Who Will Be The Delegate

Annual Conference Will Select To Go To

LOS ANGELES NEXT YEAR

Several Candidates from this City and One of Them May Get the Plum

The coming annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal church to be held in Flint next September is matter of extreme interest to members of that denomination and all over the state speculation is rife as to what it will do and who will receive the honors there to be dispensed. And Ann Arbor Methodists are no less interested than their brethren in other districts, in fact they are somewhat more so for there are several, prominent in the denomination who they hope to see honored at this time.

The main cause of the unusual interest just now is the fact that the general conference of the church will hold its quadrennial session next May at Los Angeles, Cal., and the delegates who will represent the Detroit conference will be chosen at Flint. The general conference is pre-eminently the governing and law making body of this great section of the religious world, and to be chosen a delegate to it is an honor few men refuse. The general conference is made up of the highest dignitaries and foremost theologians, scholars and laymen of the denomination and its sessions are always replete with interest. The coming session, next May, promises to be one of the most interesting held in years for several subjects are sure to be brought up that will have great bearing on the future growth and progress of the church. Among these is the question of the consolidation of the church publishing business which is now conducted in three different cities under as many separate heads and has grown to be an immense business; another is the question of a change in the discipline in its treatment of amusements. There is a younger element in the church who have for years been clamoring for more liberality in this regard and the subject is sure to come up. Then there is the ever-present itinerary question which, like Banquo's ghost, will not down. There are many who, now that there is no limit to the length of time a minister may remain on a charge, are no better satisfied than when he could only stay three years, and a change of some sort is sure to be asked for in this matter.

In consequence of the importance of the coming gathering, therefore, there is sure to be an earnest desire on the part of many to attend and as the Detroit conference is only entitled to sixteen representatives--eight ministerial and eight lay--the speculation is great as to who will be the lucky ones.

Ann Arbor Methodists have three candidates--if they can be so called- at least one of whom they would like to see honored by the annual conference and each has many well-wishers and warm friends who will do all they can to secure the plum for their church, being apparently well satisfied if any one of the three gets the prize, for they reason that the honor will belong really to the church and will come to her because of the prominent position she occupies in the field and the importance of her work.

First in the hearts, of course, for a place on the delegation, is their beloved pastor, Rev. E. S. Ninde. Since becoming pastor of the church here, Rev. Mr. Ninde has won his way not only to the hearts of his own people, but has secured a warm place in the regard of every one in the community who has come in contact with hm. He is earnest, conscientious, and hard working; is an eloquent pulpit orator and is thoroughly posted in the laws of the church and is in every way eminently fitted to be a delegate to the general conference, and it is sincerely to be hoped that he may be. The only thing his people fear is the fact that these honors are apt to go to older workers in the cause, otherwise they are sure he stands a good chance.

Dr. R. S. Copeland is prominently mentioned as lay delegate to the conference. Dr. Copeland's position in the church and his interest in the work is so well known that it is hardly necessary to speak of it here. He has twice been chosen a delegate to the general conference and at its last session was chairman of the Epworth League committee and as such was also a member of the steering committee. He is thoroughly acquainted with the work of the church in all its phases and with the methods of the general conference and would no doubt prove a valuable member if chosen to represent the Detroit conference again.

Another gentleman who would not be averse to receiving the choice to represent the district is D. W. Springer, and his name is very favorably mentioned among his co-workers in the church. Mr. Springer is a tireless and indefatigable worker for the Church and has great influence with the young people. He is prominent in Epworth League work and is at present the chief of the state league, which is one factor that is making possible the chance of his being selected a member of the delegation. He is also the law delegate to represent the local church at the annual conference.

Of course none of these gentlemen are candidates in the sense that they are pushing themselves, as that would be against all the ethics of the church, but still they would all be thoroughly pleased to have the honor bestowed upon them.

Another matter, of local interest, to be disposed of at the annual conference is the appointment of a presiding elder for this district. Dr. Ryan has served the limit in years allowed by the church and consequently there will be a change. It is altogether probable that the new eider will reside in Ann Arbor as this is considered the head of the district. Dr. Ryan has resided in Ypsilanti because he owned a home there and preferred living in it to renting another here.