Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-03-29
Local
THE C0LORED METHODIST CON-
FERENCE.


TIE C0LORED METHODIST CON
FERENCE.
THE PRESIDING BISHOP-THE MEMBERS
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS-THE TEMPER
SABBATH,
&C., &C., &C.
On Tuesday evening of last week, after
the arrival of the afternoon train, oul
streets were filed with well dressed colored
ministers, some attended by their families
who had. arrived to attend the session OF
the Washington Annual Conference of the
M. f. Church (colored). The members of
the Methodist Church on Augusta street,
which belongs to the Conference, had made
every arrangement for their reception, and
though the number was large lone hun
dred and ten) all were well taken care of.
The bishop who presided,
BISHOP E. G. ANDREWS, OF IOWA,
lis gentleman of fine personal appearance,
about fifty-ive years of age, wearing gray
side whiskers, and eye glasses. He is one
of the ablest of the bishops of the M. b.
Church, and was elected to that position
in 1872. His bearing as presiding officer
was dignifed and firm, yet gentle, and his
decisions were given with quickness and
clearness. 1t was the first time he had
presided over a colored Conference,
and his great tact in correcting some OF
the errors of the members, his skllful
avoidance of any direct reference to their
former history, and yet giving them to
understand he appreciated the difficulties
under which they had labored, was mar
vellous Interviewing of good breeding and
administrative ability.
THE MEMBERS.
The ministers there areno lay delegates
in this conference) were all colored men,
very large majority being pure black.
They are from both Virginias, a part OF
MARYLAND, and the District of Columbia.
About forty of them had been local preach
ers of the Baltimore M. E. Conference be-
fore the war. In courtesy to each other
and to strangers, correctness of language,
dignity, and the celebrity with which they
despatched business, they were models OF
which their race may reasonably feel
proud. A very large portion of them had'
we Judge from their age. been slaves, but
in all the discussions we only heard the
fact alluded to twice, and then merely as
a fact and not as grievance. The secre-
tar;es we're colored ministers, and to one
of them, Rev. W. P. Ryder, OF Brlstol'
the representatives of the press are in
debted for many obliging and courteous
attentions.
RAISING THE STANDARD FOR THE
MINISTER'S.
On Friday. after an address from Rev.
1E Round, setting forth the advantages
of the Centenary Biblical Institute,
place of education for young ministers,
the Bishop made some forcible remarks,
urging upon the conference the Importance
of az educated ministry, something that,
he said, was even more desirable IMAM
church extension. A resolution was Of
fered requiring the candidates for the
ministry, who shall hereafter apply for ad-
mission, to pass strict examination, az
laid down in the Book Of Discipline. This
examination includes questions in Buffers
Analogy, Wayland's Moral Philosophy,
&C., which the candidate must be able TO
answer. One old minister said he advo-
Gated it, though when he entered the
ministry he could neither reads write, nor
figure. The old man spoke with faultless
grammar and pronunciation, and was
also gifted with good stock OF repartee.
for. being interrupted by a younger mem
Der. who desired the Bishop to call alm to
order because he was extending his re-
marks to subjects not under discussion, he
turned round slowly and, looking at the
unlucky interrupter sternly, said:
81 don't think hurt you my brother.
am talking about education and that
doesn't touch you."
The young minister sat down amid roar
of laughter and the veteran was allowed
to conclude. One or two ministers opposed
the adoption of the resolution on the
Ground that the time had not yet arrived
for the strict standard proposed, but it
was adopted almost unanimously.
STATE OF THE CHURCH.
The report on the state of the church
showed that the Conference was organized
in October, 1854, by the venerable Bishop
levi Scott. of Delaware, with 5000 mem
hers and 1e preachers and now has 1881
members and 12J preachers, 95 churches
valued at s529, e2O, ~ parsonages valued
at 1921. $40. The report says: .''Ihe pro
oroas of the church in Virginia IS greatly
Facilitated by the M. E. Church South
Their fraternal relations have been kept
sacred and inviolable since the adj ustment
made at Cape May, and We rejoice at such
Friendly relations, and will hail the glo-
rious neriod to come when there shall De
bnt one M. r. Church all over this great
Republic"
MARRIAGE VOWS.
The eonmiJtee on the state OF the
church recommended the following reso-
linton which was adopted:
Beso,yed. Therefore. that the ministers in the !!
several charges and circuits instruct the peope III
the uath of m ,rali and virtue especally I'D iegst
To marriage VOWS and to guard against marriages o.
consangunity, which are baneful and injurious &c
society
STATISTICS.
THE Committee on Statistics reported
I'll, ,oomhershin. q, 500; on probation
3 aos; Deaths, 571; Local preachers, 24o
Rant,sms-children, 2,57s, adults, S46
Sabbath schools-schools 2S4, officers ant
teachers 2.o57, scholars 1904, of which
724 are over Is years of age and 1856 ar
in the infant classes. VI the oihcefs aii'