The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-03-28

the laws controlling it and the influence Il
exerts. Its relief, or relations to the aeria
ocean. plains, escarpments, watersheds
mountains, plateaus, valleys, Natura
Grand Divisions. Laws Of relief.
5. Its waters tidal and fuvial, and their
distribution, whence they come and the
laws controlling them.
6. The nature OF its climate, the laws
regulating the distribution of heat, mois.
ture and other climatic agencies. The Sig
nal Service.
Washington Conference of M. E. Church.
The fifteenth annual session of this body,
which met in Augusta street Methodist
Church last Wednesday week, terminated
on Monday last. Throughout the entire
session the utmost harmony prevailed, the
deliberations were marked by earnestness
and moderation, and the bearing of each of
the members evidenced oneness Ct pur-
pose-the advancement OF the common
cause. Not only during the hours of confer
ence, but on the street and elsewhere the
uniform courtesy and politeness of the
members was the subject of general re-
mark among our citizens. Altogether the
impression created was most favorable
one.
The regular routine business was gone
through with on Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, and on Monday last, the Commit :
tees reported upon the various subjects. The
minutes Of the reports were full of interest.
From the proceedings as reported in the
Spectator we condense the following:
Rev. J. D. s. Hall, chairman of the commit
tee on statistics. made his report, of which the
following is a summary:
MEMBERSHIP
Practitioners. 3,2O6; Full membership, 1850;
Local Preachers, 24o; Deaths 57l.
Children, 2,57s; Adults nntsss So,
CHURCH PROPERTY.
ohgrches sp1SSbaDls yaHe Par
SABBATH SCHOOL.
Scholars of all ages, 1856.
BENEVOLENT COLLECTIONS
Conference claimants S318.61.
schools, ssSa.l5; Total s., ss2S5; Woman;s For
tension ssss tract Society," a sa o1
School Union. $500; Freedmen's Aid Society,
sI55ss; 05 Education, s5S.27; American Bible So.
COLLECTIONS, &c.
Support of Bishops, $286.56; Building and i'm
proving churches and parsonages, $l77.05; In
debtedness on churches and parsonages, $50. 1888;
claims for ministerial support, S329.59; Receipts
for ministerial support $237.09.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
Number Of Sunday schools, 29O; Officers and
teachers, Ito; Scholars of all ages 1904 schol-
ars Is years old and over, 4.724; Scholars under
2,497; Average attendance of teachers and schol.
ars, S538: Officers and teachers who are church
mm a or "a a
school this year, $3.50; Sunday school class
mates taken,26; Sunday school advocates taken,
collections, sI649s.
SABBATH oBsERvANcEs.
Inc committee reported through its chair
ecration of the Sabbath day, such as buying or
selling, or taking such pleasures as will not
t tend to the glory Of God, and recommended
ton OF their congregations from the pulpits.1
This report caused considerable discussion,
and the custom of Sunday excursions was Sc
verely reprehended.
TEMPERANCE.
The committee on Temperance reported
against the use of Intoxicating drinks by min
listers, and recommended that they should be
used only in cases of extreme necessity; and
offered resolution that, as citizens, they
should not vote for any man as candidate for
AS6ASAo1utC
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 that
they would use their influence with their peo-
pie to induce them to pursue the same course
STATE OF THE CHURCH.
From the report on this subject we give the
following facts
The Washington Conference was organized
in October 1854, by the venerable Bishop Levi
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 l2O
ministers. The property of the church has
greatly increased in value, including 95 church.
es and n parsonages, many Of fine architectu-
raj design, valued at 100000. The progress of
the church in Virginia is greatly facilitated by
the M. E. Church South. Their fraternal rela-
tons have been kept sacred and inviolable
since the adjustment made at Cape May. and
they rejoiced that such friendly relations exist.
and will hail the glorious period to come, when
there shalt be but one M. E. Church all over this
great Republic. There have been many.revivals
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
mittee, therefore, recommend the following
resolution
RESOLVED, Therefore, that the ministers in
their several charges and circuits instruct the
people in the path OF morality and Virtue es-
pec as IN regard to marriage vows and to
guard against marriages of consanguinity
winch are baneful and injurious to society.
EDUCATION.
The report was read and adopted, and, on
motion, a resolution was passed, pledging the
Conference to raise $500, to be divided between
the Freedmans Aid Society and the cause o
education.
MISSIONS.
Committee on missions reported the follow
ing appropriations: Salem district, 500; Wheel
ing district, 500; Lynchburg district, $50:
Staunton district, $570-distributed as follows:
White Hall, $50; Jefferson. s32; New Market,
$50; Rockingham, $40; Mt. Vernon, $2S; High
land Ss2; Broadway. $40; Summers, $50; Union,
s34; Spring creek, $50
The following is the organization of the
Church Extension Board: President, James
Thomas; Vice President. M. Spriddle; Record
ing Secretary, N. M. Carroll; Corresponding
Secretary, c. G. Key; Treasurer. Alfred Young.
The Bishop made few remarks congratulate
ting the Conference upon the pleasantness and
usefulness of this session and the evident spir-
ituality which animated its proceedings and
actions. He was gratifed to find the Confer
it would continue to grow in strength and use
fulness in its work in the vineyard of the Lord.
He gave them much good advice as to their du-
ties when they have gone home to their charges.
He urged brotherly love and christian kind
ness among the brethren in the Church. He
insisted upon the importance of daily and
hourly study. They should administer discip-
line firmly yet carefully, but in gross cases do
not hesitate to administer 1t. Be honest In all
your dealings with men, study to be honest in
everything. Be truthful in allyour statements
and having promised, keep your promise if it
is at all possible.
The Bishop then announced the following
APPOINTMENTS.
Baltimore District-N. M. Carroll, Presiding
Elder-Sharpe Street, G. g. Key, 4. G.. Snow
den; Orchard Street, James Thomas; Asbury,
n. M. Carroll John Wesley, Robert Steele;
Centennial: Martin spriddle; Western Chapel
and Lutherville, ]. L. Evans; Baltimore Cir
cult, John Loggins; Frederick City, Tilghman
Jackson; Monocacy. B. H. Nugent; Middle
town, Henry Williams; Linganore, ]. II, Rid
dick; Westminster; Alfred p Valentine; Go;
Brown; Bellaire, W. r. J. Williams; Hagers- |