Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-03-26


NEXT SESSION.
Considerable interest was manifested in the
selection of the place for the next session of
Conference. The places put in nomination and
warmly advocated were the Centennial church
vt Baltimore, Asbury church at Washington
and the church at Alexandria. The Centennial
church at Baltimore was selected on the first
vote.
The petition of the trustees of the church at
for permission to sell their cid lot,
TO aid in paying for their new one, was read
and permission granted as asked for.
John Trigg and j. M. Gross had their rela-
lions as Elders changed from effective to SUI
The constitution upon which it is proposed to
found Preachers Aid Society was read, and
the objects of the Society commended by Con-
ference.
The committee appointed on Thursday to in
vestigate the charges against Philip Brown re-
ported that after q careful examination Of all
the facts and evidence before them they found
nothing in the charges. The report was adopted.
MONDAYS SESSION.
Conference opened with devotional exercises,
conducted by Rev. T. Jackson. The minutes
were read and approved.
Rev, ]. D. s. Hail. chairman of the commit
tee on statistics, made his report. of which the
following is a summary:
MEMBERSHIP.
Practitioners, 1906; Full membership, %, 500
Local Preachers, 24o; Deaths, ST..
Children, 2,57s; Adults, SAG.
CHURCH PROPERTY.
Churches, 95--probable value, $529,92o; Par
sonages, Improbable value, $2l $40.
SABBATH SCHOOL.
Coho .
Scholars of all ages, IA ,855.
BENEVOLENT COLLECTIONS.
Conference claimants, S3lS.6!.
For MissiOnS.-Churches. Sl,2N41; Sabbath
schools, $3A.l5; Total s.. 1925; Woman's For
eign Missionary Society, $65.A; Board OF ex-
tension, $SsO.69; Tract Society, $5S64;, Sunday
School Union, $5504; Fresdmens Aid Society,
Sl55.33; Education, S5S.N; American Bible So
ciety, $685..
Support of Bishops, $2S6.56; Building and i'm
proving churches and parsonages, $l77.05; In
debtedness on churches and parsonages, $sa SSs
claims for ministerial .su s, ss9Ss Receipts
SUNDAY SCHOOLS
Number Of Sunday schools, go; Officers and
teachers, ITO Scholars Of all ages l6 O74; schol-
airs Is years old and over, 4,724; Scholars under
Is years, except infant class, 4,7A; Infant class
2497; Average attendance Of teachers and schol-
ars, 8,53S: Ofiicers.and teachers who are church
1873; Library Books, 1885; Total expenses Of
school this year, $3.50; Sunday school class.
mates taken %; Sunday school advocates taken
1888, ;Sunday school journals taken, 1872; special
collections, Sl64.9S.
SABBATH oBsERvANCEs.
The committee reported through its chair.
man, recommending protest against the des.
ecration of the Sabbath day, such as buying OF
selling, or taking such pleasures as will moi
tend to the glory Of God. and recommended
the ministers to bring the subject to the atten
ton of their congregations from the pulpits.
This report caused considerable discussion
and the custom of Sunday excursions was Sc
verely reprehended.
BISHOPS CERTIFICATE.
The Bishops certificates to the ordination or
yesterday Sunday Of the following Deaconl
and Elders was presented to Conference ant
put on file, viz:
Deacons-John w. Waters, Frederick #. Saw
yer, Leroy Diggs, Solomon Hammond.
E7ders.-Albert C. Steptoe, Lawrence j. Val
entine, VIM. Davis. Francis Bell. John A
Holmes, Geo. W. Jenkins, Thos. B. Snowden
and Henry Brooks.
TEMPERANCE.
The committee on Temperance reported
against the use of intoxicating drinks by min
listers, and recommended that they should b,
used only in cases of extreme necessity; ant
offered a resolution that, as citizens, the!
should not vote for any man as a candidate To-
side, to whatever political party he may be
long, who is not known to be in favor of Pro
hibition, or at least Of Local Option, and tina
they would use their influence with their PEG
pie to induce them to pursue the same course
STATE OF THE CHURCH.
From the report on this subject we give tn
following facts:
The Washington Conference was organized
in October, 1854, by the venerable Bishop Lev
Scott, of Delaware. The Conference was be
gun with 5000 members and sixteen preach
ers since that date the church has rapidly
increased and now numbers over $3.50 and IL
ministers. The property of the church ha
greatly increased in value, including 95 church
es and q parsonages. many of fine architectu
raj design, valued at 100000. The progress o
the church in Virginia is greatly facilitated by
the M. E. Church South. Their fraternal rela
tions have been kept sacred and inviolabll
since the adjustment made at Cape May, ane
they rejoiced that such friendly relations exist
and will hail the glorious period to come, wher
there shall be but one M. E. Church all over thi
great Republic. There have been many:revival
among the churches during the past year.
The great need Of the church is the improve
ment of the morals of the people. The com
resolution:
their several charges and circuits instruct tn
people in the path OF morality and virtue, es
pecially in regard to marriage vows and t.
guard against marriages of consangu1n1ty
which are baneful and injurious to society.
EDUCATION.
The report was read and adopted, and, OF
motion, a resolution was passed, pledging tn
Conference to raise $500, to be divided between
the Freedman's Aid Society and the cause G
education.
The various other standing committees mad
their reports, the summaries of which will b
found in the statistical reports above given.
The Rev. W. E. Baker, of the First Presbyte
rian church of Stanton, was introduced to tn
Conference.
The committee appointed to investigate tn
charges against BENZ. w. Brown reported tn
charges unfeunded aud required the Rev. J. A
Scott to make public apology. The repor
was adopted, and Rev. J. A. Scott in obedienc
thereto, said that he had been influenced il
what he had said by pure motives, and for tn
purpose of maintaining the purity Of tn
church. He had learned afterwards that b
had been led into error with regard 10 the chal
acter of BENZ. w, Brown, and made apology 70
the remarks he had made.
The case of B. w. Brown was then taken VI
and he was passed to deacon of the secon
class.
After considerable discussion, the Conferene
agreed to take up collection to defray the fl
neral expenses of the late Rev. w. w. Leewoot
| stationed at Harrisonburg.
| From the separate reports. 1t was found tha
| the contribution to the missionary fupd wa
considerably larger than the amount given i
| statistical report, and that to the Freedman
| Aid Society somewhat less.
| Recess was taken till 6, 2. NJ.
EVENING SESSION
| opened with an earnest prayer by Rev. Jane
| Thomas, Presiding Elder OF the Lynchbur
District.
The amount of collection for burial of Re-
w. w. Leewood, Sl2.01.
MISSIONS
Committee on missions reported the follow
ing appropriations: Salem district, 500; Vince
ing district. 500; Lynchburg district, S57(
Staunton district, 570-distributed as follows
White Hall, S32; Jefferson. s32; New Marke
SS2; Rockingham, $40; Mt. yarnon, $2S; High
land, $32; Broadway. $40; Summers, s5e; Unio1
S34; Spring creek, $780,
The following is the organization of tn
Church Extension Board: President, jaime
4