The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-11
THE NJ. E. CHURCH.
Opening Session Of the Annual Conference
at Pacific Grove.

PACIFIC GROVE, Sept. 10.-At 6 o'clock
this morning goodly company of men and
women met in the west parlor of The church
for an hour Of devotion. A spirit of zeal
and earnestneSs pervaded the service.
Promptly at 9 O'clock Bishop d. a. Good
sell took the chair and called the conference
to order. His porty frame, genial face and
suave manner impress one with sense of
generation, and put the conference at ease.
The room was well filled with preachers,
their wives and visitors.
The devotional exercises consisted of
Scripture reading by the Bishop, singing
and prayer by Fl. c. Benson, followed by
the sacrament of the Lords Supper, in
which the presiding elders assisted.
The Bishop spoke words of introduction.
He assured the ministers of his hearty
sympathy with them. Also that he had
BILE to every preacher, he wished each one
to make known his wishes, and, as far as
possible, they should be accorded. In his
views he is a low churchman, considering
executive power with him. The grandeur
of the State Of California and its future
filled his soul with inspiration. No feeling
of lropefulness any one cherished could be
more than he also felt. Evidently this
State has deep hold on the good Bishops
heart.
Rev. W. S. Urmy. Secretary of the last
conference, called the roll, and 120 MEM
bers responded. and IS probationers.
- The transfer of Richard Harcourt to the
Baltimore Conference was announced.
The regular standing committees were ap-
pointed. The most important of these com
mittees aret those on education, church extern
sion, Freedman's Aid and Southern Educa-
tional Society, Sabbath observance, temper
ance, Chinese and japanese missions, Bible
cause, and state of the church. The confer
ence is to act on the eQuaiKng Of the repre-
sentation in the general conference, making
the same number of ministers and laymen.
A communication from the Bishops on the
subject was read. Friday morning was
fixed as the time for discussion and voting
On, On the third ballot NJ. d. Buck was
elected Secretary; aSslstauts-A. II. Need
ham, G. L. Mcneil and E. z. Dewitt
w. Angwirh was chosen Statistical Secre-
tary.
Rev. G. W. Gray. DID,, Assistant Seere-
tary Of the Freedman's Aid and Southern
Educational Society, a resident of Chicago
was introduced DR.. Gray has been spend
ing several weeks on the Coast, and will
continue some weeks further, visiting the
conferences and the most important charges
A committee of thirteen was appointed TO
investigate the charges against Rev. l.. w.
Simmons. who was tried and found guilty
on charges for which he was suspended some
months ago. j. w. Buxton is counsel for
the church, assisted by Z. X. Willis. I'll. c.
Benson and w. w. Case are counsel for the
defense. 81. b. Heacock was appointed
President of the court of trial.
Each morning, after reading the minutes,
was set apart for receiving resolutions.
One thousand one hundredland ninety
seven dollars was ordered on the B0ok-Con-
cerni and $50 from the Chartered Fund, for
the support Of conference claimants. An
afternoon session for revising the statistics
was ordered, and DR.. Jewell appointed as
Chairman.
The services this evening are missionary
sermon, by Rev. +. }. Masters. After an
n0uncements. the conference adjourned with
beueuictlon by ths Bisbop