The morning call., 1890-08-14
CHURCH CONFERENCE
Colored Methodists in Twenty
Third Annual Session.
Annual Address of the Bishop-Church Debts
and Progress-Committees Appointed.
Reports Of Pastors.

The twenty-third annual conference Of
the African Methodist Episcopal Church,
presided over by Right Rev. Adam Grant,
commenced its labors at 10 o'clock yester-
day morning with the usual devotional ex-
ercises, at Bethel Church. Powell street.
On calling the roll thirty. five delegates
answered to their names in addition to a
large representation of friends and men,
beers of the connection from interior coun-
ties.
The Bishop announced the following
transfers: J. F. Anderson to the Philadel-
phia Conference; W. w. Grimes from West
Texas to the California Conference, and w.
E. de Claybrook from California to the
West Texas Conference.
On motion of Rev. Jordan Allen, Rev. D.
E. johnson, DID,, of Oakland, was ap-
pointed Secretary of the conference.
On motion of Rev. j. B. Handy, w. w.
Grimes was appointed reporter Of the Chris
tian Recorder, and j. Wilson was chosen
as Marshal.
ANNUAL ADDRESS.
In his annual address, the Bishop said
that before appointing the usual commit
tees, he was happy, through the blessing of
God. to meet his friends once more, as he
had only one year to serve before being
called away to another conference. He was
proud to state that the church had increased
this year more than within the previous ten
years, as 10000 members and 1900 to 1900
preachers ere added thereto, and still the
general desire is to increase the member
ship to a million members. He counseled
the members TO strengthen themselves intel.
lectually and physically, and work with all
their might for the missionary cause. lie al
vised the preachers to make fewer political
speeches and look after the affairs Of their
spiritual work a little better.
Regarding church indebtedness, the
speaker said that out of five churches in
New Orleans they did not owe $500 on
them, but, strange to relate. III Cali
furnia some of them were always inland
never out OF debt. In the State OF Texas
within twenty-five years they have. an
aggregate of $50 churches. The religious
edifices of the South and North, constructed
within the last five years, were larger than
those in the California Conference, and,
although the cost was several thousand
dollars, there was not dollar que on any
one OF them.
The only drawback, the Bishop thinks,
to the progress of the colored people
throughout the various States Is that they
lack that confidence in one another the
other races have, Do not, he said, become
infallible within the light of day. Get all
the learning you can, make men Of your
selves, and become men of mark in the
commercial marts as Others are doing, then
YOU will command more influence in
greater variety Of ways than you do at
present
COMMITTEES.
The following committees were ap-
pointed:
On Public worship-Jordan Allen, John
Pointer, d. E, johnson.
On Education-D. L. johnson, w. ID. wealth
On Sunday. Schools John Pointer, W. W.
Grimes, j. H. Dorsey.
Mission Circuits and StatlonS-f. Ii. Green,
Jordan Allen, Charles Augustus.
Admission and Orders-W. Ii. Weather ID.
+. johnson, 7. II. Green.
second and Third Years' S,asees .. summers,
w. Il. GREEN. W. IA. Weathers
Temper ance-G. Z. Clark, w. Grimes, s
ID. Johnson.
Summers.
Dollar Money! r. Green and Jordan Allen.
Missionary Money!. X. Green.
Contingent Moneys +. johnson, 90,
State OF the CountIy-Clarles Augustus, We
II. johnson and 7. X. Green.
The Bishop announced that the center-
en- ce would meet each day from 10 o'ciock
toll.
The conference took recess for half an
hour, and on Resembling at II O'Clock,
committees on church deeds ana judiciary
were appointed.
REPORTS OF PASTORS.
Rev. Jordan Allen, Presiding Elder, read
his report, showing that the churches within
his charge were in good spiritual. and
nearly all in good financial. condition.
The reports of pastors circuits were
called for, and such as were not ready were
ordered to be in readiness on Monday morn
ing.
Rev. w. H. Weathers read very credit
able report of the growth and progress of
his mission in Los Angeles, which was
adopted.
Rev. Sh epard Freeman of Marysvile also
reported very favorably of his charge and
circuit, showing that all iIdeb.ednes had
been paid off
Rev. G. c. Clarke of Stockton reported
that his church was free from debt.
The Presiding Elder recommended S.
Freeman, L. S. Blaksney, A. NJ. Taylor
and G. w. White Nlsmssion into the
travelling connection"
Rev. j. F. Jordan, who a few years ago
was expelled from the church. was recon-
mended by the Quarterly Conference to be
reinstated as local preacher.
The conference adjourned till this morn
ing at 10 o'clock.