The Washington times., 1915-03-25
Methodist Clergy Cine.
Account of Their Duties.
Delegates to Southern Conference Answer to Ques-
tion "Are All the Preachers Blameless in
Their Life and Official Administration"

The good character of their lives
and the success of their administra-
ticn of official duties during the past
year OF ministers of the Baltimore
conference of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church South was attested to-
day when Bishop Warren A. Gambler.
presiding over the session in Mt. YER
non. Place Church. called upon the
clergymen delegates to give accounts
of their stewardship.
To the question: Are all the
preachers blameless in their life and
official administrations came the re-
itcrated response. Nothing against
him" following the announcement or
conference then heard from the
preachers so-called reports Of the
progress in church affairs since tn"
last conference.
growth in church membership and in
usefulness to the communities in
which the various churches are To-
Gated.
Served With Mosby.
A rousing Methodist hymn express
sive of his faithful service to the
church, followed the brief remarks of
the Rev. Benjamin F. Ball. Of
minister. who in reporting Of the past
year. said that he had endeavored to
be as active in church affairs as his
enfee bled condition would permit. The
Rev. Mr.. BIZ explained that he rode
his first circuit forty-nine years ago.
a distance of $50 miles. shortly after
the war. in which he served with
Col. John Mosby. the noted Confed-
crate soldier.
Bishop Gambler opened the conference
today with the statement that yester-
days session convinced him that the
meeting would increase In Methodist
fervor and accomplishments during the
remaining days. The presiding officer
took occasion during the reports of the
various pastors to give his approval to
the success they expressed. Bishop AL
pheus w. Wilson, of Baltimore. also pre-
sided for brief period today.
This afternoon the conference will be
devoted to meetings of the boards and
committees of the church, with an ad-
dress at 3 o'clock on the work of his
institution by the Rev. Dr. r. II. Ben
nett, superintendent of the correspond
ence school of the Methodist Church
South of Emory University, at Atlanta,
Ga.
Tonight President Wilson will be the
guest of the conference. Tho doors of
Mt. Vernon Place Church will open
promptly at O'Clock, and as many as
can be accommodated will be admitted.
nished all delegates and their wives. The
cards entitle the holders to be intro
duced to the President. who. because
of other engagements, can meet only
card holders at the brief reception. Fol-
lowing the reception. addresses will be
made on church extension. with {. d.
Harris as the principal speaker.
Ask for Retirement.
The conference this morning referred
to the committee on superannuate re-
lations the names of the following min
!sters. who. because of advanced age
or incapacity from active service. seek
retirement from pastorates: B. w.
Bond, of Leesburg, Va: c. Stanton.
of Elkton. Va; B. w. hWeeler. of New
Hope, Va: ]. K. Gilbert, of Church
vile. Va: Thomas Cooper. of Fincastle,
Va; J. w. Mcneil. Of Covington. Va.
and F. F.. Hammond, Of Mcdowell. Va.
Financial aid from the conference
was sought toward a fund to build d
larger church in Lexington. Va. The
appeal. which was sent by the fourth
quarterly conference of Trinity Nj. T..
Church South. at Lexington, said one
fourth of the students in the Virginia
Military Institute and the Washington
and Lee University at Lexington were
members of the Methodist faith, and
additional facilities Nc;o necessary to
accommodate them.