Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-12

dent of the board Mr.. DUNCAN occupies
in the Spring Garden Church the pew
which was rented by L. S. Grant in the
early COS. This pew always is occupied
by tile president of the board OF trustees.
IL is lhe fourth from the Chancel on the
lefttstde of the church. and beside the
name plate of the present occupant
bears the original nameplate of General
Grant
The Rev B NJ. Neill corresponding
secretary of the Pennsylvania Seamen's
Friend Society, and son of the Rev.
James Neill, first pastor of the confer
ence church. made brief address In
which he recalled how. as a child, he had
crept through the crowd i'm the church
to hear his father preach on the Sunday
after President Lincoln was assassinat-
ed. The Rev, Mr.. Nell referred to Mr..
Duncan. who is a charter member of the
Spring Garden Church, as that white
haired. white-souled man"
The Rev. Dr. c. Edgar Adamson NOV
ed that letter of sympathy be sent Mr..
Duncan, The speaker said that he had
special interest in the Spring Garden
Church, as II was there he became
married man ten years ago. And" he
added with touch of humor that
brought a ripple of laughter to the con-
ference, 81 take off my hat every time
! ] pass this church-that is, If Mrs,
Adamson is with me-"
| Hospital Report Tomorrow
| on motion of the Rev. Charles NJ
Boswell the annual report of the
Methodist Hospital of this city will be
| presented tomorrow. Time was assigned
/ for reading reports of various commit
| tees. One Of the principal of these is
! the temperance committee, which will
report at 10 o'clock Saturday morning
-Qp Friday report will be heard on
title centenary committee which like
Mise is now prominently before the con-
ference. Great plans are being made
for the celebration of the Church
centenary, and a fund Of $4,000 900 is
being raised throughout the United
States for commemorative church extern
sion work
1t became known today that one
of the best loved figures of Methodist
conferences was attending this session
for the last time as a member of the
active ministry. The Rev DIR. Samuel
NJ, Vernon. of the Central Roxborough
| Church, the Oldest member of the con-
ference, let it be known today that
after fifty-nine years in the ministry
he has determined to retire. He was a
member of the class Of 1850. and was
generally felicitated on his years of
service as Methodist minister.
Another minister whose appearance
brought forth enthusiastic greeting was
the Rev Il. w. Rushton. assistant treas
urer of the conference, who attended
in the uniform OF Y. NJ. C. A. secre-
tary. Mr.. Rushton is about to go
abroad to distribute testaments among
the American soldiers in France and
occupied Germany. He made an address
and was given a hearty godspeed by
the members OF the conference.
|, Progress Is Outlined
} Large part of the morning was oc-
cupied with the reports of the five dis
J trict superintendents. In an effort ia
expedite the work of the conference
these reports were made as brief as
practicable. The district superintend-
; ents all referred to the three salient
| events of the year--the influenza epi.
demlc. the victory over alcohol and tn,
: end of the world war All spoke OF ma
, teral and spiritual progress in theil
churches, growth in Sunday school ac
tivities. numerous conversions, mort
cages paid off.
The Rev. Dr. @. w. Henson, superin
} tendent of the South District. in the frs
report, emphasized the flourishinl
finances of the churches in his district
and the conversions, which showed tina
/ spiritual growth was continuing.
The Rev DR., J, q. Wilson, superin
tendent Of the Central District, men
toned with pride that his district ha
1850 men in the service Of their coun
try. The sound financial condition o
E the churches of this district Ii indicates
) by the fact that total sum of s39,SS
has been paid off the churches indebted
. ness during the year, Cookman Memo
1 rial Church at Twelfth street and LIE
5 high avenue, led In Sunday school offer
ings, having given jzlo0 during tn
year. The Central District likewise re
D ported g0s conversions o1l4 = total 9
: ~ 200 Nethodista (