The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-30
VIRGINIA NEWS.
Aoisfon Conference, Methodist Epss-
cOpnl Church. South.

Inc annual session Of this body com
mehced here on Wednesday the 2sd In.
slant, Bishop Doggett presiding. The Rev
u H. \. Price, James X. Struggled, and j
II: rayne, are secretaries.
Inns fine old town, the seat Of wealth and
tennement In Southwestern Virginia, has
thrown its doors open for the reception and
entertainment Of the Woodworking preach.
crs, who have spent an arduouS year in
"cultiyatmg lmmanucPs lands.' The ioca.
tlon OF this place is beautiful for situation
not for mountain scenery, but for the soft,
swelling fields and meadow lands which lie
around it.
a remarkable fact in the recent history OF
the place is the conversion OF no less than
three OF its palaial residences into fine
school buildings. The Mcthodists have q
Splendid college located in the former resi-
oehce OF the Preston family, the Presbyte-
rians another in The adjoining property.
which belonged to The late Governor Fgovd''
and the Catholic C@nvent is located in the
magnificent huildmg once the house of John
Humes, Esq. Tlese institutions are the
ornaments Of the town. and contribute
largely to its sr0; ort. The Martha Wash
lnSton Female .licgc, which is the pro-
perry of the uols. Conference, has at this
time more than l. Y boarders, and each of
the others considerable number likewise.
The Conference sessions are opened daily
by the Bishop, or some one Of the more ven
cradle members OF the Conference, with
reading OF the Scriptures, singing, and
prayer. The busino 3s is conducted by7 means
Of series of que ions, numbering seven
teen, which are sken up in order, and
Which cover the entire business of the
Church. The first question, g Who are adj
mltted on trial." brings up ,,.a cases OF
those who apply s"r membership in the ira
yelling connection. The next q'restions refer
30 the young men who have t yelled one,
or two, or three years, as the Sc may be.
At the end CT the second ycsi tney may be
ordained to the first order in The ministry.
aud also admitted into membership in the
Conference, but not unit the fourth has
been accomplished can they be f-illy ordain-
ed to the work of the ministry Anon,
IN Knorcllle Herald.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
ABINGDON, September 81, 1869.
The Holston Conference still continues in
session. Three days Of last week, COM
mencinS with Thursday, were taken up
with the examination Of ministerial charac-
ter and the election, from the ministry, to
dcacons' and elders orders.
The anniversary of the Missionary Society
of Hoiston Conference took place on Satur-
day night last, at which time Dr.. Nunsey
delivered all address of great beauty.
Yesterday was high day in Abingdon,
the exercises being somewhat intelfcred
with, however, by rain. From Acts Xxx,
u, Bishop Doggett preached in the morn
ing to large congregation. 1t was SER
mon tull of sound doctrine. DR.. Thomas
Q. Summers preached in the afternoon from
the words "Thy Kingdom come"
The style Of DR.. Summers IL somewhat
peculiar, but the matter Of his sermon ex-
cellent. Many who know him we'll are not
slow to speak of him as the man Of the
Southern Church in many respects. DR.. W.
L. Munsey, Secretary OF the Board Of Fo.
reign Missions, made an admirable speech
this morning, charging upon the entire
membership u great lack Of interest in fG.
reign missions. In the course Of his remarks
be called attention to large debt held by q
| New York gentleman, incurred by him du.
| siOnary fund Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South. These drafts, drawn by the
missionaries in China, must have been sent
back forfeited but for this action of q
! stranger, who was prompted alone by hi:
| faith in the honor OF the southern people
| DR.. Aunsey's appeal for the payment OF this
| debt-was both earnest and eloquent.
The election Of delegstes-clerical and lay
| ten III number-to represent this Confer
ence in the General Conference, to be held
1T Memphis in Nay next, resulted Gs fol
lows: Rev. Carroll Long, David Lullins, i
| L. Wiley, John i. EcTecr, w. 4. G. Gun.
ningham and General Robert Vance, Thad
deus p. Thomas, +. w. Earnest, David
Clage, and Henry s. Bowen. Alternates il
the persons of Rev. Z. n. Price and ". W
Hicks for the clergy, and ". b. Aston ano
Doctor q. A. Long for the lalty, were
elected.
After the result Of the election was an
nounced, the Conference was addressed by
Dr. Summers in relation to the condition o.
the "Book Concern" the Nashville Chris,
aan Advocate, &c.
The Conference will probably adjourn
Thursday morning next. In this conncc
.ion please give me room to return thanks
to the family Of Nr. James Fields (not forget
ting little Elem, whose house has beer
really hone during my stay in Abingdon
Yours. lUAr.
?. s.-The coming Of day must hereafter
be announced in this vicinity in some Other
way than by the growing Of chickens.
Correspondence or the Richmond Dispatch.
4 Suicide, and Bloody Reucontre
CovINaToN, September %, 1869.
On Monday last s young man named
Wesley Waskey, of Botetourt, committee tee
|
was employed by Mr.. Eagle, the carpenteI
Of the SPRINGS, and has conducted himsel
very industriously and steadily. He had
been observed Of late to be very serious nnC
meditative, and on Monday complained O
! indisposition. In answer TO knock ut nj:
door by person who was taking him some
tea, he said he was up. Soon afterwards
| about l O'Clock 2. IA. ) the report Of q pisto
in his room was heard. Persons forced the
door and found him dead. He had place.
| Tho pistol Immediately behind the right ear
and large part Of the top OF the skull wa:
blown of. 1t is supposed that he laboret
under great mental depression OF some
kind but he left no word in writing, mol
had he, before the act, msde any commune
cation to any one which could afford clue
TO the motive which Influenced him. HI:
connections are very respectable citizens O
Botetourt. His body has been taken to thai
county for interment.
| On Monday an unfortunate ARRAY oc
Cured in this town between Captain JOIN
W. Branham and Mr. Peter Eontague-tht
former agent for Trotters line, and the lat
| ter, driver for the same line between Thu
place and the Healing Springs. There hat
| been some unfriendly feeling between then
for some time past, which broke out IN
passionate alteration on; Monday evening
During this alteration Branham exhibited
a pistol. Montague, having. disposed OF hi
team, returned to the hotel, armed with
heavy bolt, known as the king bolt,
which holds the body of the stage to tn
front axle, and the two meeting, Montague
attacked Branham with the bolt, strikin!
| him several blows on the head, and bring
ing him down on the floor. Montague Wen
down over him, continuing his assault
Branbsm, while in this situation, drew hi
pistol with his right hand and fired it, tn
bali striking Montague and entering his sid'
about the lower ribs. The parties were thel
separated. =,