Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-08

The "unification of all those who
have the hope of soul salvation in
one great Christian fraternity formed
the theme of speakers. including Bish-
OPP Earl Cranston of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, at this mornings ses-
sion of the Maryland annual conference
of the Methodist Protestant Church.
which opened a weeks meeting in the
Rhode Island Avenue Church yester-
day. The discussion of the theme of
the unification of the three branches
of Methodism proved the most import
ant as well the most interesting
topic discussed today by the 300 dele
gates attending the conference.
The interest of the delegates how
ever. was divided between the subject
of unification and anticipation of the
visit and address of President Wilson.
which is promised for tonight The
President is expected to come to the
church at o'clock and briefly greet
the conference. The doors of the Rhode
Island Avenue Church will be open at
o'clock to those delegates and friends
who hold tickets of admission. and at
s:45 o'clock the doors will be thrown
open to general admission. AS the seat
ing capacity of the church Is not large
IL is expected that many will be turned
away tonight.
Bryan to Make Address.
Secretary Bryan will make an ad-
dress following the President. The
song service will be led by the confer
ence choir, composed of ministers, and
President Bowers. who yesterday was
reelected president of the conference
for the fourth consecutive year, will
preside.
The time has come when Methodism
oh he
Bishop Cranston In his address He
then spoke of the plan Of some who
would unite the three branches of the
church by plan which he called uni
fcation by division" and declared that
there Is no such thing.
The things worth while are thethings
which pertain to the salvation of the
individual SOUL" said Bishop Cranston,
and anything that is standing In the
way should be removed. We want to
get out of the spirit of war and into
the spirit of Christ. The first thing
for all of us to do to settle this mat
ter - to decide that We ought to get
together. that we will get together
aud then talk about how"
Bishop Lauds NJ. P. Branch.
The bishop paid high tribute to the
Methodist Protestant branch of Metho-
dism. and said that as much instruction
and inspiration had been received from
il as from the other two divisions of
the greater church.
Seventy -four years old-and nearly
seventy-hve years old-as I am said
Bishop Cranston, II am not at all sure
that J will not live TO hold the bowl
~ the christening of the first convert
u the united church. May God bless
YOU, brethren. and let us all try to get
INTO that spirit which we will find
when we meet John Wesley and all
The others marching in unity on the
other side
Fraternal greetings also were brought
10 the conference By Rev. DR.. Hardin
OF the Mount Vernon Place Church
from the Baltimore conference of the
". Il. Church South. which met in this
city several weeks ago
Rev. +. G. Klein, secretary-treasurer
OF the board Of foreign missions. spoke
Of the work being done in Japan, and
declared that nation had received
new ideal in Christianity.
Dearth of Ministers Discussed.
The question of the dearth Of minis
tiers in the church was discussed by
Rev. George r. Brown, secretary treas
urer of the board of ministerial edu-
cation. DR. Brown declared that one
reason for the few men entering the
ministry was that nowadays there are
so many channels open in which reli-
gion is being carried on as well as in
churches proper. and that a great many
men who in the old days would have
entered the ministry today enter the
new fields.
DIR. Henry King Carroll Of the fed
Grated churches brought greetings to
the conference and spoke on the plan
10 erect a monument to DR.. Francis
Asbury. Devotional services this morn
ing we're led by DIR. T. L. Lewis, presi-
dent of Western Maryland College
Rev. DR.. Bowers Reelected.
Rev. DR.. John S Bowers Of Baltimore
was reelected president OF the confer
ence yesterday afternoon by an almost
unanimous vote. this being the fourth
time that he will have held the ONCE
BY this action. the conference set at