The Washington times., 1915-03-24

the District, Maryland, and the NH-
ginias present, headed by three bishops
and leading officers Of the churcn. the
131st Baltimore conference of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church South was for-
mally opened this morning In the Mount
Vernon Place Church with the STIRRING
address Of Bishop Warren A. Gambler, OF
Atlanta, the presiding officer.
Bishop Gambler aroused the audience
to enthusiasm in his remarks, which
bristled with terse aphorisms and epi-
grams applying to ministers and ther
lay workers. His theme was THE Par
able of the Wise and Foolish Virgins,
which he declared ministers were In the
habit of using to appeal to the uncon-
in reality applies to you preachers.
Preliminary to the bishops address,
the conference was led in prayer by Ihs
Rev. J. w. Duffy, of Alexandria: The
ter. presiding elder of the District, as
secretary of the conference was fol-
lowed by the selection OF the folloW-
ing assistant secretaries: The Rev; j.
w. II. Rest. of Roanoke, Va; the Rev.
c. L. DeLong, OF Hyattsville, Mo; the
Rev. J. j. Rives, Of Hamilton, MO; the
.. Rev. W. l.. Smith, Of waldorf. Md, and
the Rev. G. D. Kidner, OF White sui
Bishop Gambler, at the outset of his
address, declared that the parable was
first spoken to preachers, the dis-
ciples. The sleeping virgins, he saiu,
had their counterparts in ministers OF
today who slumber. He exhorted lhe
| preachers to take heed of the reserve
force of the wise virgins by accumu-
lating reserve force TO meet eNiseheies
Refers To Foolish Virgins.
Reverting to the foolish virgins
Bishop Gambler deprecated the lack
OF sacrifices made by women OF TO-DAY 10
gain heavenly reward. The modern
women" he said, must have her dances
and card games on the way to Heaven
and her brother. Mr.. Man. Is likewise
foolishly resorting to family prayer TO
gain him celestial reward. And mere
are preachers Who Who van van, as 10 ness,b,e'
| I want you preachers to understaio
| that there are no clerical rates ~
heaven. You must pay full fare all
the way. A., arco+,op
commission on the action OF the last
gel eral conference in regard 10 o
| severance of all connection win Ihe
Vanderbilt University, at Nasny,iu,e, rS,t,'.,
at Atlanta and Dallas over when thc
church would have complete control, was
| PRESENTED to the conference by SER
tary Register. The report detallcn ,me
l
in ruling that the board OF trustees ot
| Vanderbilt was invested with control or
| the university and the Methoulst con
| ference had secondary charge, ana the
| IConseuuent action of the conference IN
| electing to erect separate institutions OF
! education. The statement included ref-
| erence to subscriptions already MADE
| toward the institution at Atlanta, IN
Guiding the gift of 100000 from Asa
C. Gambler. sr.. brother of Bishop
ICandler
Outlines Financial Plans.
In discussing the report of the edu-
cational commission, A. J. Lamar. Of
Nashville, publishing agent of the con-
ference, and a member of the commits
sion, outlined the ambitious plans of
the commission for procuring financial
| assistance. Five million dollars are
| needed" he said. and as we feel the
| pulse Of our people we have no doubt
date. in acquiring the full amount. In
fact. one-half Of the necessary sum al
ready Is pledged.
Referring to the Vanderbilt univer-
sity, DR.. Lamar said Southern Method
ism no longer had any interest in the
institution, neither did the institution
have any claim on Methodism lie
i urged liberal response when the gen.
eral campaign for university. funds Is
| started
Bishop Gambler, in emphasizing the
necessity for financial support of the
! conferences educational plans declared
that the church must continue its hold
on higher education If religion was to
prosper He said scholarly men are
necessary for the ministry.
The program throughout the confer
ence calls for business sessions in the
mornings, preaching in the afternoons
by prominent church dignitaries, and
general sessions each evening with SER
mons and transaction of business that
affects the church generally.
The program tonight will be in charge
of the Epworth League board, with the
, Rev. DR.. r. S. Parker, of Nashville, the
general secretary. as the principal
spealie1 Tomorrow night President
Wilson will be the guest of honor of
the conference. Friday night the ad-
dress will be given by the Rev. DR.. w
+. McMurray, of Louisville, who viii
refer to the extension work of the past
year and outline the<ambitious program
) of expansion for the new year.
, | The necessity for scholarly men in the
: pulpit Of the church was expressed In
, the sermon of the Rev j. Howard
Wells, of Baltimore, at last nights ses'
sion. The Rev. Mr.. Wells was pastor
= of Mt. Vernon Church from 1908 to 1912
/ and his sermon was the first he hat
/ delivered since he accepted the pastor
= ate of Trinity Church. in Baltimore
+ His theme was THE Qualifications of &
Christian and the Gentleness of True
= Gianthood."
$ I'VE need scholarship in the pulpit
| he said. I'VE need intellectual trainnl
in the pulpit, but we need it on firt
with the Holy Spirit The fathers o