Evening journal., 1911-03-15
CONFERENCE
DOWN TO WORK
BiShOpN eeley Arrives, in Time
TO Preside Over Much Of
Morning Session
PREACHERS DISCUSS THE
NEW MARRIAGE BILL

The forty-third annual session Of the
Wilmington Methodist Episcopal Con-
ference formally convened at o'clock
this morning with the Rev. DR.. e. L.
Honecker presiding in the absence Of
Bishop Thomas B. Neely. The con-
vention opened with the celebration
Of the Lords Supper, administered by
Dr. Hoffecker and assisted by older
ministers of the Conference.
In opening the Conference, DR.. Hof-
fecker announced a letter from Bishop
Neely stating that he would not be at
the Conference until late this MORN
ing, and authorizing DR.. Hohecker to
preside until his coming
The first motion of the Conference,
made by DR.. w. F. Corkran, of Union
Church, asking Bishop" Hoffecker
for fresh air in the room, was greeted
with great applause.
The Bishop" responded that fresh
air. like grace, might be had in abund-
ance.
Roll call was the first number on the
days schedule. The Rev. W. A. Wise
was elected secretary of the Confer
n
was elected statistical secretary. The
Rev. H. G. Budd was elected Confer
ence treasurer, and announced that
the treasurers' headquarters would he
at the Security Trust and Safe De
posit Company. Directors Room.
DR.. Robert Watt made the motion,
which he has made for the last ten
| years in Conference he said, 10 ap-
]
! ference postmaster. which passed with
| applause. Other motions passed were TO
hold the memorial service for deceased
ministers on Sunday afternoon, pre-
/ ceding the ordination service; and
that the Confernc go into executive
session on Friday morning after the
reading of the journal.
The Rev J. NJ Arters then read a
resolution concerning the Gillis mar
riage bill now pending in the Senate
] The resolution thanked the sponsor OF
the bill. Representative ellis, and the
! House for the passage of the bill b.
that branch, and petiuoned the Sen
4 ate to give immediate passage TO th'
Z bill The resolution was signed by the
4 Revs A. s. Mowbray, r. X Moore anS
J NJ. Arters.
Discussion Over Marriage Bill.
A lively discussion followed the read
ing of the resolution. The Rev
Vaughan s. Collins, Of Middletown
moved that the resolution be referred
to a committee, saying that the pro-
visions of the bill were not suff-
ciently we'll known to all the minis
ters for the Conference TO take hasty
action.
The Rev. G. T. Anderson caused
amusement by wanting to make sure
that the fine for violation was not to
be upon the ministers.
The Rev. Thomas K. Terry, of Eas-
ton, Md, remarked that the news
papers had contained full accounts oil
the bill. and that although he was in
Maryland he kept up with Delaware
news, and thought the Delaware min.
listers ought to do likewise.
The Rev. w. G. Koons. of Scott
Church, said that the remarks show.
ed that the Conference was not suf,
ficiently informed for action. The mo.
ton TO refer to committee was passed
If passed, copies of the resolution will
be sent to both houses of the Legis
} lature, the Governor and to Represen
tative ellis.
Bishop Neely Arrives.
} About 1890 o'clock Bishop Thomal
B. Neely arrived. and was hearth,
greeted. The bishop is a genial man
an entertaining talker, and preside
e with ease and grace. and he made (