The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-17

a lawyer in the lead, defeating DR..
Hyde's resolution proposing to change
the time of holding the conference to
the fall of the year.
A few minutes after IL o'clock DIR.
Hyde called up his resolution. The in
terest was Immediately on tiptoe among
the large number of visitors that crowd
ed the conference room, as we'll as the
members ofsthe conference.
At the adjournment Saturday in the
middle Of this discussion IL was evident
that there was very strong opposition to
the change, and equally evident that
majority of the conference favored the
change. A lively discussion was looked
for, and it came. ys
The first effort of the opposition was
to choke off the matter entirely, but the
motion to table the resolution was
promptly voted down by vote of SO to
81. Then DR.. Bond withdrew his amend
ment making the fourth Wednesday in
March the time, and DR.. Ferguson Of
Tered an amendment to make it the
fourth Wednesday in October. This
was accepted by DR.. Hyde and made
DR.. Rogers took the floor. 1--WE are
here in a conference" said he, "and
every brother desires the best time.
There is difference of opinion only as
to which Is the best. l think we should
remain as we are. We have more leis-
ure in tho month of March than any
other time of the year and can leave our
work at that time with less .em tarrass-
ment than at any other time. AS the
winter approaches is not suitable time
for us to go to our appointments. The
Holston and Virginia Conferences have
been agita ting change to March, and
l trust that the conference will not take
this step, but let the time remain un-
changed"
DR.. Gardener was in favor of the
change not SO much for personal con-
sideration as for the good of the Church
and tho comfort and convenience of the
preachers. The change would be to
the advantage of the people who enter
tain the conference. There was no
ground for the objection that the
preachers could not supply themselves
for the winter. The fall is a season of
abundance and there would be no trou-
BILE in this respect The weather would
be better for going to conference and
moving and the financial interests of
the church would be moved.
The conference seemed to be in the
right humor at this time to pass the
resolution and Rev. Thomas E. Carson
called for the previous question.
MIR. II. Il. Prettyman raised the point
of order that there was no regulation
for the government of the conference
providing for the previous question.
The bishop sustained the point as we'll
taken.
Rev. j. w. Duffey thought that the
matter had been sufficiently discussed,
and while he had always been in favor
of March he was willing to change the
time if the majority desired change.
Mr.. Prettyman took the floor, and was
several times interrupted during his
speech of forty minutes length. The
present time was usage of q century,
which should not be lightly thrown
aside. lie discussed tho different argu-
ments that had been presented, both for
and against, and while speaking of
something in connection with the finap-
cial phase of tho matter, DIR. Hyde
raised the point of order that the gentle
man was not speaking to the subject,
but the chair did not consider the point
we'll taken.
The financial matters of the church,
ulated by the time of the year in which
the conference is held. The arguments
in favor of tho change on the ground
that the collections and salaries would
be paid nearer in full does not effect the
question under consideration if the
members OF the church look upon the
financial support of the church as q duty
instead of a matter of convenience. If
they want to pay and will pay, they will
pay without regard to the time at which
the conference is held.
When the speaker had held the floor
for twenty-five minutes many of those
in favor of the change began to think
that his plan was to speak the time of
the session out and defeat the resolution
by preventing vote.
About this time Mr.. George II. Zim-
norman occasioned roar of laughter
throughout the house by interrupting
the speaker and asking him which side
Mr.. Prettyman finally finished his
speech at a quarter of i2, and the time
of taking the vote was fixed at 1925.
Mr.. M. L. Walton took the floor in
favor of the resolutions and held until
the time arrived for taking the vote,
making strong speech.
The vote was then taken and the res
olution defeated by vote of II to 81.
DR.. Bond offered a resolution asking
the bishops to appoint the fourth We'd
nesday in March as the time for holding
the conference.
a SERVICE OFTwENTY-THREEY YEARS
Treasurer Charles Shipley Reads His Last
Report to the Conference.
After Mr.. Charles Shipley, of Balti-