Milford chronicle., 1917-03-30
N. E. CONFERENCE IN
SESSION AT SEAFORD
49th Annual Session Opened Un-
der Favorable Auspices.-Pre-
liminary Work Done and Con
ference Settles Down To
Business.

The Forty-Ninth Annual Session OF
the Wilmington Methodist Epascopal
Conference was opened in 81. Johh
Church in Seaford Wednesday morn
ing, with Bishop William + mellow
ell. presiding. The formal sessions
we're preceded by the sacrament OF
the Lords Supper, in charge OF the
bishop. who was assisted by the Dls-
trict Superintendents.
A brief memorial service was helu
for the Revs. T. A. H. O'Brien, +.
p Martindale, S. NJ. Morgan and K.
y Lewis. all of whom have died dur
ing the conference year just closing
Standing with bowed heads the as
eenbled ministers said several mem
orial selections following the call Oh
the death roll. c,..
The character of District Superin-
tendent William R. MOwbray' OF the
Dover District, was passed. ana ne
read his annual report. He told OF
200 conversions in his district dur
inc the year. Church work, he sald,
was hampered by the "unspeakaDle
roads" He also pointed out the
growing use of the automobile or
Sautophobia" as a menace to the rural
church. .,.. -
DR.. Robert Watt, superintendent OF
the Wilmington District presented
recommendation that the relation OF
the Rev. C. E. Sunfeld be changed
from effective to retired.
DR.. Mowbray transmitted the re-
quest of Alfred Smith that ne De
transferred from active to retired.
Tho Rev w. H. S. Williams was
similarly changed. .
Despite rumors Of the settlement OF
the Cooke controversy without re-
course to the action of the conference
if was stated that there is no hope OF
preventing the airing OF the "hole
matter before the conference.
In discussing his work, BlshOp NC
Dowell announced his hope That no
minister or layman would make II any
harder for any one concerned IN con-
nAc+ion with appointments. He warn
cd lavmen especially against making
anvone's assignment more difhcult'
and against the thoughtless remark
which may ruin a good mans reputa-
4ion He said that he shared the as
anoointment of the conference at lts
transfer from Bishop Berry's area TO
the Washington area. He sald ne
wished the conference to appreciate
that they did not get what they asked
for. .- g .
There is a practical certainty OF a
long and bitterly contested trial III
the Pastor Cooke case before confer
ence. 1t is said that in addition TO
the charges on which he was Iouhu
guiltv and suspended at wilmington
recently, the five charges not pressed
then will be urged against him before
conference.
II was stated by one of the mem
hers of the conference WAo mas mere
tofore taken no active part on either
side of the controversy that efforts on
+ba Cooke side to effect a settlement
satisfactory to him had failed ana
that there now remained no chailce
Of avoiding a trial. 1t is for the con-
ference to decide whether this VIII
be done in open session, executive
session or by a select number. III
the latter case the trial will proDaDiy
be held in Mt. Olivet NJ. ?. Churcn .
The big portion of Wednesday was
taken I'D with the appointment oil the
conference committees and other rou-
fine work. Announcement was maze
that a number of churches OF the con
ference had increased the salaries Ol
their pastors in sums ranging IRON
500 to 5000 each Rev. X.
stephenson, pastor of Avenue NJ r
Churcn. of Milford, is attending con
ference and is taking an active par'
in the work of that body.