Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-25
THE SAVANNAH CONFERENCES.
An Interesting Report of the Proceed
ings at Louisville.


GUYToN, GA, May 24.-Your corre-
spondent was requested by the Savannah
District Conference, which recently met
at Louisville, to prepare for the benefit of
the many hundreds of your readers re-
siding in the seven counties included in
its territory who are interested in such
matters, brief account of its proceed
ings. Although it was held at busy
season of the year for the farmers. there
wasa good attendance of delegates about
seventy in all. Many things conspIred
to make it very pleasant occasion for
all present. The weather was delightful.
the people of Louisville cordial in
their welcome, and unbounded in
their hospitality to their guests, and
the reports from the various pastoral
charges showed progress in every direc-
tiOn. We were pleased to hear that the
three Methodist churches in Savannah
had been greatly strengthened in numbers
and IN spiritual power under the recent
labofS Of MeSsrS. Jones, Dodge Christian
and others cooperating with the faithful
pastors. We feel kindly towards your
city, and we think that the very best wish
we could express for you is that the cause
OIL rellgiOn may prosper among you. The
same cheering report came from other
fields, and we thanked God and took cour-
age. Financially, the Savannah district
has been leading the Conference for
some years, and the indications
are that more money will be raised this
year for the support of the ministry and
for the many benevolent enterprises of
the church than ever before. The atten-
tion of the church has, of late. been spe-
cially directed to the matter of providing
homes for their preachers. Out of four
teen pastoral charges of the district only
four are without parsOnages; and in one
OF these fOur-the Bethel Circuit-steps
are now being taken to build one. A
number of the preachers reported that
much had been done by the people
since Conference in the wav of
repairing aud fitting up churches
and parsonages already built. The
building Committee of the Savannah
District Parsonage, which is located at
Whitesville, No. Central Railroad, made
was lnaugurated by the District Confer
ence which met at Sandersville in June,
1857. The matter was put Into the
hands of Robert McIntire and r. B. Rep
pard, of Savannah, and William Spier.
Edward Bird, r. j. Davant, and your cor
respondent, of Whitesville. The work
of collecting funds proceeded during
the fall and the work of building
began on the 14th of March. The COM
mite reported that the House would be
completed in about two weeks, The lot
was donated by the church at Whitesville,
and the estimated cost Of building, fenc-
ing and furnishing is $1,000. The Treasu-
rer. Col. X. j. DaVant, we'll known in YOUR
city, reported that $1,310 80 had been
raised to May 10th, and the District Con-
ference raised in cash and subscriptions
$526 % more. This leaves 500 additional
to be raised, if the original plans are to
be carried out; and the committee have
advanced far enough in their work to as
sure the friends of the enterprise that for
the sum called for at the beginning thew
VIII be able to provide for the district a
house which will be commodious, COM
Portable, cheap, and which will fairly
represent one of the foremost
districts of the South Georgia Conference.
Upon the strength of the pledges made at
Louisville, the committee decided to 90
ahead and complete the upper story,
fence the premises, dig the we'll, and put
up the necessary Outbuildings, none of !
Which things were covered by the original |
contract. Messrs. Robert McIntire, David |
Porter and Rev. G. w. Mathews were
appointed by the Conference to look after
the small! balance still due from the |
churches in Savannah.
The delegates and visitors were greatly |
interested in listening to a statement |
from Rev. j.. G. Magath, touching his re- |
Gently lnaugurated mission to the He |
brews in your city. Rev. G. G. N. Mac |
Donen offered the following resolution |
which was unanimously adopted by a |
rising vote:
ResOtUed, That this District Conference |
has heard with pleasure Mr.. Magath, |
Missionary to the Hebrews in Savannah. |
touching his work among them: that we |
appreciate the great Importance of this |
mission, and extend to him our svmpathies !
and our prayers for the successful prose- |
cutiOn of his work.
The conference bade him God speed in |
his noble undertaking, and made him an |
unsolicited contribution of $37 80 for his |
reading room. On the following dav Rev.
l.. b. Payne received for the Conference |
Orphan Home, located in Macon, a con- |
tribution of $236 80. So that, in all. the
sum of $500 80 was raised for benevolent |
objects during the session of this District |
Conference.
Rev. j. r. Fielder and Messrs. w. b.
Nell, j. w. Cheatham and Edward Bird |
were elected delegates to the Annual Con- !
ference, and WhitesYille, in Effingham |
county, was selected as the place for hold |
ing the next District Conference.
After impressive religious services in |
the various churches on Sunday, the dele
gates and visitors dispersed to their homes,
carrying with them pleasant recollectiOns |
of the seventeenth session of the Savan-
nah District Conference.
II ID MxEDC