The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-11-11
Virginia Methodist Conference.
sEvENTy.TIsERD ANNUAL SESSION
FIR s T d A Y.

menced its seventy-third session in the
| Broad-Street Methodist church, in this
city, yesterday morning at OK O'Clock.
Bishop David s. Doggett, D. D., took the
chair, and opened the Conference with
reading of the Scriptures, singing, and
prayer.
The following members appeared and
were seated: Clerical: Revs. George W..
Motley, John w. White, Samuel T. Moor
| Edwards, d. D., J. II. Davis, Ro Mchaels,
b. II. johnson, John Bayley, H. H. Gary,
Jacob Manning, Leo, Rosser, d. D., n.
| Thomas, +. p. Wilson, J. ID. Southall, T..
Diegs, b. i. Woodward, d. p. Wills, A.
Wilcs, L. J. Boggs, J. G. Granbery, d. D.,
J. A. Duncan, d. D., L. S. Reed, o. Little
ton, J. u. Lumsden, w. A. Robinson, w.
II. Christian, A. NJ. Hall, P. A. Peterson,
E. NJ. Peterson, J. A. Proctor, Paul White
head, D. NJ. Wallace, G. II. Ray, G. c. Pear
son, J. s. Laurens, A. G. Brown, w. g..
NJ. Linney, r. B.. Beadles, James Ja-
mieson, J. II. Crown, L. J. Hansberger, s.
S. Lambeth, J. E. McSparran, L. \. Sledd,
X. w. Watts, j. NJ. Anderson, J. 2. Car
land, M. s. Colonna, W. II. Camper, j., G..
Watson, w. w. Duncan, +. II. Pritchett,
G. G. Fandcrsice, G. V. Beazley, w. l..
Hunter, J. w. +. Jones, J. w. Compton,
a. G. Bledsoe, G.. \. Guy, Joseph Z. Mar
tin, j. Il. Merritt, II. {. Bowles, I. p.
Wise, F. NJ. Edwards, e. n. S. Blogg, r..
n. Crooks, j. ID. Hank, William g. Starr,
w. NJ. Jerdonc, J. n. Jones, J. w. Hill
drup, J. l.. Garrett, +. y. Gibbs. Lay:
Messrs. 7. L. j. WaItord, f. B. Brown, T..
NJ. Bass, 6. NJ. Balm, Jr., j. G. Deming, j.
| +. Hancock, ID. S. Cowlcs. S. VI. Shepherd,
w. &. Clarke, Thomas Whitehead, W. W.
| Webb.
| BISHOP DoGGETT'S ADDRESS.
Before the Conference commenced bu>i-
| ness Bishop Doggctt made few remarks,
which were heard with marked interest. He
| said that two years ago he had no anticipa-
ton of so speedy Il return to the Virginia
Conference, and he thought it best to say
| that lie did not preside at this session by his
own inclination or request; but, on the
contrary, he had objected to the arrange
! ment, only two years having elapsed since
| he presided ut Petersburg, and believing
that, as Richmond was his own home, the
presence Of another Bishop would pro-
badly have added interest to the occasion.
! This opinion, however, was oVerrUied, and
! he acceded to the suggestion that he should
| take this district. He must say. however,
| that he felt assured of generous and atiec-
! tionate reception, and did not hesitate 10
assume the responsibilities of the position.
! The Bishop then made Il touching Nilu-
sion to his long connection with the NlrgI-
mia Conference, with which, and with
which alone, he had been identified from
boyhood. In February 1929 he was adj
mittod on trial. and was consequently now
| in the ioIty-tirSt year OF his itiuerant min
istry. lie joined the body with class OF
! fiftorn-amOng whom he named HoratiO
! Bucktrout, Robert Scott, William B. Row
/ zie, Albert G. Burton, james johnson.
! Henry 5. Pcyton, David Wood, Joshua Be-
thel, Jas. Mcdonald, and Robert I. Carson
He knew Of but four of these who now
| survive. Three are members of this Con
| ference. Mr.. JamiSon is present, Mr.
