Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-24
CONFEREE.CE YEAR
GIVEN IN REVIEW
BY DR.. RCBT. WATT
Superintendent of Wilmington
District Tells of Splendid Con-
ditions Among Churches.
MANY DEBTS PAID OFF

mort for the year in the district, at the
meetjno today of the NJ L. Conference at
(;.ar. Church. The district superinten-
dent makes an exhaustive report OF the
affairs and conditions of the churches in his
charge. and tells OF progress, IN many
instances under adverse conditions His
report in full follows
We come to this session OF our Confer
ence with the active ranks of the district
unbroken. vet the shadows have mingled
with the sunlight.
In the passing of Thomas ;. Wilson,
ESQ. the nestor of Rising sun Methodlsm,
TO the ranks Of the church triumphant,
the Methodism OF the entire county OF
which our honored friend Was a resident
has suffered a distinct loss. Though well
over four score years, his heart was young
and he was moro progressive than many
men two score years younger than ne lie
was one of the sanest optimlsts nave ever
met OF Quaker lineage he was a man OF
profound convictions; TO him the oracles
OF God were beyond question. He was a
man Of gentle, sympathetic spirit, al
wavs ready TO extend the hand of help to
thcs, in need He approached the end
with serene and unshaken faith To his
son-in-law, our own brother, William u.
Koots. he said, Il fear no evil, He whom
trusted In youth is with me now, His
viii be done" Father. Wilson, as he was
affectionately called, has left to hls
ehildren legacy more precious than gold
Nav his mantle fall upon his children, all
OF whom he led into the Kingdom, and
one Of whom has already taken his father
place in the loca, church.
While one of our retired veterans, Rev
Daniel F. McFaul, was anticipating our
Conference 81 ssion and the pleasure of
meeting bis ministerial brethren whom he
held In high esteem, he heard the fnai
call center into the Joy OF thy Lord. Ills
illness was of brief duration. Almost un-
expectedly he slipped out of the glow of
the itlnerant's Indian summer INTO the
shadowless land where cometh no night.
He was ready when the messenger came
HIS gentle, brotherly spirit made him an
object OF universal affection. He was q
man who commanded respect and who
von the love OF al who knew him. An
appropriate memoir will be presented at
the memorial s Ssion.
The SEM annual meetTno of the Board OF
Bishops. which WAS held In Wilmington IN
October last, was IN every respect not
able event Peninsula Nfethodism for the
second time was honored by having this
distinguished gathering held within our
borders.
The formal sessions were held bv invita-
ton In St Paul's Church ana so admrrahie
were the provisions made by DIR. Carlisle
l.. Hubbard and his committee. for the
convenience and comfort of the bishops,
that all pronounced the arrangements
ideal
Thursday night WAS set apart tor the
reception. alwavs feature Of these gather
inzs Governor John G.. Townsend was
presented by the district superintendent
a. the presiding officer The devotional
exercises were conducted by Revs. W A.
Wise W R. Mowbray and Y. ;. Collins
Superintendents of Easton, Dover and
salisbury districts respectively.
After fittin0 address of welcome by
Governor Townsend, on behalf OF the
Conference. T. c. Hardesty Esq, chair
man of the committee on entertainment,
gave a welcome on behalf of the Methodlsm
Of the city The addresses were IN happy
vein. Formal response was made by
Bishop William Burt, on behalf of has
colleagues The bishop was at his best
and his address made profound impress
a,on.
Bishop Mcdowell then, in manner
that divested a usually perfunctory part
OF the exercises of q sense OF solemn and
self-sustained dignity, presented hls col
leagues to the great audience that literally
packed the great church. and a sr4rlt OF
people INDUCED in the luxury of taking
the bishops by the hand.
Friday evening in Grace Church,
rendered for the occasion, Bishop Quayle,
who was presented by DR.. John ". K.
Sufnwait. in a few wisely and we'll chosen
words gave his Interpretation OF Ham
let. - His mastery Of his theme and his
audience was perfect. The proceeds were
for the benefit Of the entertainment fund.
Monday the bishops were the guests of
honor al q luncheon rendered 10y the
Chamber of Commerce. Through the
courtesy OF John s Mullin, Esq, the
Methodist ministers of the city were
among the invited guests. Bishop Homer
Stlntz gave an illuminating address on the
Commercial Possibilities O. South Ameri
ca" 1t was a great address, and it was a
great day in Peninsula MethodisIn, the
followers Of John Wesley had their heads
up that day. IL Is but simple justice 10
add that the impressions made by our
chief pastors were all to the good for
Methodism The only regrettable Incl
dent IL connection with this notable
event WIS that there were not bishops
enough 10 go around, and none felt this
more keenly than the committee on assign
meuts. al of whose conclusions were
unanimous
-1llQ .dSA. Duk UN BO liitStAAN AtdoLy a. ttA
meeting all claims. the committee on en-
tertainment had generous surplus,
which it is needless to say was wisely and
prohtabiy expended. Wilmington with
out any reserve says 10 our bishops come
again. and come soon.
City problems most difficult and
yexing problem is how best to care for the
fnultitudes among Us who have come liter
aily from the ends Of the earth The
Victory Liberty Loan drive revealed the
astounding fact that virtually every ma
tionality under heaven IS represented In
the foreign population OF our city.
To Americanize them in thought, IDEAS
and speech is imperative, but this is by
far the simplest factor in our problem.
Secular agencies are effectlng this end IN
fine fashion but this is not enough. There
must be brought TO them another touch.
other ideals which concern their moral and
spiritual well being.
II must be evident To all who are In any
intimate way conyersant with the facts
that improved housing conditions and
better environment, more favorable social
relations are vitally related TO the right
solution of the problem and most i'm
poria1.t Of all tht 81 matters when under
the care Of the church s.ry,s as an open
ses me to bring the multitude who have
orlfted from their religious moorings the
eaving touch Of the Gospel of our Christ.
And this problem is not the problem of
thoss who live In the city IL belongs to our