Evening journal., 1916-04-01
N. {. LAYhEk OPPOSE
THE PASTORAL Limit
Also Go on Record Against
Additional Bishops for
Church
THINK AMUSEMENT
CLAUSE SHOULD STAND

Spirited debate over the question
OF restoring the time limit to the
pastorate took place at the morning
session of the Lay Conference of the
NJ. ID. Church, Wilmington District,
in Union Church. The committee on
resolutions reported unfavorably on
the memorial making the time limit
four years.
The memorial was as follows
Whereas, The enforced itineracy
of pastors was one of the distinctive
features of our policy for more than
100 years, and was one OF the causes
OF our great efficiency during those
years. and
Whereas, The removal of the time
limit has so changed the character
OF the itinerant feature of our min
istry as to make 1t optional instead
OF compulsory therefore
Resolved. That we memorialize
the General Conference which meets
in Saratoga. N. Y. to restore the
time limit 10 the pastorate. making
four years the limit and to make this
law binding on all pastors and
churches.
Several members thought 1t would
be good thing for ministers who
had grown Fat" in rich charges to
be put on a circuit where they would
get rid OF some OF their unnecessary
flesh. Others thought that it was not
well TO change minister after he
had a successful revival. The opin-'
ion was also expressed that certain
churches we're holding the best
preachers, and as a result in some
churches there was never heard a
good sermon"
Nehemiah Clark. OF EastOn. Md,
said that if the time limit was re-
stored the district superintendents
would lose their power as bosses"
and would not be so likely to be
sent as delegates to General Confer
ence. He said the poorer churches
should be given a chance TO get good
preachers.
Some Lack Backbone.
Professor G. A. Short, OF Newark,
said the reason some OF the members
favored the time limit was because it
furnished them with backbone to get
rid OF a pastor they did not like" He
said If they did not want their min
lister il they could get rid OF him with
out the time limit He said even with
the time limit minister getting 81 500
could not he forced into an $500
/ charge. Professor Short denied that
! the district superintendents were
bosses.
The vote was finally taken. II wa,
36 TO 30 against the restoration OF tn,
time limit
The committee on resolutions ro
ported unfayOrably on a memorial op
posing the election Of any additiona
bishops at the coming session OF tn
General Conference, and so instruct
ing the delegates elected yesterday
The memorial was rejected by vot,
Of 70 10 z.
BY vote OF 70 to 3 the Conferenc,
adopted a memorial favOring the re
tention OF the amusement paragraph
mo. 27) in the discipline. which far
bids dancing. card playing, theatre
going, etc. The committee on resOlu,
tions had reported favorably on IL.
The Conference laid on the tabl,
the Ohio memorial to the General Con
ference, providing for legislation pro
hibiting the secretaries OF benevolen
h'oiNos thiApib VI tuultN peflOQlCali
and other ministers holding appoint
ment directly under the General Con
ference from holding membership il
the General Conference
The committee on resolutions re
ported favorably on a memorial to Sen
ator Smith OF Maryland. setting fortl
that representatives of thousands o
Methodists on the Eastern Shore o
Maryland desired the Senators to vot,
for the anti-race bill. which has pass
ed the House of Delegates. The Mary
land members Of the Conference vote,
unanimously in favor of the memorial
II was decided to forward the memo
rial 10 the President of the Senate o
Maryland by telegraph and letter.
BY a unanimous vote the Confer
ence took favorable action on the me
mortal of Wilmington Annual Confer
ence favoring the union of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church with the Meth
dist Episcopal Church, south and tn
continuation OF negotiations with tn
Methodist Protestant Church and othe
branches Of the Methodist family o