The Washington times., 1916-03-23
NE HOD|STS DECIDE
TO SUPPORT PAPER
Conference, IN Session at Alex
andria, Hears Stormy De-
bate Over Official Organ.

ALEXANDRIA, March 2S.-Practi-
cally tho entire time OF todays session
OF the Baltimore Conference OF the
Methodist Ef iscopal Church. South. at
Church, South. here, was given uD TO a
discu ssion OF the Baltimore southern
Methodist. the official paper published
by the conference.
George EcholB 10 have the conference
Withdraw its annual assessment TO the
paper, was debated for nearly two
hours and then defeated by an over
The tuatter caino tefore the confer
ence en- report Of the committee on
publishing Interests which reviewed the
progress the parer was making.
The committee recommended that az
soon as possible utter the adJournElcnt
OF the conference the publishers pro-
coed to. Issue q :4-page edition every
month In which there would be a chill
drens department and other interesting
features; that the present assessmnnt
, lie continued by the conference and that
IN addition the conference proceed TO Sc
| cure 1905 new sutscrlbers,' these now
various churches on an equitable basis.
The Rev. Mr.. Echols offered an
| amendment that tho assessment by
the conference be discontinued and that
the subscription price be increased
from 81 per annum to Sl.j6 per annum.
lie declared for twelve years the con-
! ference hns Leen Throwing it's mcncy
into rat hole oy contributing to the
support az the paper and that II was
time for the paper to I've put upon a self
| supporting basis. He said he knew the
hub" OF tho conference favored the
| report of OF the committee but that the
rim" did rot.
Plea Made for Paper.
The Rev. DR.. John A. Anderson. OF
winchester. made an eloquent plea for
NIa aNWaaaa NNas. -
paper. He declared II wis great
| organ for good. and had a wide influ-
| ence among It's subscribers.
The Rev. Carton ID. Harris. manager
growth. He said II had 1000 subscribers.
He was compelled to travel. nearly
5000 miles every year In Its interest. and
said that II the additional subscriptions
| were received he could devote more time
to the literary and news features.
Tn Rev. DR.. II. T.. Hamil, OF Martins
| burg, w. Va. discussed the literary
character OF the paper which he said
! was not strong. He declared that the
prevailing sense of the conference was
| a disappointment in the paper, meas
ured from a literary viewpoint.
Question % of the minutes was called.
/ Are all the preachers blameless in their
life and official administration" and
| the districts were taken up. one by one.
At the opening OF this mornings ses-
sion religious exercises we're led by
| VINO Tehu from tne SCI
| and chapter OF Corinthians. DIR. VI. NJ.
| Canter, presiding elder OF the Wash
ington district. led In prayer The con-
| ference united in singing "a Charge 10
Keep have" The journal OF yesterday
was read and approved
Can't Attend Conference.
1t was announced that Bishop Collins
Denny, OF Richmond. who had expected
to attend the conference. will not be
able to come. Bishop A. w. Wilson. OF
| Baltimore. Is expected, and IL he comes
will take part In the service Sunday af.
ternoon when the fiftieth anniversary oi
the connection OF the Southern Metho
dists with the Baltimore Conference
after the split over the slavery question
Will be observed.
4 large congregation attended thu
services last night In the interest o.
the Epworth' League. The Rev. DIR. j
PLI.i Tyler, OF Chiffon Forge, presiden
OF the Epworth League board. presided
The speakers were Theodore Thomas
president OF the Baltimore Union of tn,
Epworth League; DR.. ii. NJ. DuBose. o
Nashville. Tenn, editor OF tho Southern
Review. and DIR. +. s. Parker. OF Nash
VILE. general Epworth League secretary
Characters Passed.
The characters of the pastors In tn,
| Baltimore, Washington, Alexandria anC
| Winchester. districts were examined ant
passed. Those OF the other four dis
| tricts OF the conference will be taken VI
tomorrow morning.
The Rev. Dr. T. NJ Hare superintend