West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-03-29
WEST VIRGINIA FREEMAN.
West Virginia q. b. Conference

give anything ike connected re-
bort of the proceedings of this in
iiuential body of West Virginia
Christians. We can only do the
best we can for our readers by. way
of throwing together notes of such
special points of interest as we were
able to gather up.
Conference met on Wednesday,
March 22d, in the U. B. Church,
in West Grafton, very neat and
comfortable building, but quite too
small to accommodate the Annual
Conference, with attending visit
ors, in place like Grafton.
THE BISHOP.
is always the central figure of a
Conference, and right well worthy
of this prominence is the venera-
Bile Bishop Dickson, of Westerville,
Ohio, who presides over this body.
To the observer he looks the happy
type of the oId-time Christian
minister, with genial good will and
fellowship beaming from every
feature of his happy face. Indeed,
his is just one of those soulful, de-
lightsome faces one is pleased to
look into and study. In directing
the proceedings of the body, his
rulings were prompt and decisive,
when occasion required, yet most
affable and yielding to the will and
pleasure of the brethren, making
everybody feel free and comforta-
BILE in all the discussions and de-
alterations.
GRATIFYING PROGRESS.
The very encouraging features of
the various annual reports, togeth-
er with the cheering tone of the
discussions and remarks generally,
throughout the sessions, denoted
the most gratifying progress du-
ring the year past, in all the vari-
Gus departments of the work of the
Conference.
Among the prominent gentle
men present, representing the diff
terent Interests of the denomina-
tion, were DR.. H. A. Thompson,
President of Otterbien University,
and Prof. J. P. Lands, of Union
Biblical Institute, Dayton, Ohio.
DIR. Thompson will be remembered
as the candidate for Vice President
OF the United States on the Prohi-
bition Ticket, with Neal Dow.
The Report on Education was
read by Rev. c. Hall of Buckhan-
non, on Thursday evening, and dis
cussed by Prof. J. O. Stevens, of
Buckhannon DIR. Thompson, DIR.
Warner, and others.
By invitation of the Conference,
DIR, Thompson, on Friday morning,
entertained full house with
deeply interesting account of his
recent travels in the Holy Land.
By like invitation, Prof. Lands,
on Friday evening instructed and
delighted the Conference with prac-
ti2al blackboard lessons in Sunday
School Institute work.
FEAST OF FRATERNITY.
On Friday afternoon, fraternal
delegates, representing the demon
nations named, We're introduced
and addressed the Conference, as
follows:
Methodist Protestant Church,
Rev-Cowan.
Baptist Church, Rev. H. L.
Quarles
Presbyterian Church, Rev. J. H.
Flanagan.
M. E. Church, South-A richly
enjoyed letter read by the Clerk,
from Rev. E. NJ. Murrill, who could
not be present.
M, E. Church, Rev. w. w. Boil
ton, who failing to be present on
Friday, appeared on Saturday, and,
on invitation of the body delivered
an earnest and eloquent address.
All of the addresses were marked
by the fullest flow OF good will
and cordial fellowship, and espec-
1ally did the current Of Rev, E. NJ
Murrills epistolary address sparkle
and bubble with rippIes and eddies
OF humor that captivated the
brethren.
Warm and hearty responses were
made to these Christian salutations
by DIR. Hensley, Prof. Lands, Dr.