Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-25
CHURCHMEN READY
TO GREET WILSON
President to Be Guest at Re-
ception Tonight by N. E.
Church South.
REV. DR.. E. v. REGISTER
GIVES UP SECRETARYSHIP
Sessions of Conference Today at
Mount Vernon Place Church Re-
plete With Surprises.

Amid the general hum of business
OF the 131st session of the Baltimore
annual conference of the Methods st
Episcopal Church South. being held
this week at the Mount Vernon Place
Church. time was found this morning
to get ready for the reception to Pres
ident Wilson tonight. The President
is to be the guest of honor of the con-
ference. He will hold an informal re-
ception in the parlors Of the church
at { o'clock. and all delegates who
hold the proper Identification cards
will be admitted to greet him. The
President will not speak at the meet
Ing, 1t Is announced. which will be a
regular night session of the confer
ence. Rev. DR.. John NJ. Moore. secre-
tary of home missions of the church.
VIII make the main address at the
session.
Today's session. devoted chiefly to the
business of passing on the cha and
ability of the 300 ministers of all grades
included in the eight districts of the Bal
timore conference. was replete with in
terest and even surprises. The chief sur
prise of the morning was furnished by
Rev DR.. E. V. REGISTER. secretary Of the
conference. who rendered his resignation
from that Office owing to the great strain
DR.. Registers resignation, coming
after his service of more than twenty
one years as assistant secretary and
secretary of the conference, was q
source of great regret to the members
generally. who characterize DR.. Reyes
ter as "one of the best secretaries in
Methodism."
Rev. Dr. Harry NJ canter of Har-
risonburg. Va, was appointed to fill the
secretary's chair. and Immediately took
n
time pastor Of the church at Alexan-
dria and Is a son Of Rev. I. W. Canter,
at one time pastor Of the Mount Yer
non Place Church
the Washington district. and for
number of years had been secretary Of
the Baltimore conference. He Is
member of the book committee Of the
church.
All Lead Blameless Lives.
In accordance with conference rule
No. %. which asks II all preachers
are blameless in their life and official
administration. the 300 ministers of all
grades were passed upon this morning.
Nothing against him. was the practi-
cally universal verdict, varied now and
then with recommendations by presid-
ing elders for a superannuated relation
for some aged minister.
Rev. B. f. Ball of .Waynesboro. Va.
one of the superannuated ministers. took
the privilege on the floor when his name
was called, and feeltngly addressed the
conference in what proved to be one of
the most pleasant features of the ses-
sion. DR.. Ball told how he rode his first
circuit forty-nine years ago. and spoke
Of the days when he was q member of
Col. Mosby's famous band of raiders.
At the conclusion of DR.. Balls talk.
Rev. pr. Tyler started the singing of
Every Day and Every Hour" in which
the audience. which crowded the audi
torium. joined.
Dr.. Prettyman was among the many
pastors who gave reports "a splendid
year at Occoquan" was the report Of
Rev. H. l.. Bivens Of that place.
The following were referred to the
committee on conference relations for
superannuated relation: Rev. Charles
s. Stanton of Elkton, Va: Rev. J. X
Gilbert of Churchville. Va: Rev. B. W.
Bond of Leesburg, Va; Rev. b. W.
Wheeler of Newport, Va: Rev. j. W.
Mcneil of Covington, Va; Rev. L.
Cooper and Rev. F. E. Hammond
Plea for Publication.
A strong plea in the interests of the