Evening journal., 1916-03-30

reese excuse me from saying any
thing" said Dr. Hoffecker. 8" thank
you"
Against Amusement Laxity.
DR. Robert Watt, superintendent of
Easton district. was next called upon
TO read his report He announced
that &c was the shortest report he
ever had read, but It contained twice
as much as he ever had set forth be-
fore.
When DIR. Watt stated that senti-
ment throughout the district is de-
terminedly against letting down the
b'rs on the amusement question, the
members Of Conference broke into
applause.
When Dr. Watt had concluded his
report. Bishop Berry remarked: 81
like what you said about evangelism.
I've been wondering a little what !
would do with you this year. and
am convinced. If Brother Coursey
doesn't object, you'd make a good man
for conference evangelist. Certainly
you'd make an orthodox man for the
place"
This caused general laughter. and
Bishop Berry, smilingly. added Now
Brother Watt, You weren very much
of a preacher they tell me. 80 I'm
not surprised that so far as J have
heard, no churches have been clamor-
ing for your appointment as pastor
for next year"
Everybody burst into laughter. and
Dr. Watt sat with a puzzled express
sion. Your brethren seem to agree
with me- laughingly remarked the
bishop.
"A little touch of feeling makes us
wondrous kind" interjected d. Watt.
This dther thing is also true con
tinued the bishop. Your administra-
tion as district superintendent has al
ways been s-perb. Never in my as
sociations with you I'm administrative
work can ! remember an action or at
titudo on your part that could feel
even a small measure OF censure for.
Bishop Praises Or. Watt.
Or Watt. you are an asset to the
Wilmington Conference i'm the gen
eral church. When the Wilmington
Conference is mentioned anywhere i'm
the Methodist Church everybody
thinks of Robert Watt He has been
i'm the General Conference and the
general work of the church and has
not always been silent | think ] can
say that while you may not always
have approved of the position he has
taken I'm the higher life of the church,
you have always had an honest and
true representative and his voice
counts I'm the counsels OF the church.
The bishop then handed DR.. Watt a
packet containing S75 in gold, and ex-
pressed the hope Of Conference that
he would live to be rs. After the APP
plause had subsidized, Dr. Watt said he
wasn't surprised Somebody gave ii
away last night" he said. 1T
wasn't a preachers wifi, either, but
a preacher. I would rather have had
Bishop Berry say what he said than
receive a check for one thousand dol
lars"
DR. Watt burst into tears and said
that he realized lie had made mis-
takes but had gone annually to the
bar of God with his motives
Discuss Salary Question.
In their reports, the district super
intendents gave some attention 10
pastoral salaries, and pointed out that
while some charges have made slight
increases in salaries, the pastors
are not paid anywhere near the wages
mechanics receive. Another serious
question discussed was the discrep.
ancy between the great number OF
probationers and the small number
who join the church.
Action ON Memorials.
That memorials 10 the General
Conference furnish one Of the most
important subject before Wilmington
Conference is evident and there have
been more parliamentary clashes over
them thus far than over any other
action. Conference had the subject
brought TO the fore yesterday when
the Rev. George A. Cooke had con
sideration OF memorials set for 10
O'Clock this morning. AS business
proceeded this morning Pastor, Cooke
called for the order OF the day. DR..
c. w. Prettyman suggested that a
special session OF Conference be held
TO consider memorials. but after some
discussion the subject was deferred.
and Or. Mains was given permission
to speak After he had finished DR..
s. NJ Morgan moved that considera-
tion OF memorials be put over TO some
other session. but after a debate this
motion was laid on the table, and
some OF the memorials were called
for action later
After considerable discussion, Con-
| ference adopted DR.. V. s. Collins me-
mortal advocating unity Of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church with the
Methodist Episcopal Church. South.
Il was amended at the suggestion of
DR.. Cooke. to provide that the basis
of unity be i'm harmony with the con-
/ stitution of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. A further amendment also
was adopted providing that unity
with the Methodist ProNestant Church
be brough about as soon as possible.
Or. Collins made a long address in
| behalf Of his memorial.
Conference adopted memorial
from the Illinois Conference concern
ing a method Of distribution OF Book
Concern dividends.
The following memorials were not
concurred in:
From the Ohio Conference, fixing
boundaries for three Ohio Confer
ences.
From the West ohio Conference,
regarding "basis of unihcation"
From the Vermont Conference
making local preachers claimants on
Conference funds.
Several other memorials. including
those introduced by the Rev. George
A. Cooke. were not acted on today
but will come Up tomorrow.
DR.. George p. Mains presented a