J. S. Robinson, of the Nor
gantown district, and R. B. Ward, of
the Oakland district On account of i'll
health another district superintendent
may resign. There are several promi-
nent churches that expect changes this
year, so that the prospect is for a large
number of changes. The people will
wait anxiously for the list of apsoint-
ments.
The conference session lasts from
Wednesday until the next Monday even
ing, During some time in the session,
generally Friday, laymen, representa-