Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-02-03
PASTORS IN FEAR
OF CONFERENCE
Methodist Divines Dread Uncer-
tainty Of Tenure Of Their
Charges.

ga
A coming event in local and Essex
county c~hurchdom which is now mon
opolizing the attention Of many Metho-
dist divines, and which annually causes
a. deep thrill of apprehension to af1ict
the pastoral timber affiliated with the
Newark District Methodist Conference,
will be the convention which opens In
Montclair on Wednesday, March ~,
and remains in session for one week.
The presiding bishop who will off1cf-
ate at this, the fifty fifth annua con-
clave, will be the Right Rev. Bishop
Earl Cranston, of washington, D. G.
The ~uneasiness among the pastors Is
caused by the fact that none know IN
what direction the lake will falf' that
may sever the ties that bind q divine
to a lucrative charge and send him to
q passionate paying an abbreviated
salary.
Last year Bishop Warren presided,
and while but few local changes were
made they were sufficient to create q
decided appearance of friction. No one
thus far has been able to conjecture
wha action Bishop Cranston will take
regarding the making of appointments,
and 1t will be necessary for the dis
trict superintendent, comprising Rev.
DIR. Jesse L. Hurlbut, Of the Newark
district; Rev. D. B. r. Randolph. OF
the Elizabeth district; Rev. DR.. George
w. Smith, of the Jersey City district,
and Rev. Z. G. Muller, of the Paterson
district, to confer with the presiding
head regarding the shifting Of pastors
before any definite changes car be
made,
Some $50 ministers will attend the
conference, coming from various sec
lions of Northern New Jersey, Staten
Island and from several towns in New
York State.
The pastors in this city who, by
virtue of serving exceptionally long
terms with local churches and having
thus made themselves liable to. reap
pointments, consists Of g DR.. Will
lam II. Morgan, of the Central Church;
Rev. Warren r. NNeff, Of the DeGroot
Church; Rev. James G. Howard, Hal
sey Street Church, Rev. Frederick C.
Mooney, Union Street Church: Rev.
Frank Diefendorf, Roseville
Church, and Rev. James II. Mac
Donald, Of st. Luke's Church, who Is
clOSlnS HIS lHHu So"A
charge.
Nevertheless, since the abolition OF
the old specifed-time limit Of three
years. no definite period has been al
lotted a divine, and the short,term
pastor is ofttimes selected for the sac
transfer.
Aside from the question of appoint
ments, the conference will consider
many vital features relating to mod
ernizing the methods and discipline of
the church.
Among the subjects to be discussed
viii be the vital question Of the time
limit for pastors, which needs revision;,
a plea for the modification of the
powers of the district superintendent,
and the advisabiiity of svstenatizing
ana districting the officiating bishops.
These vital measures will be con-
sidered for the benefit of the delegates.
who will be named at the session to at
tend the quadrennial general confer
ence convention Of the Methodist
Church, to be held in Minneapolis,
Mimi, in May next.
The executive clergymen who will
assist Bishop Cranston in conducting
the weeks schedule of conference ses-
sions consist Of the district superin-
~'tendents, Rev. DR.. Hurlbut. Or. L. C.
Muller, DR.. D. B. F. Randolph and DR..
G. az Smith; secretary, Rev. DR.. Fred
erick Bloom; s~tatistician, Rev. DR.. John
Jacob A. Cole.
The sessions will be held daily in the
First Methodist Church, of Montclair,
from $3.50 o'clock to 1890 loon, and the
afternoons Of each. day will be devoted
to the several conference anniversaries.
The program, in brief, will comprise
a roll-call, a memorial service, an ami
versary of the Woman's Home Mission
airy Society, the anniversary of the
Centenary Fund and Preachers Aid
Society, annual meeting Of the Board
of Home Missions and Church Exten-
sion. anniversaries of the Women's
Foreign Missionary Society and the
Freedmen's Aid Society. a special ses-
sion of the Mems Brotherhood of the
Newark Conference. anniversary Of the
Epworth League and Temperance Soci-
ETY.. a Iovefeast, a missionary sermon
and q series of devotional services.
(, Rev. Herbert f. Randolph, pastor of
the First Church, where the conference
sessions will be held. is chairman of
the program committee, and lHoratio
Craig Is head of the accommodation
committee. +.
Among the noted speakers who will
address the conference will be Dr. D.
q. Darony. of Chicago DR.. @. Stanley
Hall, Of Clark University. and Rev. DR..
Woolston, of Philadelphia.
Bishop Cranston was horn In .Athena