Morning journal and courier., 1891-05-07
THE A. M. E. ZION CONFERENCE.

THE A. M. E. ZION CONFERENCE. The Forty-sixth Annual session
 Now Deing Held In This City-The l Omcers Elected-A Full Account of ! the First Days Proceedings.
 The forty sixth annual session of the New England conference of. the African Methodist Episcopal Zion church convened yesterday noon in Zion church on Foote street, between Goffe and Winter, and was called to order by Bishop Hood, D. D., of Fayetteville, North Carolina, the presiding episcopate of the district The devotional exercises were begun by the bishop read ing as the scriptural lesson the 10th Psalm and the 18th chapter of Revelation.
 Rev. s. c. Birchmore of Boston lined the hymn commencing with
 Great is the Lord our God,
 And let his praise be great
 which was sung with feeling and effect, after which he prayed.
 The following officers were then elected:
 Minute secretary-J. B. Colbert of Derby,
 Recording secretary-L. H. Taylor of Bridge
 Statistical secretary-Chaunceford Hatfield of FSs:SsS sPS sS%Ri'ss of Rroseednss-e L.
 Postal messenger-Samuel Robinson of Water
 Hsrshals.w. J. Holland of New Haven and J.
 Reporter of the Star of Zion-W. B. Bowens
 The bar of the conference was fixed to in clude the first three seats running across the church in front of the chancel. Bishop Hood announced the following standing commit tees: s- .
 Triers of appeals--N. J. Green, s. c. Birch more, Alfred Day, G. L. Blackwell, F. George
 Board Of nnissions-s. c. Birchmore,, N. J..
 To receive and disburse superannuated funds
 9. temPsrance-M. P. Hawkins, W. J. Hol-
 On sabbaths schools c. Riddle, J. H.
 On State of the church-w. H. Abbott E. G.
 On state of the country-J. B. Colbert, G. M. fe{ne, Sn e,dacation@ Aaaao pay B. Colbert C. Fairfax
 On holy orders and ministerial orders.N: J. Green, q. L. Blackwell, J. B. Colbert, E. G. Bid o'e; on f finance"EG. % Riddle, N J. Green, J. A. Col.
 l On devotion-F. G. Riddle, N. J. Green, L. H.
 On auditing the accounts of the conference steward-G. |. Blackwell, M. P. Hawkins, s. c. Birchmore,
 Bishop Hood delivered his Episcopal ad- dress in an impressive manner, which was listened to with interest, in which he said that he was grateful to the great author of our being for sparing the lives of the mem- bers, while so many have died since the previous session; that the death of Bishop s. T. Jones, the able and popular divine, has caused the church and the race to mourn; that the deaths of Peter Ross, a retired bishop, and S. Mitchell and J. G. Smith, venerated ministers, arc cause for grief; that the spir- is progressing, and the churches generally arc moving on successfully; that the char acter of the ministers of the New England conference is above reproach; that the use of tobacco is in bad taste, and that those who use it will not be invited to member l ship of the conference, if he can prevent 1 it; that the church is shocked at the | amount of crime committed, but that it has reason to rejoice that crime is the ex- 1 ception and that rectitude is the rule; | that all ministers should be Christ | like in conduct and character; that Virginia conference is the banner confer ence in raising funds in support of the general interests of the church; that the 4N0W IASlduu COulOIcuCc lS oOluS JUS par temporarily and spiritually, and that the cess in the performance of it's duties. Bishop Hood performed the solemn l ceremonies preceding the Lords supper, l which was then administered to the con- l ference and the congregation.
 Professor Albert l.. Skinner, on the part of the pastor, the membership and the congregation delivered fine address ot welcome to the bishop and the conference, l ;n which he referred to the historical l memories and men that are associated with New Haven, the study of which will l increase the interest of the sojourn. The address was forcibly delivered, and the l speaker was deservedly complimented. l Bishop Heod and elder G. l.. Blackwell
 responded in grateful strain to the senti ments of welcome.
 Rev. T. R. Harris of Norfolk, fraterna
 delegate from the Virginia conference, and
 Rev. A. P. Miller, pastor of the Dixwel
 avenue Congregational church, were intro duced and invited to seats within the bar The church is nicely fitted up for the
 reception of the conference, and Elder E. George Riddle; it's pastor, has made all the
 necessary arrangements for the entertain
 ment of the visiting minister
 in sumptuous manner. They are served with three meals | a day in the lecture room by the lady
 members of the congregation, and it ii l difficult to tell whether the divines are l most pleased with their substantial sub | sistence or the sweet smiles and graceful ! attentions of the committee of ladies un | der the direction of Mrs. Sarah E. Riddle The sessions of the conference have beer | fixed from 9:30 am. to 12 noon and iron 2 pm. to pm.