Evening journal., 1919-04-09

A Conference service flag with more
than two thousand stars. which will
be unfurled tonight, and tributes to
Negro troops who fought in the
world war, gaze a PATRIOTIC keynote
to-the opening day Of Delaware Con-
ference Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Ezion VI. L. Church, Ninth
and French streets.
About two hundred ministers were
present at the opening session, and
laymen and women who attended the
session crowded the church to over
flowing. Preceding the business ses-
sion, Holy Communion was admins
tered by the Right Rev Joseph T..
Berry. presid ng bishop. assisted by
the district superintendenis. the Rev.
j. II. Scott, Philadelphia District: the
Rev. d. II. Hargis. Cambridge district
the Rev. r. II. Wallace, Cenireville
district; the Rev. W. \ Hubbard. VIII
m ngt0n district, and the Rev. j. w.
Jeweit, Salisbury district.
At the business session. tho Rev. j.
NJ. Dlckerson, Of Salisbury, was elect
ed secretary; the Rev. +. o. Parker. Of
Princess Anne, statistical secretary
the Rev. W. J. Helm. Of snow Hill. Md,
treasurer. and the Rev. f. H. Butler,
Conference reporter.
Visitors TO the Conference included
Mayor Lawson, Or. Robert Watt. VIII
mlngt0n district superintendent OF the
Wilmington VI Z. Conference; Dr. J,
w. r. Sumwalt, pastor OF Grace
Church; the Rev. George White Daw-
son, 81 Asbury. the parent church OF
Ezion church and the Rev. Zach Wells
OF Wesley NJ. +. Church.
Bishop Berry is the guest OF DR.
Watt during the Conference.
At the memorial service this morn
ing, two retired ministers who have
died during The year were remember
ed. They are the Rev. y B. Snowden,
Of Montgomery County, Pa. and the
Rev. William H. Brown, Of Centreville.
Mayor Lawson welcomed the Confer
ence 10 the city In the following
words:
ut gives me great pleasure 10 bid
a hearty welcome on behalf OF the
City Of Wilmington 10 the Delaware
Conference OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church. and, more particularly, TO
those members Of the Conference who
are present from New Jersey, Pennsyl-
van and Maryland
while we all realize that the busy
and harrassing period OF the war has
passed by. we must not forget that
the reconstruction period, which al
ways follows such great upheavals. de
mands pressing duties Of us, which in
their way, are Of greater importance
for the immediate future than any 9th
er matters to which we should d d'rect
our attention. These duties are Of a
civic nature but devJlve upon all Of
us no matter what our vocation IN
the social body may be. Perhaps, TO
the ministers Of the church, this duty
is brought home more strongly than
10 any other body. because Of their
guidance and leadership our moral
progress Is largely comm tied. There
fore, 90 you, ministers Of the MethO-
dist church at this Conference. I make
appeal for an earnest consideration not
only Of your immediate church affairs,
but also that you diligently and 10 the
best Of your abilities inform yourselves
Of the social and civic needs Of your
several communities; so that you may
guide and keep in the proper paths the
members OF your several cong~ega-
tions Keep them informed Of their
civic duties as well as their moral ones
and. as far as within you lies, urge
them 10 perform their civic duties and
perform them well. II. under your
moral suasion. they have become good
moral citizens, it necessarily follows
that when they turn their attention
and energies TO the administration )f
their civic duties, their tasks will be
performed with an eye single TO the
ultimate good of the communities in
which they live. all OF which viii ad-
vance. the welfare Of themselves and
their fellow-cltizens.
"Aga'n ! bid you welcome 20 the City
Of Wilmington and sincerely trust that
your deliberations may be happy and
comforting and that they will result
In making your church an even strong
er organization for good in the COM
mun'tles which you represent
Bishop Berry responded to the may
or's welcome. The bishop sad he pre-
ferred the word "brotherho5d' to
democracy" as the latter had been
worn threadhare through constant
repetition. The speaker enumeSated
hy-products OF the war which he
thought were good. lie said:
1T is reproach to America that
some Americans have the practice Of
calling a. Jew a 'sheenie.' After we
consider what the Jew has done in
the world struggle. it ought not to be
continued. Remembering the brave
stand OF the Italians against the Aus
TRANS enforced by the Germans. we
should no longer tolerate the calling
OF an Italian a 'dag5.' Remembering
the brave stand and supreme sacrifice
made by the Negro troops in the Ar
.gonne Forest and in Flanders Fields.
we should not allow the term. 'nigger.'
1T is a disgrace TO our democracy
at home that conditions do not obtain,
especially in the South, giving the