Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-25

seen
the same plan used for pike on some Of the
Cumberland tarns and most deadly it was. In
stead OF flies artificial bats were suspended from
the line. Another dodge have seen the miners
use in Cumberland is to tie lines and spinning
bats to rude toy boats, and set them to sail
across the lake.
General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church south for 1881.
The ninth Quadrennial session of the General
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church
south will convene in Nashville, Tenn, May 8.
being the first Wednesday in May, 1882. At the
General Conference held in the CITY of New
York, May, 1874, then representing the whole
Methodist Episcopal church in the United
States, the church was divided into two separ ate
ecclesiastical bodies, on "a plan of separation"
agreed upon by the general conference The
occasion OF the separation grew out of the de-
position OF Bishop James o. Andrew, D. D.,
from the episcopal Office on account of his con-
nectiOn with slavery. line of division was
agreed on, and the great Methodist family
parted north and south. The southern division
held convention IN the city of Louisville, KY.
in 1915, and proceeded to organize an indepen-
dent ecclesiastical body under the name and
title OF 1.-The Methodist Episcopal church south :"
church was held in the city of Petersburg, Va,
May, 1876 The session was held in the old
Union street Methodist church, near Jarrett
hotel, now occupied by a congregation of col
ored Methodists. At that first general confer
ence Bishops SOule and Andrew-the two bish-
ops who adhered to southern Methodism-pre-
sided. The conference was composed Of 81
clerical delegates fromfifteen annual conferences
in the southern states.
But few Of the men are now living who were
members OF the general conference of 1916. The
great pulpit orator, Rev. Henry Bascom, of Ken
lucky, and that wonderful man, the Rev. Lovic
Pierce, d. D., Of Georgia, together with such
men as the Rev. VIM. Capers, D. D., Of South
Carolina; Rev. A. L. P. Green, d. D., Of Ten
nessee; Rev. Hezekiah G. Leigh, D. D., Of North
Carolina, and many others Of kindred ability,
now no more, were members Of that body. At
that conference the Rev. RObt. Paine d. D.,
then president Of La Grange College, in West
Tennessee, and the Rev. William Capers, d. D.,
additional bishops in the southern church
Bishop Paine is still living. Bishop Capers Is
dead. There has been a wonderful growth of
southern Methodism since that day, now thirty
six years ago. Then there were but fifteen an
nual conferences in southern Methodism; now
there are thirty-nine conferences. Then less
than 2OOO travelling preachers or regular pastors;
now 6,S04. Then but $50 600 church members
10000 OF whom were negroes; now about
900. 600 white members
The general conferences since that session
nave been successfully held as follows: In 1850
the conference was held in ST. Louis, Mo-, at
which Rev. Henry Bascom, d. D., was elected
bishop. He lived but few months after his
election. May, 1854, the general conference
was held In Columbus, Ga, at which the Rev.
Early, D. D.. OF Virginia, and the Rev. Il. H.
Kavanaugh, of Kentucky, were elected bishops
Bishops Pierce and Kavanaugh are still living.
The conference of1858 was held in Nashville,
Tenn No bishop elected. In 1852 the confer
ence failed to hold a regular session on account
of the war. The conference of 1866 was held in
the city of New Orleans, at which Rev. VIM.
N. Wightman, d. D., LII. D., of South Carolina,
Rev. David s. Dogeett, D. D., of Virginia, Rev
Enoch Marvin, of Missouri, and the Rev. Hol-
elected bishops Bishops Marvin, Doggett and
Wightman are dead. Bishop McTyeire is still
living. May, 1870, the conference was held in
Memphis, Tenn. at which Rev. j. C. Keener,
D. D.; Of Louisiana, was elected bishop. The
Rev. James A. Duncan, d. D., Of Virginia, came
near being elected, and would have been
elected but for the reason that part of the
delegates from Virginia were unwilling to part
with him as president of Randolph Macon col
lege, and on that account only did not vote for
him.
The conference of 1870 was the first at which
there was an equal number of clerical and lay
delegates. The venerable Darcy Paul. of Pc
tersburg, Va, was member of that conference
and, as one Of Dr. Duncan,s warmest friends,
would not vote for him as bishop, because, as
trustee Of RandOlph-Macon college. he did
not see how he could be spared from the presi-
dency Of the college without irreparable damage
to the fortunes, just then. of the institution.
Others of DIR. Duncans hest friends, clerical and
lay, took the same ground and barely defeated
his election to the episcOpacy. In 1874 the gen.
eral conference was held in Louisville, XIV No
bishop elected. In 1878 the conference met in
Atlanta, Ga. No bishop elected. Now the con.
ference of 1882 will meet in q few days in Nash
vile, Tenn, at which, by common consent, not
less than four. probably five or six bishops will
be elected.
A curious feature in the election of bishops is
that no nominations are made. The confer
ence spends a short season in PRAYER aud then
proceeds to ballot. The drift of the vote points
to the man. Probably two or three will be
elected on the FIRST ballot. The ordination of
the bishops elect takes place on Sunday follow
ing the election. 1t is not improbable that vir-
ginia, Georgia, Maryland. Missouri and Loui-
siana or Kentucky, possibly both, will be repre-
sented in the new bishops This Is conjecture
from current opinion.
In the general conference all the great con-
nectional interests of the church pass in review,
such as the missionary work, the Snnday-schoOi.
cause. publishing interests, education, the ad-
ministration OF the bishops, conference bound
aries and the formation of new conferences, etc.
The general conference is the only Legislative
BODY 10 the Methodist church, and Is at the
same time tho highest appellate court of the
church. The sessions usually last for about
three weeks, sometimes longer.
A Question Of Law Touch ing wills.
The Pittsburg Commercial Of q recent date
says: "In the Orphans court yesterday
question of law Of some importance concerning
the validity Of viii came up for argument be-
fore Judge Hawkins. The application of
Christian Rudolph, IT,, for letters testamentary
on the estate of his deceased mother, Mrs. Anna
Rudolph had been refused by register Hoerr.
on the ground that the two witnesses to The
Will had not subscribed their names - wit
nesses. In other words, the registers position
in refusing to admit the will to probate seemed
to recognize distinction In the application of
the law a. between cases where the person