The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-03
lGIORED CONFERENCE.
Address by Bishop Grant-Transfers to
Other Conference.-The of officers
and Other Matters of Interest Rela-
tive to the Church.

here yesterday morning in Melropoli
tan church, and was called to or
der by Bishop A. Grant of San Anto
nio, who presided over one conference
in California, two in louisiana and
four IA Texas.
The opening prayer was by Rev. A
q. SCOTT of Waco.
The bishop then announced
the following transfers to the
Central Texas conference: II. Nc
hebua, from the Texas; n. S. Jenkins
from the East Florida; g. II. Bell
nom the Northeast Texas; Thoma.
Chapel, from the West Texas; Bristo
Gates, Stephen Thomas, j. G. Will
Jams Felix Washington and l.. w
Washington, from the West Texas; j
W. Jones, A. w. Jones and l.. D.
Howard, from the Northeast Texas
and heir names were ordered to be
euIo led as members of the Central
Texas conference.
The election of officers being de-
clarod in order, the following were
ghOsen:
Secretary, c. o. Mitchell of San
Angelo.
statistical secretary, H. McKenna.
MArshals, Bristow Gates of Man.
,chaca, Charles Gipson of Waco.
Jue hours of the session were fixed
10 open at $3.50 u. III. and adjourn at
-.3J p. m.
The conference being organized,
Bisuop Grant delivered his annual ad-
dress as follows:
Bret rem of the Central Texas Annual Con
&c nee,
Im not in condition to talk this
lo" hing. My eyes have been giving
ME ONE anxiety lately, and Il physi-
o.G has advised me to read and write
is tile as possible until the nerves
bee me quiet. However, | desire to
say we are from two of the most sue.
cus full sessions of our conferences,
hei in the state of TeXas-the Texas
CON erence which convened at PaIes-
tine, and the Northeast Texas con-
ierrnce which closed its session on the
ed instant at Denison. | do not re-
member ever being in conference
where we had more pleasant time.
II here was a harsh word spoken in
el.Aer of those conferences, | have
not heard of it, nor seen anyone who
bLd. The spiritual interest was adj
yalced and at DenisOn we received
MO the church 81 souls. During the
session the reports eXcelled any
devious year in the history of church
hr education, for mission
ary and for the general
purposes of the connection. You
can appreciate how pleased L am at
hose increasing reports. Now we
come to the Central Texas conference,
Wnich is the last session | shall hold
turing this quadrennium, as the gen.
rral conference convenes next May, as
It IS our rule, to change the bishops
Very four years.
Meeting in Austin and in the place
Were we are in session, is to me like
coming to the old home. 1t is very
ggatifying to me to meet in this build
Inr, which had the extreme pleas
ure of erecting with the assistance OF
the people in this city. left debt
ORA it of about $4,000 when / departed
aler a service of four years, with
which are associated pleasant memo
los. | am glad to announce that we
nd our session here with not dol
is,'s Indebtedness on the building.
I oud applause. Look at it. 1t may
Da that am little selfish III regard
ing 1t as an architectural beauty;
md yet it is plain and methodlstic IN
it5 construction. AT the end OF the
In It ouadrennium, | was sent from
his charge to San Antonio and from
here went to the general conference
ia, indianapolis, where through the
Texas delegation, assisted by others
IN inporlant change was brought
bout in my relationship to the
.lurch: and now am called here tt
,reside over your ninth animal SEES
Ion, with nOI one dollar OWING on the
.hurch. which was commenced uhdel
uly pastorship a few years ago. II
aver was in the financial condition o
.,me of our eastern and western
churches. Bethel church, III RnlIa
delphia, owes between So0,OOo an.
1000. One Of our churches III Chl
cago has an indebtedness between
$4,000 and $4,000. One in st. Loul'
las obligations amounting to %26, VoO
Dne in Wyandotte, Kas., is from $4o0
10 $4,000 in debt. These churches VII
be left for unborn generations to pa.
,or. Gov Roberts said some year
go to Texas, "Pay as you CO." I'm
White people alone did not proflt o.
that advice; but we too have followed
if with benefit to ourselves. We can saa
fhat on the two hundred and sixty od
churches of ours in this state we q
NOT owe $4,000. -Four years ago TN
church in Galveston was $40, GOO Il
debt, and today we do not owe 81 OF
T. The report comes to us that wax
abachie and San A tonic are also ,G on
IF debt. This is the lesson IN
neople of Texas have been taught t,
oay their debts. Now, on Sao3at'
next we propose to dedicate 1 nhl
church. and give it to God spok,
foone of the brethren about ilrsI pay
inc for a church before giving 5to !! :
Cod and he said it would be better u
Give if to God in debt, as he co pl'
better help to pay for it than we. bt u
tbe old Methodist rule is never
dedicate a church while man hoioS
claim on it. A.. ,1o+bodis
Church South has Just Adjourned
- I had the meas