Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-09
CUTHBERT'S CONFERENCE
TWENTIETH ANNUAL SESSION
OF THE BODY.

Interesting "Reminiscences of the Organ
iEstiOn-Figures showing Satisfactory
Growth-Twelve Different Bishops
But Only Three Secretsries-The Fro
ceedings of the First Days Session.
CUTHBERT, GA, Dec. S.-The South
Georgia Alumnal Conference OF the Meth
odist Episcopal Church South, met here
to-day with Bishop j. {. Hendrix in the
chair. The roll was called by the former
Secretary, Rev. Z. B. Bryan, and large
percentage of the members answered &c
their names.
The undergraduates and examining com
mittees were busy yesterday in getting
ready for the regular conference busi'
ness. The Board OF Missions met yester-
day to consider the work of the mission
aries engaged within the borders OF the
conference, and arrange programme
for future operations.
This is a fine body of men, composed Of
all travelling and superauLuated minis
ters with four representatives or lavmen
in the seven districts, which are embrace
ed in the conference.
LITTLE HISTORY.
At the session of the Georgia Confer
ence held in Americas In 1866 the State
was divided into two Conferences, the
line running east and west, making the
North and South Georgia Conferences OF
to-day. The Southern Conference was or
ganized in the Sunday school room OF
Trinity Church, Savannah, on Dec. IL,
1867, with the late Bishop q. +. Pierce in
the chair, ana the late Rev. j. Blakely
Smith as Secretary. 1t consisted OF 102
ministerial apd IS lay members.
The machinery Of the new Conference
was put into operation successfully, and
the members went forth 10 their appoint
ments with consecrated hearts and hope
ful minds, determined 10 succeed. One
Of the peculiar features OF that session
was the appointment OF number of COL
pred preachers TO take charge of the col
ored people belonging sLll to the South
ern Methodist Church. There were
eighteen charges under their supervision.
Since then the Methodist Episcopal
Church South set up these colored people
into an organization OF their own, with
Bishops of their own color, under the
name OF the Colored Methodist Episcopal
Church in America.
MARKED IMPROVEMENT.
There has been marked Improvement
all along the line since that day. The
number Of members reported at the first
session was Il 626. Last year there were
reported SO, 293. At the Conference, 1867,
the collections for domestic missionary
purposes were as follows:
Savannah district. ..................s GAS is
Macon district Observation-Disclosures. SO IS
Columbus district. Observation-Disclosures. So 80
Lumpkln district Observation-Disclosures. los IS
Amerlcus ul-ITlct. .'..........--...... 1913 IL
Bainbrldge district commandments. 75 9j
Brunswick district. Observation-Disclosures. l45 OO
Total..-... ......................-.$L 1880 70
In 1885 the whole amount collected for
home missions was 81, 453 %. In Savan-
nah district, $1.1l1 80; Macon district,
ST, l03 20, where the greatest gains were
made.
There has been greater advancement in
foreign missionary sentiment than in any
other particular field.
In 1851
Savannah district. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 20 81
Macon district NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. l20
Columbus district....... ................ 30 00
Americas district .......... ........... ia IS
And in all of the other districts only
SOB 10, making the total Tor the en- tire
conference $B40 90.
In 1885 the total collections for FOrei IN
Missions amounted to $7,221 %, the Sa-
vannaa district contributing of this
TWELVE DIFFERENT BISHOPS.
At these twenty sessions there have
been twelve different Bishops IN the chair,
but only three different secretaries.
There have died during that time forty.
three members, almost one-half of the
original number composing the Confer
ence. Only one has died during the past
year, Rev. II. M. Lockwood, we'll known
In Savannah. He was compelled Two
years ago to retire from active work be.
cause OF falling health. He was true
man and faithful minister. Memorial
services Will be held by tine Conference
during the session.
Bishop Hendrix comes as a new man
10 Georgia, but is well known in the
West Tor his scholarly attachments and
devoted piety. He was elected bishop al
the late session OF the General Conference
at Richmond last May. He has been cor
daily received, and will no doubt win the
affections OF all before the close of the
session.
AS there are no perplexing problems &c
solve or to discuss we look for a pleasant
and short session.
AT WORK.
The regular conference business was
taken up today. The names OF the fol
lowing were taken up and referred 10 the
Committee on Conference Relations: 5
S. Sweet, c. j. Tooie, +. X. G. Ellis, ". Ii
Z. POmas, S. &. Childs, Thomas y. Lamar
w. f. Bearden, W. r. Roberts, W f. Con.
lev, l.. u. X. Virgins, W. S. Baker.
q. A. Moore, j. NJ. Marshall, Rev. JOIN
W. Talley and K. NJ. Lockwood have died
during the year.
W. T. McMichael was taken from the
surerannuated list and placed on the
effective list.
Communications were received from
the secretaries OF the Board Of Missions
Board Of Church Extension and the agent
of the publishing house at Nashville
Tenn, which were referred to the appro
pirate committees.
5. s. Sweet, OF the Auditing Committed
on the Wesleyan Christian Advocate
eublished at Macon. Ca, made a repor
showing the circulation OF the paper to bt
$500, and IL was sent to the Committee on
Books and Periodicals.
The Committee on Nominations made
their report. The names Of the followinl
Presiding Elders we're called, each givinl
q short account OF the work in their re
Spectiye districts. and whose character
were passed: j. w. Hinton, OF the Savan
nab district; J. Il. McGehee, OF Macon,
w. N. Hayes, OF Columbus: Z. 3. Twitty
Of Americas; J. o. Branch, OF Thomas
Vile; w. +. lloyd. Of Waycross: j. d.
Anthony, OF Brunswick, and II. Il. Lester
OF Dublin.
The following visitors were introduced
u. n. NJ. Bounds, editor OF the st. Loui,
Christian Advocate; T.. II. Hartman, o
Florida; DR.. Urquhart, OF Alabama, anC
the pastors of tue Presbyterian and Bap