The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-12-11

4 Tallahassee conference OF Luo M. T..
church.
Not single candidate for the min
tstry was admitted on trial to the
Florida conference this year 1t was
announced that this is the first year
in the history of the conference there
have been no such admissions, and
Bishop Denny expressed amazement
over the fact.
Rev. Ira Barnett suggested that the
raising of the educational standard
had probably been responsible for the
lack of applicants.
"The Methodist church has never
been hurt by too much education" de-
clared the bishop
In executive session 1t was pro-
posed that the location of the South.
ern college, at which men are trained
for the Methodist ministry, should be
changed. The college is now located
on the West Coast, south Of St. Pet
ersburg in the village of Sutherland.
There has been a movement on foot
for some time to remove this insti-
tuition to one Of the larger cities Of
the state, but when the proposal came
up today it was voted down. Removal
OF the college was opposed by its
president, R. H. Alderman, who told
the conference it was proposed to
build city around the institution.
Three members OF the first-class
OF ministerial probationers were dis
continued at their own request. They
are j. j. Bracco Of Seville, T. w.
Carleton Of Elleton and Ennesto
Estevez, an Ybor City letter carrier
1t was announced that B. l.. Shelf
er Of Trilby had withdrawn from both
the conference and the Methodist
ministry.
H. E. Owen of Fort Myers, Jesse
B. Reed of Marco. Paul A. Fletcher
of Greensborough and Salvador P.
Cunill Of Tampa, were advanced from
the first to the second year class Of
probationers, and Ralph L. Ramsey
OF Bunnell, Ansell H. Hacock of Bris-
tol and Fred B. Langford of Wood.
vile were continued in the first year
studies
Missionary Praised
M. H. Norton, presiding elder, de.
clared that Mr.. Reed had done the
finest work during the last year of
any missionary that had been sent
into the Everglades, and DR.. Sibert,
presiding elder of the Miami district
said Of Mr.. Ramsey that he had re-
ceived separate petitions for his re-
turn from all the men, women and
children of the church at Bunnell.
In the roll call of the third year
class, John e. Hartsfeld Of Haines
City, William c. Fountain Of Port
Tampa City, Amos C. Mccall Of La
Belle. O. C. Stevers Of the South
side church Of Miami, and G.. w.
Stubbs of Winter Garden, were ad.
vanced to the fourth year studies.
Eber s. Hobson Of Melrose was made
a local preacher at his own request,
and Sankey F. Stephens of Dunel.
lon, Rembert A. Guy Of Williston, De.
siderio Carrera OF Key West and
Nestor ]. Castellenos of Cuba, we're
continued in the third year class.
MIR. Sewers reported a successful
year for the Southside church in Mi
ami, with gain of fifty per cent In
Its membership.
Mccall Reports Big Gain
One of the most encouraging re-
ports made to the conference was
that submitted by Mr.. Mccall Of La.
Belle, who announced that his mem.
bership. Sunday school and collec-
tions had all increased more than
100 per cent during the year, and
that a thriving church had been es.
tablished at Moore Haven.
Rev. s. w. Lawler, chairman of
committee appointed at Ocala last
year. reported recommendation
that conference assessment of
$1,000 be made upon the local
churches where the meetings are
held.
An amendment was proposed by
Rev. j. P. Hilburn, that each charge
pay the conference expenses of its
delegates.
The proposed change in the plan
OF paying conference expenses
brought out a lively debate. in the
| course of which DR.. Jenkins of Jack.
sonville announced that two church.
es had already expressed their eager.
ness to entertain the conference next