Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-05
METHODTSTS MEET.
QuApRENNIAL CONFERENCE OF THE
CHURCH. SOUTH.
Session to Begin In Centenary Church Thii
Morning-The Addresses, &o.-
Sketches Of the Bishops.

Prior to the year 1874 the Episcopal
Methodists Of the United States were
embraced in one General Conference.
The question Of slavery had agitated
the Church almost from the beginning
Of its history, and in 1874 this conten-
tion became so fierce that it resulted in
division. The General Conference OF
that year adopted plan Of separation
which practically divided the Church
into North and South.
THE CHURCH, SOUTH.
In May, l845, the convention OF
southern delegates met in Louisville
and organized the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South.
The first General Conference Of the
Church, South, was held in Petersburg
Va, in 1876. Since then it has not
met in Virginia.
The General Conference is composed
of an equal number Of lay and clerical
delegates elected by the Annual Con-
ferences at their sessions next preceding
the time for the meeting Of the General
Conference. The present body is com
posed of 268 delegates. The bishops
are the presiding officers Of the Con-
ference. but they have no vote. They
usually preside alternately. Bishop
Holland N. McTyeire is now senior
bishop.
MEMBERSHIP.
At the beginning Of the war the
Church South had 537. l36 white, 207.-
766 colored, and 1000 Indian men,
hers. In 1866 there were only 1885,
400 white, and 1912 colored commit
nicants. In 1882 the membership
numbered SCI, 200 whites, and the
colored members had been organized
into o separate General Conference. The
present General Conference represents
more than million of ministers and
members.
CHURCH ENTERPRISES.
The Church owns and manages
through an agent large publishing
house at Nashville, and it carries on
extensive missionary operations in
China, Brazil, Mexico, and among the
Indians of the West. The income OF
its Mission Board for the last fiscal
year was $3.50, 900.
The Church has hourishing colleges
in almost every southern State; but its
principal educational centre is the Van
derbilt University. at Nashville, which
is one of the bestequipped universities
of this country.
DELEGATES COME.
Many Of the delegates have already
reached the city and every train adds
to the number. 1t is believed that by
to- morrow the delegations will be about
full.
Besides the members Of the Confer
ence and the General Conference off,
GERS, there will be present fraternal
delegates from all the great Methodist
bodies, and very many visitors from
our own ard other States.
The Conference assemblies at Cente-
nary church. on Grace street between
Fourth and Fifth streets, this morning
at 9:30 o'clock.
Rev. A. c. Bledsoe, of Broad-Street
hurch, will welcome the Conference,
nd it is expected that Bishop McTyeire,
enior bishop, will respond to the
peech.
THE BISHOPS.
All yesterday morning the bishop'
were in session making the final revi-
sion of their quadrennisl address, which
will be read this morning.
The Conference will be opened with
religious exercises by Bishop Nc.
Tyeire, after which it will proceed with
the election Of secretaries and the ap.
pointment Of the standing committees.
BISHOP McTYEIBE.
Bishop McTyeire is the senior bishop
of the Church. He is native Of South
Carolina and a graduate of Randolph
Macon College. lie began to preach
when quite young, and rapidly rose tC
distinction was editor of the New
Orleans Christian AdrOcdte, and sub.
sequently Of the Nashville Christian
Adrocate, the general organ Of the
Church. lie is the author Of several
books, and notably the History Of Me
thodism. He was elected bishop il
1866, and is now the oldest bishop il
office though not in years.
BISHOP KEENER.
Bishop j. c. Keener is Of Maryland,
but has been resident Of New Orlean.
for most of his life. He was editor Of
the New Orleans Christian Adeocatt
for long period, from which he was
elected to the episcopacy in 1874. He
is the author of that Methodist classic
Post Oak Circuit" He is man o.
remarkable executive force and energy.
BISHOP WILSON.
Bishop A. W. Wilson was born il
Virginia, but has spent most of his life
in Maryland. lie has extraordinary
pulpit ability, and rendered most valu.
able service to the Church as missionary
secretary for four years. He wa
elected to the episcopacy in 1873.
BISHOP GRANBERY.
Bishop j. C. Granbery is q native o
Virginia and is too well known to Dis
patch readers to require any notice
Among all the army chaplains none
were more efficient or popular. lie
was elected bishop in 1873 and is now
q resident Of St. Louis. AS counsellor
preacher, and executive officer he i:
highly esteemed.
BISHOP HARGR0vE.
Bishop r. II. Hargrove is a native
of Alabama. lie has won distinction
as an educator and as preacher, and
possesses fine business qualifications