Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-06
METHODISTICAL.
QuADRryNrAL CONFERENCE OF THE
CHURCH, SOUTH.
WELCOME TO RICHMOND
SPEECH BY REV. A. G. BLEDs0E-RE-
sPOgsE BY BISHOP McTYEIRE.
TIE ADDRESS OF THE BISHOPS
The State Of the Church-0ficers Elected
Daily sittings-Committees-
Personals, &c.

Methodism had its origin in England
in the 18th century. In the year l72e
John Wesley, a fellow of Lincoln Col
lege, Oxford, became convinced Of the
necessity Of deeper spiritual life, and
with bis brother Charles, likewise a
student Of Oxford, and few other a..
sociates, he organized meeting for
their mutual moral improvement. The
band soon began to manifest increased
religious zeal by visiting almshouses
and prisons. and by instructing the
children of the poor, and by a stric.
end conscientious observance Of all
the ordinances Of the Church. They
were joined by others, among them
Mr. Hervey and Mr.. George White
field, of Pembroke College. till at the
end of six years they numbered four
teen or fifteen persons.
The rigid exactness Of their lives at
TRACKED general attention among their
fellows. They were objects of ridi.
cule and contempt, and received various
designations bat the term Metho-
dists" was applied to them by stu
dent of Christchurch College on account
Of their methodical mode Of life and
work. In 1875 the brothers Wesley
left England for Georgia and the band
was dissolved, but the religious life
that had there been enkindled manifest
ed itself in the more Jealous ministra-
tions of the members of the "Godly
Club" After his return Wesley
began to preach in London, and he de-
clared that his sole object was to bring
back the Church to pure and holy
life and to save the degraded and ne
elected.
For the same object Whitetield and
others had already labored earnestly
during the absence Of the Wesleys in
Georgia.
These reformers were at first re-
ceived with coldness by the public, and
their labors were regarded with suspi-
cion or hostility. Wesley was at
length debarred admission to the pull
pits. Later he began preaching to the
people in fields and barns, and was
ohentimes assailed by mobs. The con.
verts made were formed into societie>
for mutual edifcatiOn and improve.
ment, called the United Societies. For
the government Of these societies a fev
simple rules were proposed by the
Wesleys, which, with slight excep
tions, are still recognized as the Gen
eral Rules" by all branches of the
Methodist Church.
John Wesley was born June II,
1903; was ordained deacon in 1925
elected fellow Of Lincoln College in
1926, and appointed Greek lecturer aud
moderator Of the classes. and graduated
as Master of Arts, in 1877. He became
his fathers curate at Wroote in Au-
gust, 1927 was ordained priest in
1928; and returned TO Oxford Novcm-
Der, 1929, and it was then he formed
his club. After life Of extraordinary
activity, in which he travelled much,
preached almost necessarily, and wro:o
volume after volume, he died March 2.
1871. A monument to him and to
Charles Wesley in Westminster Abbey
was unveiled by Dean Stanley March
80, 1876.
Charles Wesley was also a clergy
man. He was born December Is, l70S.
and was educated at Westminster School
and at Oxford. lie possessed merit a.
a preacher, but his great fame rests on
his hymns.
Whitefeld, who was born in l7l4.
died at Newburyport, Mass, Sep
tember 80, l770. lie, too, was edu-
Gated at Oxford and ordained to the
He made seven tours in
America. After l74l he disagreed
with Wesley on prcdestination, and the
and Wesleyan Methodists
bave ever since remained distinct bodies.
In lS44 the Methodsts in the United
States divided on the question OF
slavery.
The first General Conference Of the
South, was held in Petersburg,
Va, in 1916. This present Gene
raj Conference is composed CT an
equal number Of lay and clerical dele
gates elected by the Annual Goa
ferences at their sessions neXt preceding
the time for the meeting Of the General
and consists of 26S dele
gates. At the beginning of the war the
Church, South had 537. 1916 white, 207.-
766 colored, and 1000 Indian mem
bers. In 1882 the membership |
numbered 1000 whites, and the
,olored members had been organized
into q separate General Conference. The
present General Conference Representa-
more than q million Of ministers all
members.
The Assembling Of the Conference
Yesterday.
The delegates began to arrive at ths |
,hurch early, and by % o'clock the
,hurch was we'll filed. Placards hung |
IN the ends Of the pews. designating |
he seats to be occupied by the various
;tate delegations.
A beautiful baptismal font filled with |
lowers stood in front Of the chancei
ailpg.
Handshaking and kindly greetings oi
Id friends were freely INDUCED in until
little after 9:30 O'Clock, when the
Conference was called to order b!
Bishop McTyeire.
The hymn +" High On His Everlasting
throne" was then sung, Rev. A. &
}ledsoe leading in splendid voice.
POSITIONS or THE BISHOPS.
The five bishops occupied the pulpi,
latform, Bishop McTyeire in the cen
re, Bishops Keener and Granbery to
be- right, Bishops Wilson and Hargrose
n the left.
The venerable DR.. McFerrin occupied
seat inside the chancel to the right Of
be centre.
The main floor and spacious galleries
-ere we'll filed. Many ladies occupied
eats in the galleries and that part Of the
lain floor allotted to the public.
Bishop Granbery led the Conference
!, PRAYER. lie opened with al address
T praise to God for the glory Of His
erfections and the excellence Of His
nt: L. fo1Jo rad NTH thxuL, |