Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-06
in which the whole Conference joine'
with great fervor.

in which the whole Conference joine'
with great fervor. :,
Bishop Keener then read the hrs
lesson-the 72d Psalm, " Give the KIM
Thy judgments, o God AFTER whicl
Bishop Wilson read the lst chapter o
the Epistle to the Hebrews, God, VIII
at sundry times and in divers manner
spake," &c.
The hymn, Try Us, Oh God" va
sung, Mr.. Bledsoe leading.
THE SECOND PRAYER.
DR.. McFerrin next lead in prayer
lie said:
We come sgaip before Thee. o Lord. az
| fall down on our knees and thank Tnee ~
| Thy mercies. Since we adjourned lou
| years seo many OF our brethren have passed
| away. Faces that encouraged us In OH
| work are now shrouded In death. W,
| thank Thee that so many OF US are spared
| 10 meet this day. We do thank Thee fol
! all that Thou hast done for our countr,
and our people. We thank Thee for a.
! that Thou hast done In our sunday s'hoola
We thank Thee for the success OF our mis-
sions athome and abroad.
We thank Thee that Thou hast sanctined
| the press. We thank Thee for the many
churches that have been built. Lord, oiess
our coming together. Preside over our te
liberatioDs. Lord, give wisdom 10 our
bishops TO preside. and may all be done
well and without favor or affection.
Bless all the members OF the Conference
with wisdom for this occasion. Lord, bless
our families at home. o. Lord. we pray
Thee bless the widows and orphans Of our
deceased brethren.
Lord bless the preachers who shall preach
during this Conference. May the HOS
Ghost descend upon them In pc ace aDc
may many precious souls be converted dn
ring this Conference. Lord bless the IA m J.
lies OF Richmond be present In every home
where thy servants are lodged. Lord. some
Of us have bat n little time left for work.
Lord, help us to do our work well.
The Doctor closed his prayer in =
tone OF voice that indicated the earnest
ness Of great soul pleading with God
and feeling that in a short time he mu st
stand in the presence Of the Master.
CALL THE ROLL.
Bishop McTytire said: There are forts
Conferences represented here. The roll
has been made out from the returns
furnished by the secretaries. Irequest
the secretary of the last Conference to
come forward and call the roll. Call By
Conferences, the clerical delegates first,
the lay delegates afterward.
DR.. j. S. Martin, Of the Baltimore
Conference, came inside the chancel,
and from a paper which he held in his
hand called the roll in the order dc
tated by the senior Bishop.
MIR. TOM BRANCH.
During the roll.call the venerable
Thomas Branch, Of thi; city, an hon
ored layman of Centenary church, oc-
cupied his usual seat in the church,
large chair to the right Of the pulpit
against the wall, in the transcpt aisle.
His generous and cheerful countenance
grew bright beneath his snow-white
ha,r as be viewed the assembly around
him.
CONFERENCES AND RESERVE DELE.
GATES.
The secretary announced that be had
completed the call of the principals.
Bishop McTyeire The secretary
will now call the conferences, and any
reserve delegate present to serve in the
place Of a principal will please report
his name.
SECRETARIES.
The senior Bishop announced the
roll complete and the Conference ready
to proceed to the election Of secreta.
ries and other permanent officers.
DR.. j. S. Martin and DR.. W. p.
Harrison were nominated for secre-
taIies.
A brother offered the name of DR..
Harrison as a substitute for ali the
nominations.
The Bishop said /: " The substitute
cannot be entertained. The vote will
have to he taken on the nominations in
the order Of their presentation. IA
loud voice, "Amen ~
DR.. Martin was elected secretary, and.
on motion, he was allowed to make
nominations Of his assistants. He
nominated r. Il. Crawford, of Alaba-
ma; Rev. W. A. Gambler, of North
Georgia and Rev. John d. Vincil, Of
Missouri all Of whom accepted.
RULES OF ORDER.
DR.. Whitehead presented rules of
order which he moved to make the rules
Of the Conference.
The paper was referred to a special
committee Of five and ordered to be
printed.
The Conference will be governed by
the rules Of the last Conference until
the new rules are reported upon by the
The Conference agreed to meet to-
morrow morning at 0 o'clock.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
The Conference ordered eleven stand
ing committees, composed Of one dele
gate from each Conference, on the fol-
lowing work: Episcopacy, Itinerancy,
Sunday Schools, Missions,
Education, Publishing In
terests, Church Extension, Colportage,
and Appeals.
COMMITTEE on PUBLIC WORSHIP.
The presiding elder of the Richmond
district and the pastors Of RichmonG
and Manchester were constituteda a Com
mittee on Public Worship.
PAGES.
The Conference requested the Com
mittee on Arrangements to provide
three pages to wait on the members OF
the Conference.
BAR or THE CONFERENCE.
The bar of the Conference was fixed
at the second bench in rear Of the pews
placArded.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Peterson moved that special com
mittees be appointed on the followins
subjects Bible Cause, Temperance.
FIateIral Correspondence, and Intro
iuctions. Agreed to.
The Address Of Welcome.
Rev. A. c. Bledsoe then came for
ward and made the following address Oi
welcome 10 the Conference:
"Mr. President and Brethren OF the Con |
must ask the privilege OF delay |
Dg he business OF the Conference Just for |
Tew moments on behalf OF our Committee |
LIT tot k.e n H.N has