Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-25
FEW CHANGES At
M. f. CONFERENCE
prs. Radcliffe and Petre May
Be Among Those
Transferred
SESSION OPENS MARCH II

conference Of tho Methodist Episcopal
Church, which will open at Wharton
Memorial Church, Fifty fourth aud
Cathariuc streets, March II.
Annually the assignment Of ministers
for the ensuing year is one of the in.
tensely interesting features Of the con
ference. Those who arc in a position
10 know say that the majority Of Phila
delphia churches are we'll satisfied with
their ministers, aud the changes will be
far fewer than in the past.
Two outstanding and probable changes
arc being discussed. however. Ono is
that of the Rev. Richard Radcliffe. pas.
tor of the Goodman Church. who has
been invited to the pulpit Of the Fletcher
Church.
The other is that of the Rev. Dr.
John G. Petre, of the Sloan Church
Of Kensipgton, who has becu asked to
assume charge at the East Allegheny
Avenue Church.
The Rev. w. f. p. Haas, minister Of
the Wharton Memorial Church. which
will be the host of the conference, has
been making efforts for weeks to pre-
pare for the meeting Of the ministers.
He has the program all but Camplctr
aud expects to send it to the printer
within few days.
Arranging Hospitality
''It has been unusually difficult TO ar.
range for hospitality this year. said
Mr.. Haas today. The epidemic Of
grip has bit our church hard. Many
Of our people have had illness in the
family and il is difficult for them to
arrange to entertain our guests during
their visit here. Then, too, tho SCrv.
ant problem. more pressing than ever,
has added to our difficulties as have
the vastly increased costs of living.
Then. too. the housing shortage. which
has forced many families to double up,
two to a house, makes it harder than
usual to find room for the visitors.
However. we have succeeded very we'll
In spite Of all difficulties. and by the
time the conference meets everything
will be in order.
The problem of housing and caring
for visitors at future conferences prob
ably will be one of the things discussed
very thoroughly at the coming confer
ence. As yet no quarterly conference
has invited the 1921 conference to be
its guest. and there Is the possibility
that there may be radical change in
the plan of entertainment for the future.
The New Jersey conference. which will
be held before the Philadelphia con
ference, entertains its members at
hotel instead Of at the homes Of the
people in whose church the conference
is held.
Many questions are to be discussed at
the conference. One OF the big
duties of the conference will be the
selection of delegates to the general con-
ference Of the Methodist Church, which
will meet in May at Dcs Moinc,. Ia.
Seven delegates are to be selected, and
the rivalry is keen both in Philadelphia
and in the suburban districts.
To Discuss Lay Delegates
Another main question TO be decided
during the conference is the matter of
admitting lay delegates to the annual
conferences. They take part in the
deliberations Of the general conference
at present. and there has been a strong
agitation for their admission to the an
nual conferences. The matter cannot
be decided except at the general con-
ference in May, but it is quite possible
that the coming annual conference may
memorabilia the general conference on
the subject.
Bishop Berry will open the confer
ence the evening of Tuesday, March Ii.
though the formal sessions of the CON
ference will not begin until the morn
ing following. At the session Tuesday
evening the anniversary Of the Histort-
cal Society Of the conference will be OBJ
served. The speaker Of the evening has
not been announced.
Bishop Berry will preside at the
opening OF the conference the morning
Of March II. and at the subsequent ses-
sions of the conference. The meeting
xGeorge W. Burnham. a prominent
Methodist layman, will give the address
of welcome. At the first business ses-
sion late probably will be decided on
for the beginning of the balloting for
delegates 10 the general conference. The
ballotiug is likely to take some time,
and votes will be taken day by day
until the requisite number Of delegates
have been selected.
The wonen's foreign missionary an
niyersary, always IN important event.
has been set for Wednesday afternoon
at 2 O'Clock. At 1 O'Clock Wednesday
and each day thereafter the PentNcostul
service will be conducted by Doctor
Boswell. Wednesday evening the con
ference claimants anniversary
Of the retired ministers who are main
tanned BY the conference.-the be ccle.
brated, the Rev. DR.. J. y. G. Hanna
presiding. he is manager Of the cam
paign for the claimants fund.
Memorial Service
Thursday afternoon the conference
will go into executive session IN another
church, while the Wharton Church will
be given over TO the anniversary meet
ing of the Women i Home Missionary
Society. The laymen will meet all day
Thursday in ST. Matthew'S Church
and will have their anniversary ccle-
bration in the church in the evening
Mrs. Margaret Mckinley Schmidt and
Mrs. Ware will furnish the music IA
they have at past conferences. In the
morning the memorial service for five
ministers who died during the year will
be held.
Friday evening will be celebrated one
OF the big events of the conference, the
centenary anniversary, aud there will
be speakers for the boards of home and
foreign missions. On tho same evening
will be held the anniversary celobr8 p
tion Of the Conference Educational
Society. The singing for the occasion
will be by the combined chors of tho
Goodman NJ. L. Church. The Com
munity Ministerial Association of West
Philadelphia, comprising various Dc.
nominations, has accepted an invitation
10 be present at this celebration. The
Rev. DR.. Philip L. Osgood, Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church Of the
Mediator, will be the speaker.
Saturday afternoon the rural min
isters will have conference. The
Rev. j. s. Tomlinson, of Quarryville,
leader of the rural work, will preside.
The enactment of the federal pro-