RowZic will he here, and Mr.. Carson is still
| q member of the Conference, though labor
| ing in North Carolina. The others have
passed away, leaving US the legacy Of 4
| bright example. Few who were members
OF the Conference when the Bishop joined
now survive, and these must soon pass
| away.
He then paid glowing tribute to the
| Virginia Conference, which is perhaps the
! oldest conference in the southern Ccnnec-
| ton, has had on its rolls many noble names,
and has performed grand part in the his
| tory of Methodism. She has not only re-
plonishcd her own fold, but the folds OF
others; and while we may not have done
all we could, yet we have raised grand
monument to the glory OF GodI But the
work Of Methodsm is not done : a new era
is now opening in the history of Virginia,
and we must be prepared for it. We are
about TO have new element in our popula-
ton, and the signs indicate that we are
about to lose an old element. The gate that
opens to introduce the new tide of immgra-
ton will admit flood of new ideas, funtastl-
cal, heretical, and skeptical notions, which
J will inauguratc a new and painful era in the
history OF faith. What is passing over the
North must come South, but we must not
yield al inch. We must not surrender our
distinctive doctrines to the times, nor suffer
the dilution Of the great truths Of Chris
tianity. The Methodist Church must take
an advanced position, and meet the enemy
at the gates. God grant that the new phases
Of society may not be so dangerous as we
fear.
The Bishop concluded his remarks, o
| which we have given Il mere outline, by
asking the cooperation of the brethren in
the discharge of his duties, and invoking the
blessing of the Almighty upon the delbera'
tions Of Conference at this session.
SECRETARIES ELECTED.
Rev. Paul Whitehead, Of Murireesboro'
n. c., was reelected secretary, and Rev. Z
y
BUSINESS HOURS.
On motion of Rev. 2. 4. Peterson, the
| Conference resolved to meet each day at s.
A. NJ, and adjourn at z. NJ.
COMMITTEES APPOINTED.
The Conference proceeded to appoint
standing committees of one clerical and ono
lay member from each presiding elders dis.
trict, under the provisions of the discipline
and Of former action of the Conference
On EDUcATIoN.-C Clerical: John E. Ed
Joseph E. Potts, Charles Fl. Hall, S. S
Lambeth, William II. Christian, j. H
Davis, S. NJ. Shepherd. Lay: 7. L: D
Walford, DR.. Shepherd, Thomas White
head, r. A. Scott, William W. Webb,
J. P. Williamson, John r. Kilby, J. c.
Deming, and DR.. w. F. Hancock.
On PUBLISHING INTERESTS Clerical :
J. c. Granbery, D. D., james NJ. An.
derson, j. D. Blackwell, Thomas h
BogsS, B. r. Woodward, II. ?: Mitchell,
George W. Motley, James Q. Moss, E. E
Pritchett, Lay: D. S. Cowies, Francis l.
West, Jacob II. Robinson, Robert }. Smith,
dan, Levi u. Travers, DR.. Quisenberry
On SUNDAY SCHoOLs.-Clericdl: h. NJ.
Peterson, II. W. Watts, George w. Lang
horne, D. NJ. Wallace, George II. Guy,
NJ. s. Colonna, w. W. Duncan. r. b
Beadles, Oscar Littleton. Lay: Asa Snyder,
E. D. Brown, Jacob H. Robinson, William
b. McGilyray, DR.. j. a. Wingfeld, Hardy
Williams, William Byrd, r. Il. Tyler, Dr.
w. T. Webster.
BOARD OF FINANCE Clerical: George
G. Fanderslice, II. II. Gary, Alexander G.
Brown, Alfred Wiles, w. G. Lumpkin, j
II. Crown, William E. Allen, Joseph +
| Martin T. Mr. Reckham L1u. Jeff w.
Stubbs, William S. Clarke, Thomas nj
Bass, w. j. Fulton, darcy Paul, NJ. NJ
Gill, Jesse j. Yeates, George M. Balm, Jr.,
| Thomas w Garrett