Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-26
NEWS OF PULPIT AND PEW IN HARRISBURGT
FEW M. E. CHANGES
EXPECTED HERE
Plans Completed For Annual
Conference to Be Held
at Altoona

OF interest to the thousands of
Methodist readers of the Harrisburg
Telegraph is the coming session of
the Central Pennsylvania Conference
which convenes in the Eighth Avenue
Methodist Episcopal Church, Altoona,
March 10, 1916. Bishop Earl Gran
ston, d. D., Ii. D.. of Washington, d.
e., will preside. This will be his last
presidency of this conference, as it is
the year of his retirement which takes
place in May. Previous to the confer
ence he will meet his cabinet, compos-
Cd Of the following district sIperlnten-
uents: a. >. Faslck, Emory Nj. Stew
ems, ). B. Evans, j. Is. Stein and II. l..
Jacobs, on March 8, in the Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church, Harris
burg. At this meeting probable
changes of appointments will be con-
Sidered.
The Rev. Wiford p. Shriner will be
the conference host. With the assist
ance of a large committee of minis
ters and laymen he is arranging for
the entertainment of the three hun
dred and twenty-five members of the
conference and visitors. \ strong
program is being arranged, including
anniversaries of the different societies
of the church, when strong speakers
who are speCialties III these various
fields OF activity will present the in
tereStS Of these causes. y period of
relaxation from the strenuous mental
activities of the week Will be afforded
on Friday night, when a musical en-
tertainment will be given in the high
school auditorium by the Miller sisters
of Erie. These young ladies have won
lame as musicians. playing upon the
harp, violin and cello, and a great
treat is promised. Altoona is a CIly
of churches and on Sunday visiting
pastors will occupy the pulpits of the
various city churches. Bisnop Gran
ston will preach in the church in
which the sessions are held.
Big Banquet Planned
\ new departure in the social activi-
Ties of the conference week is the
federation OF the Alumni Association
for an interscholastiC banquet to be
held Friday evening. The Rev. }. II.
Price representing Dickinson College,
the Rev. Ii. w. Hartsock, representing
Theological institutions, and the
Rev. G. a. Duvall, representing Dick
inson Seminary, are arranging an able
program and an attractive menu for
The occasion. 1t is estimated that over
three hundred persons will attend this
festive occasion.
Much interest is manifested in the
conference annuity fund. The Rev.
G. w. karns of Carlisle, has been i'm
The field as the secretary of this cause
which has to do with providing pen
sions for retiring ministers, and ii is
anticipated that he will he able to
report nearly twenty thousand dollars
in cash, in addition to many thousands
that have been given in legacies. This
will increase to a considerable extent,
the income of the retired ministers
Themselves
will likely place on the altars of the
church at this conference the sum of
ten thousand dollars. Secretary Harms
will likely lead all the conferences in
Methodlsm in raising money for this
fund this year.
A movement looking towards the
increase of membership of the Mu-
tual Beneficial Association is contem-
plated by the management. In this
association each member pays five
dollars upon the death of a member.
to his wife or heirs, sum that appro-
inmates $1,000. The death rate in the
conference during the present year
has been very low.
Few Changes Expected
1t is too early yet to predict the
changes which may take place in the
conference. 1t is the policy of Bishop
'ranston to send back every person
he can TO his present charge. Very few
'hanges are anticipated in or near
Harrisburg. Perhaps there may be
none. But two changes were made
last year in the city when Dr. f. A.
Pyles came to Fifth Street, and the
Rev. w. w. Hartman came to Ridge
Avenue.
Three constitutional changes will be
voted upon at this conference. one of
which will deal with the problem of
bishops for races and languages. In
all probability it will be defeated
From each congregation one lay
man, and a reserve have been elected
10 the lay electoral conference which
convenes on Friday to elect lay dele
gates to the general conference which
meets at Saratoga Springs in May Six
lay delegates Will be selected. Several
persons have been spoken of for the
position. Up to the present time. but
one layman has been suggested from
the Harrisburg district as candidate. |
The Camp Hill quarterly conference
has presented the name of f. o. Par
doe as properly qualified representa-
tive. Other names from the city
churches may be presented. From
other conferences districts are men
toned the names of Harry Hutchin-
son, L. II. Murray. c. c. Shuey and w. !
/. Woodcock of the Altoona district;
q. G. Hutchinson, r. A. Zentmire and
w. A. Bouse, of the Juniata district, |
and Fl. T. Ames of the Williamsport
district. Doubtless many other names
will be presented in the next four
weeks.
Keen interest is manifested in the
ministerial delegation, six of whom
will be elected. So far the confer
ences have been electing a large per-
centage of men who have not attend
ed the general conference. and who
will be new members of that governing
body of Methodism. 1t is also true
that large number of these have
come from the pastorate, and not
from the presidency of institutions of
learning, and the district superinten-
dency The same tendency seems to
he manifested in relation to the Cen
tral Pennsylvania Conference. But
few of the district superintendents are
spoken of. the names of DIR. A. S. Fa-
sick and DIR. f. NJ. Stevens being much
mentioned. The names of DIR. j. II. !
Morgan, the Rev. c. w. Karns, Dr.
w. p. Shriner the Rev. J. II. Souser,
DIR. Morris e. Swartz, are receiving
consideration, while there are several
Harrisburg ministers whose qualifica-
tions recommend them highly for the
honored position, should they consent
10 present their names