Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-08-25
District Conference MI. Z. Church,
South.

SOuCns
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
SHILOH, KING GEORGE Co., Va, August
%. lS75.--The eighth annual session of Ran
dolph Macon District Conference, NJ E. Church,
South, was held at Lebanon Church, in Essex
county, last week, beginning Oh Wednesday and
closing on Friday, the 10th inst. This body is
composed OF the preachers, travelling and local,
and Of lay delegates, three from each pastoral
charge within the District. The territory repre-
sented includes the counties of Rappahanuock,
Culpeper, Spottsyvania, Caroline, Hanover,
King and Queen, Essex and Middlesex, togeth-
er with the five counties Of the Northern Neck.
These annual assemblies, known as District
Conferences, are comparatively new institu
ton, and form a distinctive feature of Southern
Methodism. Their history is coincideut With
the Introduction OF lay representation in the
| higher councils of the Church, authorized by
concurrent action of the General and Annual
| Conferences 10 1867 The results of eight
years trial show that they were wisely design
| ed. Apart from the regular routine of bust
ness, which includes inquiries and reports as to
| every branch of Church work aud interest with
day Schools, its local missions, its financial sys-
TENS, and the numerical progress or decline of
embership--' prominence is given to religious
exercises, such as preaching, prayer meetings,
love feasts and the administration of the sac
rameDts.' Besides this, these meetings afford
az opportunity to form new and pleasant ac-
quaintances among brethren, aud to renew and
re establish old ones long severed or weakened
by separation, the clergy and lalty are brought
! 10 close contact, and by Tree and friendly dis
cusslons, and by open and unreserved inter.
change OF views aud opinions upon all matters
OF Church policy, a stronger bond of sympathy
is established, and the reciprocal duties of pas
tor and people are better understood and ap-
preciated. We have attended FIVE consecutive
sessions of this Conference, all of which were
pleasant and profitable, but none more SO than
the one Just closed at Lebanon. The good order
observed by the iumeose congregations in at
| tendance from day to day. and the quiet aud
respectful attention given to the preaching ard
other religious exercises at the stand, were
subjects of constant remark, and spoke volumes
tor the virtue and sobrlcty OF the community.
10 point OF hospitality, too, there Was no
lack. Protracted sessions Of large religious
bodies may sometimes become burden to
sparsely settled country communities, but it was
not so IN this case. gu the contrary we rather
felt that our Conference was somewhat dwarfed
by the superabuodant preparation aud provision
that had been made for its accommodation,
The business of the Conference, conducted by
Rev. T. 2. Wilson, Presiding Elder of the
District, was marked by the utmost harmony
aud good telling throughout. Reports from the
several Circuits showed good average of pro.
gress IN all departments of our Church work.
The sermons preached during Conference we're
good, but the singing was only toerabe. We
have better at hume The claims of tie
Preachers Relief Society were presented BY
Rev. j. B. Laurens, and subscription Of
about $500, payable in ten years by annual TO-
stalments, was secured. Rev Mr. Latane, OF
the Reformed Episcopal Church, Revs. Scott
and Street, of the Baptist, Rev. Johu Tribe,
of the Campbellite, and Rev Mr.. Archer, of
the Texas Conference OF the NJ E. Church,
South, were introduced to the Conference.
Judge Samuel Downing, of Lancaster, Thos.
w. Garrett, of King and Queen, W.T.. Chaud
Ter, of Caroline, and w. E. Baker, of King
George, were elected delegates to represent this
District 10 the Virginia Annual Conference to
be held 10 Danville on the 18th of November
next. Watson Walker, James Macdonald,
Samuel Walker and VIM. S. Brown were
chosen as aternates The next District Con-
ference will be held at Heathsville, Northum-
berland county. 3,