The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-12-16
ri. Meth odist Conference.

The S0uth CafOlllla Aullual' COnIel-
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
South, convened in its one hundred and
first session at 10 o'clock \. NJ, yester-
day in our town. Ample arrangements
were made to accommodate the one
hundred and ninety-four clerical and
forty lay members who compose this
body. There are. in addition, the mem
hers of the various Conference boards
and committees, and there are also sev-
eral distinguished visitors from abroad
swelling the whole number present to
over two hundred and fifty.
We clip the following in reference to
the Conference from the News and
Courier of yesterday: This body of
Christian gentlemen represents one Of
the largest religious denominations in
the State. At the last session, held in
Columbia in December, 1885, the report
showed 54,334 members and 1873 local
and 194 travelling preachers, making a
grand total membership of 54,66l, an
increase of 1888 during the last decade.
The total valuation of the church pro-
perty, including parsonages and college
and school buildings, is S968,9I5, iii in
crease in the past decade Of over $780,
600. The Methodists of the State, in
1885, paid for foreign and domestic
missions and for church extension work
the sum of S16,44S. an increase during
the decade Of $1,000.
a noble feature of this denomination
is it's care of the disabled and worn-out
ministers, whose lives have been spent
in the active itinerant ministry. En-
gaging, as they do, to devote themselves
exclusively to the work assigned them,
very few Methodist ministers have op-
portunity for accommodating property,
hence when they are worn out and well
stricken in years the Church renders
assistance. And they widows and orphans
Of the deceased ministers are not for
gotten, annual provision for them being
also made. .l,. TAR
The educational work of the Confer
ence is of Il high and advanced order.
Wofford College, Columbia Female-Gol-
lege and Cokesbury Conference School
are patronized and maintained by the
Methodists Of the State, and several
high schools and quite a number of the
common schools of the State are taught
by the graduates of these institutions.
Notwithstanding the loss, by the late
war, Of the ample endowment fund left
by the late Rev. Benjamin Wofford for
the maintenance Of the College at Spar
tanburg, which he founded and which
bears his name, the College has been
sustained and the Conference has, been
active in replacing the fund. The
Methodist Church, from the beginning
Of it's history has been in the forefront
in the matter of Christian education.
In fact, AIethodiSm was born ~ Ssale
great Oxford University of England,
and the old South Carolina Conference
is not one Whit behind her sister CC.-
ferences or other evangelical denomi-
nations in maintaining high standard
of education for her ministry and laity.
The annual Conference session is
fraught with an all absorbing interest
to preachers and people. inasmuch as it
is the time when the ministers are as
signed to their various fields Of labor for
the coming year. BY the law OF limita-
ton. no minister is permitted to preach
in one charge for more than four years
consecutively. Under this law some
half dozen Of the presiding elders and
a number of pastors will necessarily be
assigned to other fields during the pres
ent Conference. \ large number Of
preachers whose uuadrennium has not
expired are annually changed, also, in
order to the better adjustment of the
work and the workers, and this session
OF the Conference, Of course, will be
marked by many such changes. Conse-
Uuently, several scores of preachers and
pastoral charges anXiously await the
announcement of the result Of the Ia
borS Of the appointing power.
The Rev. Bishop John &. GranLery.
d. d.. whose residence is at st. Louis,
No, sill preside ut this session Of The
Conference. IIo is 4 man Of superior
intellect, an able pulpit orator, and is
possessed Of fine executive qualilca-
tions. He has Il great decision Of
character, peculiarly fitting him for the
delicate and responsible duties OF his
Office. He is Il native OF Virginia, ana
ut IN early age entered the Virginia
Conference. For many years he WIS I: