Evening journal., 1914-01-26
CITY PARSONS
LAY ASIDE The
STEAM ROLLER
Methodist Preachers Hereaf-
ter Mill Have Right to Ap-
peal From PreSidentS'S
Decision
REVIEWS MLRGER
FROM two ANGLES


as being opposed to steam roller pro
ceedings' when the association changed
its bylaws relative to the right of ap.
peal from decision of the president.
The question was brought up by the
Rev. Vaughan 5. Collins. who requested
the secretary TO read the bylaws of the
society. After this had been done Dl.
Collins made motion that that section
dealing with motions not debatable
suck as the decision of the president ON
an appeal be changed so that the presi-
dent could state his reasons for the de-
cision and also allow the appellant to
state his reasons for appealing. After
the motion had been seconded the Rev.
George Edward Reed offered an amend
ment. allowing the president to state
his reason, but not allowing the privi-
lege to the one making ~ appeal. This
motion was seconded whercupon DR..
Collins moved that the amendment to
/ the amendment be laid on the table.
/ This motion prevailed and the original
motion by DR.. Collins was adopted. BE
fore il was adopted Dr. Collins said he
I knew of case where a presiding elder
/ had opened his mail while presiding at
I a quarterly conference session while an
important question was being consider
ed. Later the elder gave an opinion ON
an appeal taken by the one who intro
duced the matter despite the fact that
/ the presiding officer of the conference
had not paid strict attention to the
question. In speaking OF this one case
today DIR. Collins said the presiding ell
der thought he was acting in his own
rights at the time 'but in my opinion
he was none too great for either jot
at that time"
Dr.. Reed spoke against the amend
ment, saying it was not according 20
( parliamentary rules and he did not
think it advisable After the amend
ment had been adopted, Or. Collins
said it was simply in accordance with
the rules OF the General Conference
Today's session of the association
was we'll attended, the Rev. ]. p. Out
ten opening the meeting with a Scrip
ture lesson. The question of chang
ing the bylaws was then taken up.
The order Of the day included a
paper by the Rev. w. c. Poole. super.
intendent of the Anti-Saloon League
on the Philadelphia and Wilmington
conferences since they separated. Mr.
Poole said he had prepared the papel
for his own benefit and information
Mr.. Poole stated that the churcl
members reported in the Wilmington
Conference by decades, beginning
1863, were: 1868; 26,734; 2S,S61
37122; 4O,146. This showed gain
of over 100 pei cent in a territory
the population OF which had increases
from 2S4,269 to 402 ,4S9 or about a
per cent. The study showed tina
about half of the increase in popu
lation was in the city of Wilmington
many OF whom are foreign born. Tn
increase in population in Wilmington
being 55.237 of the 11S,220 gained il
the entire Territory. These figures
Mr. Poole said, show one membe
for every l4.4 persons in the entir
territory in 1917 and one member Il
every ten in 1910. These do not in
clude the other branches of Method
ism on the Peninsula.
Mr.. Poole said that while the Phil
adelphia Conference has not show
the gain in ratio Of communicates I
, the population as is shown by tn
. Wilmington Conference, 1t is worth
of notice that an English speakin
3 church should make a more rap
gain in conferences where cities hay
e more than doubled their size largel
by immigration than the populatio
has made. He said that If the tw
conferences become one, the new cor
ference will have church propert
valued at more than Sl1,000,00O, an
124199 communicates and 81
: preachers. Among the possible gai
i Mr. Poole said that would come fro
!. a merger of the conferences woul
, be:
= The increased enthusiasm and poV
# er OF the mass movement
If "A larger vision for the churches
the Peninsula by bringing TO the
pastors from a distance.
A greater zeal and fervor for Il
- outside territory from the Peninsu
- preachers sent into It,
/" A reduction in cost of adminlstr
:, tion by reducing the number OF di
= trict superintendent in the prese
> Wilmington Conference territory
p" only two Salisbury and Wilmingto
to make all districts in the propos
:. conference OF equal size, unless the
V two should want their salaries !
l. creased.
Ia. A better opportunity for rcstle
b. preacher to "hee from the evils
g, which he knows to those he kno'
IS not Of
,y A better opportunity TO supply ov'
S. particular official boards who NJ
fault with all the ministers tn
- know. with a faultless preacher III
p do not know.
Larger power and greater freed'
u for the appointing powers.
u Less chance for the moddler to :
i'm his assistance in making appoi
- ments at conference or before &C
g ference.
st The rest and profit of change viii
m can he given the preacher in one
"A colitv bv a long move and wear
in homesickness to get back home.
,d Longer effectiveness for ma
er preachers.
Greater effectiveness LOT ma
n more.
q Some Possible Loss.
Mt The possible loss he said might
cd suit in some Peninsula customs
he churches. many OF which are no"
is hindrance. 60, .
al Losing identity as conference I
ng ritory after forty years, 10 lesu
d. history as the Philadelphia Conf
he ence for a century.
h These and other problems co
easily be solved he said. "Our g
la bishops would not afflict the g
Mt, people of Hollands Island with
he citv dude. nor would they sacrific
ID, city down town church In the ma
of man not adapted 70 the work,
is another man could be found