Evening journal., 1916-04-06
N. ?. CONFERENCE
IS down TO WORK
Rev. DR.. John S. Bowers
Reelected President for
Fifth Term
URGES PREACHERS
TO HEAR SUNDAY

BALTIMORE. April 6.-The Rev.
Dr. John S. Bowers was reelected
president of the Maryland Annual
Conference of the Methodist Protes-
tant Church for the fifth consecutive
year, al its opening session yesterday
afternoon in West Baltimore Church.
The Rev. Dr. Bowers received l42 OF
the 1914 votes cast,Ais election being
practically unanimous.
The vote showed the comparative
strength OF several others of the min
listers W. received complimentary
votes The Rev G. W Haddaway, OF
Starr Church. this city. led the min
ority with 2i votes. While the Rev.
Dr. j. NJ. Gill received IA; the Rev.
Walter r. Graham, Of CAestertown,
IL; The Rev. Luther r. Warner. Of Sal
lsbury 2. and the Rev J. ". Kirk,
of ihis city 2.
Ir acknowledgment of the honor.
Dr. Bowers referred e the confidence
rcposed in him and promised nith-
ul discharge OF the duties Of the Office
Of presiding officer of the church. He
spoke briefly and said he would have
more 10 say later on some matters Of
great importance which he wanted to
present to the .Corferenc DR.. Bow
ers has been quit" ili but has SUI
dcientiy recovered iu preside at tho
session OF the Conference and he was
Ais recipient OF many congratulations
from the r-inisters and delegates
upon his speedy recovery. u was
thought al one time he would not be
able 20 WELD the paNel at this session.
Presidents Report
The president read his report inn
mediately following the opening devo-
tional exercise and for general inior-
nation ana the spirit OF optimism, It
was regarded as an eXtrao 'inary pa
pe- In Il. the president urged tho
ministers and laymen who rad not at
tended the Billy Sunday meetings, TO
be sure and go hear the evangelist
before leaving the city. "Be sure to
hear him" Il read, "and take back to
vour charges with you the spirit and
religious awakening you are bound
to receive" He declared that Mary
land was In the throes OF a great re-
iigious awakening as result of the
Sunday meetings
Or. Bowers spoke of the methods
OF church finance and gave his un-
qualified Endorsement to an envelope
system which he said was solving the
financial problems OF many OF the
churches throughout the Conference,
He called particular attention to the
Western Maryland College and its
adaptability TO the training OF young
mon for the ministry. Young men
are badly needed and we must look
largely TO the people for them,' he
said. A brief memorial service was
held. after which the Rev. T. o. Grouse
read the memorial roll.
Considerable time OF the afternoon
session was taken up with the Ques-
ton OF admitting the William Street
Independent Methodist Church. in
South Baltimore. to the Methodist
Protestant Conference. The church,
through its trustees. made applica-
tion for admission and the confer
ence. by a unanimous vote. decided
10 receive II. The William Street
Church. which in the future will be
known as Lowe Memorial Methodist
Protestant Church. is one OF the lead
ing churches in South Baltimore. It
has a membership OF about 500. with
a Sunday school OF about 225. The
Rev. Or. Lowe. who was its founder
and It's pastor for more than forty
years. is in III health and not able to
continue in charge OF the work, and
through the energy OF the Rev. ].
Franklin Bryan. pastor of the
South Baltimore Methodist Protestant
Church, the congregation has leaned
toward the latter denomination.
DR.. Lowe Given $1,000 Year.
Arthur Lowe. member OF the
church and son OF it's aged founder
spoke briefly. expressing his appreci-
alton OF the warm manner in which
the congregation had been received
by the conference. The conferenc,
promised TO pay the Rev. Or. Low,
the sum Of 1900 annually during tn,
remainder OF his life
The Rev. James H. Straughn wal
reelected conference secretary. an,
IN turn he appointed as his assistant
Ronalds Taylor. J. L. Nichols and G
i Humphreys, the Rev. J. r. Wrigh