Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-02-26
Eighth Session Of the Virginia An
nual Conference.
FOURTH DAY.

=
nual Conference.
FOURTH DAY
The Conference MT this morning at nine
o'clock, Bishop Bowman presiding.
Rev. Dr. Walsh conducted the devotional ex
ercises, reading the i chapter of Ephesiaos,
and singing the 50Oth hymn.
After prayer the Journal Of the previous
session was read and approved.
The 18th question, Have any local preach
ers been ordained p was taken up, and the
following were elected as Deacons, aud passed
to Local Deacon orders, but were not present
for ordination J. H. Blackwell and A. H.
Ingle.
j. H. Rumburg and G. P Moore we're pres.
ent ard their characters passed, and they were
elected 10 Local Deacon orders.
J. H. HaIpenuy was elected to Local Elder
orders.
The lst question, Have any entered the
Conference by transfer or readmissiou2" was
resumed.
W. C.. Webb, formerly of the British Con-
ference, Wesleyan Methodist Church, was sd
mitted.
The q question, Who are admitted on
triaI?" was called up, when The following uames
were presented q. H. Thomson, D. q. He'd
drck, g. w. Fulleu, Isaac Wiseey, r. j.
Ncisou A. Bum, j. H. Halpenoy and J. G..
Grace, and pending the examination the ques
tloD was passed Until some future time.
G.. King from the Committee on the State
Of the Church, read the following report:
The Virginia Conference, though compare
lively tue least Of all the eighty Conferences, is
80 geographically located, that, 10 our opinion,
it is destined to occupy consplclous place 10
the future history Of the Church.
The work of awakening and conversion
throughout the Conference the past year has
baen of such a gracious character that we can
tu. regard it as an evidence OF the Divine ap
or JDatun and ii the Lord be for US be is more
than all that can be against Us. We are there
fore the more encouraged to press forward 10
the Master 5 service, restlugln the assurance,
ia. AIN with you always.
Our support has been small, 10 the grea' ma
iorlty OF cases not half as much rs it should
cave been,
Vt one thing secures us, whatever betde,
The Scriptures assure Us, the Lord will pro-
vide,
and his resources, like himself, are Infinite aud
uutalllug. We must systematic: the beneVo
eLce of our people, and encourage them to
give as the Lord hath prospered them and
what is lacking, the Shepherd and Blsuop of
our SOULS will doubtless supply. Ii We arc
wholly the Lord s.doiug his work, his eyes will
BE- upon us, aud bis ears wall be open 20 our
crlc. Perhaps one reason Why our people have
not, IN some cases, been more prosperous, NAV
BE- on account OF their having kept back part of
the price, LIT us bring all our treasures luto
the sore nous, the hurch-Ind prove him
Herewith, aud see if he will not pour Us out
such blessing that there will not be room ~
receive ii.
The separation of our work into clu tiers OF
appointments lar removed from each ether
may to the superficial observer, appear To be
great hludrauce TO our work, bur to the dis
cernpg eye of faith, IL is different. In few
years, with the blessing Of God, all the inter-
mediate sections Of country will be taken up
by faithful ueu, VIII pn The LORD will raise up
through your preachlug OF the Word, and
though you may SOW 10 tears, as many Of you
have done, yet nevertheless, We shall come
again Re Dlclng bringing our Sheaves with us,
AMI whe her 10 heaven or earth, We >nall bo
glad that we have made some sacrifices tor
II % tho died for u.s. We must not be salts
fed with what We have done 10 the past, but
resolve to DO still greater things 10 the future,
and We may expect the blessed Savous to help
us. We have skiliui geDeralShlp 10 he Su
perlntcudcLts Of our Church, and With mem.
ber=hip OF |, $50 $50 to cheer US 90 TO victory,
with the leadership Of the hiug OF Kings aud
Lord of Lords, We ought to anticipate results
commensurate with our resources.
III. weakest OF US nave the as-uln of all
of God's power, requisite Tor any III rgrncy-
''Nu weapon that is formed again,, thee shall
prosper" If you are true to God H. would
OK hsust iLfnlty to sustain you aud YOUR wives
and nttle ones before He would suffer you to
be pluckcd out OF His hand; the Gvd Of Ethan,
brethren, is our God.
We are encouraged to see l,406, i68 child
rep training in Sunday School tor this gori.
Gus warfare. 1t would be we'll for the pastors
to see that they are taught the doctrines, and
discipline, aud hymnology of the Church, ADD
let the teachers be faithfully Instructed also,
that they may be able to iced the children on
the bread of heaven. By all means should we
impress the young people with the necessity
uf giving their hearts to God and particl pat;,g
IN ali Christian ordinances, that they may III.
more CLEARLY perceive spiritual ruth in the
d.vnely appointed symbols or sacraments.
We regret that any person ID our Ounce
ton shru Tor a moment entertain the thought
of detacu,ng from our Conference any porlon
OF our territory, believing that the best Interests
OF the Church will be served by eDlarg OK, rath-
er than contracting our boundary lines, so as
to embrace all of the territory in Virgi.
uia, south of the Potomac river. This ac-
QUESTION oil territory ls only question OF time,
aud the sooner IL Is cousummat-d he better, We
think for ali concerned. The success already
achieved in the south, coupled with solemn
assurances of the General Conference, that
aid aud assistance will be continued in the
South, as 10 other fields Of Christian effort.
are 10 US sources of the protoundest satisfaction.
W regret the reduction 10 the missionary ap-
preparations to this Conference, but are assured
that this is uot for any lack OF lDter,s, Oh the
part Of the parent Missionary Board, but
rather llou the suurtness OF Collections and
the wonderful expansion OF the work 10
the west auu foreign missionary fields. We are
nevertheless OF the opinion that when he de-
Id nus of our work and the straitened condl-
tons of our pastors are understood in The
weather. sections of our on that these wants
will be met, and for this purpose We pray the