The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-27
Reported for the Dispatch.
VIRGINIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
SEVENTH DAY-CoSTINUED.


Reportea for the Dispatch.
VIRGINIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
SEVENTH DAY-CoSTINUED.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, November IS.
The order of the day-the report of the
Committee on Religious Instruction of the
Colored People-was called up at IL O'Clock
A. NJ. Bishop Early in the chair. The re-
mort was adopted as already published IN
The Dispqtch, excepting that the general
oversight of the work, with the appreciation
of Bishop Wightman, was committed 70
Bishop Early.
George Nelson IA colored local preacher)
on the recommendation of Mecklenourg
Quarterly Conference, was elected to dea-
cons orders. He was represented as an IN
telligent man and excellent preacher.
Rev. Nelson Head, D. D., announced his
intention to take transfer to the Baltl-
more Conference. He joined the Virginia
Conference at Charlottesville twenty years
ago. He left from convictions of duty. He
spoke with much feeling Of his deep attec-
ton for the brethren he left, and trusted to
meet them all in Heaven.
R. O. Burton offered resolutions express
sive of the regret of the Conference at
parting with DR.. Head, rendering him their
PRAYERS, and congratulating the Baltimore
Conference upon the valuable acquisition
to their ranks.
The resolutions were ordered to be pub
lished in the Baltimore Episcopal Metho-
dist.
DR.. Head is we'll known as man of great
learning, profound theologian, and a
courteous Christian gentleman. We wish
him much success and happiness in his new
field.
E. NJ. Peterson submitted the report from
the Sunday-school Committee. ltmagnihes
the cause, and deplores the want OF zeal
manifested on the subject; deprecates espe-
cially ministerial neglect of the cause
states the sciplinary obligation to organize
schools wherever ten children can be col
lected opposes the disarmament OF schools
in the winter months; urges thorough or
ganization of each school; states the I'M
portance Of having a good library for the
use of the children. Inefficient teaching Is
deplored, caused by want of study by the
teachers. 1t shows the Importance of the
Sunday school in building up the Church
of Christ, which must suffer fearfully I'M
less this institution be sustained. 1t asks
the appointment OF an agent. The report
was adopted as whole.
Professor K. NJ. Smith presented the
report of the Committee OF Laymen on
Ministerial Support. 1t says the ministers
received better support last year than the
preceding, but still have large deficiencies
in their salaries. 1t states that the mem
bership is very generally able to support
the ministers comfortably. One cause OF
deficiency is the ineiiicency of the stewards,
and another is the lack Of pastoral vista
ton. Recommends that every member of
the Church be assessed according to ability
to support the ministry, and that the assess
ment be made as early in the year as prac-
ticable. It urges q fair trial Of the finan-
cial plan adopted last year. The report was
adopted as whole.
A. G. Brown offered the following amend
ments to the Constitution Of the Board of
Domestic Missions, and made an exceed
ingly able and practical argument in advo-
cacy Of his paper:
/. That an auxiliary board of domestic
missions be organized in each district, COM
posed Of one clerical and lay member from
each pastoral charge, said board to take
cognizance Of missions within their own
fields.
2. That collections be raised in May and
June and paid over to the treasurer OF
these auxiliary boards, reserving ten per
cent. to be paid to the parent Board of Do
nestle Missions at Nashville; any balance
remaining with treasurers after defraying
expenses in each district to be transmitted
to Conference.
9. The auxiliary boards shall meet an
nually during the sessions of the several
district conferences and the presiding
elders shall be er oficio chairmen of the
auxiliary boards in their several districts.
The following substitute, offered by Dr.
Bennett, was adopted:
That the several district conferences
| be and are hereby instructed to consider
and report the number and wants of the
missions in the districts to the Domestic
Board at the annual Conference"
After which, Conference adjourned tc
meet al half-past 3 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Conference met at 80 o'clock-Bishor
Early in the chair. Prayer was offered BY
Rev. Francis NJ. Edwards.
The minutes of the morning session were
approved.
Jacob Manning, from the Committee or
Church Property, reported that owing tt
the meagre information before them on this
subject, they would not submit an abstract
Your reporter this morning sent full and
accurate statistics on this subject, compiled
from reliable sources.
Jacob Manning, of the Committee on Me-
moirs, reported the deaths of the following
ministers during the past year: George
NJ. Robertson and James E. Joyner. APP
propriate obituary notices were read OF
each of these ministers.
The following gentlemen were appointed
committee to estimate the salary Of the
superintendent of the Colored Conference
proposed to be organized: Rev. W. W. Ben
nett, r. n. Sledd, and P. A. Peterson, cleri-
cal, and T. NJ. Bass, Asa Snyder, and DIR.
S. NJ. Shepherd, lay members.
An appeal was made to the Conference in
behalf of the widow and FIVE orphan chill
dren of Rev. Thomas A. Pearce, deceased,
now living in Lynchburg. A collection was
taken up, which met liberal response.
The question was asked, Where shall the
next Conference be held? Whereupon
Richmond was unanimously selected.
Edmond A. Gibbs was readmitted into
the Conference.