Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-24
METHODIST BROTHERS.
TEE GENERAL CONFERENCE.

and has full powers 10 make rules and
regulations for the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, under certain constitu-
tional restrictions. II is the only con-
ference or assembly Of the Methodists
having legislative powers. The an
nual. district, quarterly, and church
conferences are oil merely executive in
their powers.
The General Conference is composed
Of an equal number Of lay and clerical
delegates elected By the annual confer
ences.
HOW THEY WORK.
The ministers and laymen deliberate
in one body, but upon a call Of one fifth
of the members Of the Conference they
vote separately, and then no measure
can pass except it receive majority of
both classes.
The bishops preside in the Conference,
but have no votes.
MEMBERSHIP.
The approaching Conference will be
composed Of about two hundred and
fifty delegates, clerical and lay. The
bishops, members Of the various boards,
and other persons connected with the
Conference will make the total attend
ance more than three hundred.
THE CONSTITUENCIES.
These delegates represent thirty-eight
annual conferences and extensive mis-
sions in China, Brazil, and Mexico.
These conferences and missions embrace
more than 10000 preachers, about
100000 communicates, largely more
than half million Sunday schol-
ars. and fully five million adherents.
The delegates are the most distin-
guished of the clergy and laity of this
Great and influential Church. The lay
men represent almost every profession
and are amongst the very first citizens
Of the States and Territories from which
they come. They come from Mary
land and Illinois and every State south
ward to Florida. the Gulf and Mexico
westward from the Atlantic to the Pa
cifc and west Of the Father of
Waters; northward from Mexico to
Canada. They hail from the regions of
the silyer-mines Of the northern Rockies
and the magnificent forests Of Oregon
and the Columbia Valley; they come
from the Golden Gate and grain
fields Of California the great pas
mre lands of West Texas, New
Mexico, and northward. They repre-
sent the commerce Of the Pacific, South
Atlantic, and Gulf ports and the Next
can border, the cotton interest of the
great cotton belt, the sugar plantations
If Louisiana, the rice farms of Georgia
and the CarOlinas, the bluegrass region
cf Tennessee and Kentucky, the grain
and hog interests Of Missouri and H.
lnoiS, the mining regions Of California,
Colorado, and the Northwest, and the
thoctaw, Chickasaw, and Cherokee ma
tons Of the Indian Territory, more
than five thousand Of whom are mem
hers of the church.
THEY COME, THEY COME.
From the Pacific Slope from the
backbone Of the continent, where tall
mountain peaks and deep canons al
teynate; from the great Valley of the
Mississippi; from the Appalachian re-
gions from the borders of the Gulf,
and from the South-Atlantic seaboard,
800 or more representative men are
coming to Richmond the first week in
May TO stay three or four weeks.
OUR BROTHERS.
Some Of these men were born in Vir-
sinia more are descendants Of Virgin
ians all have heard Of Virginia and
Virginia's hospitality. They have also
heard Of her famed warriors and match
less women. They will come expect
Ing to find Virginia, as was her wont,
foremost of the States in all that goes
to make a people noble and great. The
Methodists Of Virginia are proud Of our
Grand old Commonwealth, and desire
to accord to their coming brethren no
mean welcome, and to entertain them
in keeping with the reputation we have
lOr generous hospitality.
THE PLACE.
The place for holding the sessions Of
the Conference has not yet been settled
upon. Broad-Street church and Cen
tenarv church have been spoken Of but
in the Judgment Of many neither of
these is large enough for the large
crowds that are likely to attend the de-
liberations, and the Armory Hall is
spoken of as a more suitable place for
holding the sessions Of the Confer
ence. 1t is said that if it can 60 out
that this large hall with its ample ac-
commodations for spectators is to be
the place of meeting it will be the
means of drawing hundreds of Stran-
gers from abroad to attend the Confer
ence who would not come if it is decided
that the deliberations of the Conference
will be in a church with little more
than seats enough for the delegates and
attendants.
BISHOPS TO BE CREATED.
IN auulllOu 10 lNO Oluihdi uuSluSoS
of a General Conference, it is expected
that the coming Conference will create
several bishops. Of the Virginia dele
CATION DR.. John E. Edwards, DR.. Sledd,
and Rev. +. A. Peterson have been
prominently mentioned as likely to be
elevated to the bench of bishops.
ORGANIZATION.
The committee from the several Me-
thodist churches to arrange for the
General Conference held 4 meeting at
Broad-Street church last Tuesday night
and organized for work. Rev. A. Z.
Bledsoe was elected chairman aud
Richard Irby secretary. Several spe-
cial committees were appointed to look
after the details Of the work. This
committee will meet again at Broad
Street church Tuesday night, February
I'd, at 1880 to further complete their
work.