Evening journal., 1914-04-04

points touched upon in the annual ad-
dress of our president relative to tenn
perance legislation and urge the laymen
OF the State of Delaware to act wisely
IN the selection of candidates for the
Legislature to the end that we may se-
cure further legislation against saloons
and to prevent any reaction against the
present laws, viz: the repeal of the
hazel Dill or a bln for resubinission.
And further we recommend state-
wide prohibition for the whole State Of
Deiaware and also for the whole State
Of Maryland.
we also endorse all our president
said with reference TO the merger of
the Philadelphia Conference and the
| Wilmington, and declare ourselves I'M
alterably opposed 70 such movement. /"
Only Two Against.
/ The vote on the resolution was n
to 2, indicating the preponderance of
sentiment among the laymen against
the merger.
Walter o. Hoffecker, OF Smyrna
spoke in behalf of the resolution and
against the merger. He gave figures
showing that there is one Methodist.
IN every "a white persons in the midi
ule states, embracing Delaware: one.
IN every AZ in New England; one in'
u west of the Mississippi, and one
in in the southern states. He stated.
that investigation had shown that the
size of the conferences in the south
where the strength of Methodism isl
three times greater than here. are
IN all but two instances smaller than.
the Wilmington conference. he
enumerated a number of these con-
ferences, some of which had 81
ministers, others AZ. Wilmington
Conference has 1856. He quoted these
figures, he said, to show that where
the conferences are smallei. Aietbo1 ]
cism is stronger, and he did not tbinl.
anything would be gained by a merger
os the Wilmington Conference wifi
the Philadelphia Conference.
Luther M. Broadway and Clarence
A. short spoke briefly In favor of the
merger and were the only men TO vote
against II.
The association adopted a resolu-
uOh, submitting the question of the
auVlslDility OF holding district meet
lnss' 10 the committee on Ministerial
support VIII the request that they
report the next regular meeting.
Resolutions were also adonted
favoring the duplex system of church
finances.
During the afternoon meeting, Hon.
Ihomas X. Fort, Jr., Of Philadelphia.
gave an interesting address on "The
Church-The Duty and Responsibility
of the Laity Thereto" In the course
OF MS remarks, Mr.. Fort, stated that
ne did not believe the members of the
merger.
In the Presbyterian Church yes
terday afternoon, the Stevenson M. e.
Church being occupied by the execu-
i've session of the Conference, the an
nlVersary of the Women's Home Mis-
slonary Society was celebrated, al
which Rev. George Edward Reed de-
ilVered an interesting address.
In Stevenson Church last evening
which was again filled to overfiowing
the anniversary of the Wilmington
Conference Epworth Deague was cele.
brated with Rev. Milton McCann, the
: president, as presiding officer. The
principal speaker was DR.. w. f
Sheridan, ID. D., of Chicago, who gave
an interesting talk on the history o.
! the league.
The annual banquet Of the VIII
! mington Conference Epworth Leagu,
g Board Of Control was held In tn,
Presbyterian Church last evening, a
which the following persons wer,
present: Bishop Earl Cranston, Dis
4 trict Superintendents George p
= Jones, r. X. Stephenson, Robert Wat
= and e. L. Hoffecker, composing tn,
: bishops cabinet; Rev. Milton Mccain
president Of the Wilmington Confer
? ence Epworth League; w. G. Harris
secretary: A d. Davis, treasurer, ant
vice-presidents, the Revs. H. A. G
Westerfield, V. p Northrup, John R
\ Johnson and T. r. VanDyke.
. At the conclusion of the annua
: banquet of the Wilmington Confer
ence Epworth League last night tn
following officers we're elected b
N serve the current year: Rev. w. c
= Harris, president; Rev. Milton. Nc
= Cam secretary; Miss Dora Wild:
: treasurer; Rev. w. J. Koons, Junio
. League superintendent; Rev. ]. 1
!. Johnson, Van p. Northrup. II. A. c
q Westerfield and II. r. VanDyke