Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-15
SECOND DAYS SESSION or THE WEST
RICHMOND CONFERENCE.
A Paper on Church Financs-The Spiritual
state Of tire Church Discussed By Lead
fng Members from the District.
roor..Donasnco Of the Richmond DisDa.ch-l

sesslOu on ycSpctu"yi "ftO
their seats,
CHURCH FINANCE.
The subiect of Church finance was taken
up. and the following paper was submitted
by Il. H. Whitlock, member OF the busi-
ness Committee:
Whereas the. subject Of finance is one
of vital importance to the successIul
working of our system, and since our
Church recommends the assessment OIL
its members; therefore
ResOloed. That we recommend this plan
as the best, coupled with the use OF enye-
lopes and weekly collections, wherever IL
is practicable; ,-or,,.
ness. regularity, and systematicai PERIODS
for collections whatever the general imam
cial system may be.
Interesting speeches were made by Reys.
p. Whitehead, W. II. Atwill, T;s Cooke,
]. Thomson Brown, Rev. Il. y. Parhan,
r. II. Whitlock. 4. b. Cogbill, Revs. Il. H..
Mullen and A. &. Brown,
Rev. James Cannon, Jr:, from the hich;
mond district, was introduced ana invited
to a seat in the body.
The Conference then took up the subject
of the spiritual state of the Church. A
paper on the subject was presented through
Rev. J. w. Bledsoe, president OF the CON-
mittee on Business.
SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE CHURCH.
"No subject can engage the attention
of this body more profoundly important
than that relating TO the spiritual state OF
the Church. Whatever else We may
possess, however we'll equipped we may be
in things material, however imposing and
attractive our ritual, or engaging our cere-
monies, without spiritual life and power
we are unequal to the task OF hlllng the
mission on which we are sent or perform
ing the great and important task to which
We are assigned,
1t is not by might nor by power, but by
my Spirit, saith the Lord.
The power of wealth, of social influence,
of numerical strength, indeed all the hu-
man forces and agencies combined, are
powerless in the absence OF that divine
agency whose presence and aid we are most
graciously promised. Our Church since
the early day of It's history has made signal
progress in its material development and
resources. Would that we could observe q
commensurate increase in its spiritual EN-
cheney, life, and power. Brethren, our
Church was born in revival; IT has been
distinguished along the whole line OF ITS
past history for its spirituality; God forbid
that this divine fire should ever burn low
on its sacred affairs.
PROFOUND GRATITUDE.
The wealthy spiritual state of the Church
in our district as observed in the reports
submitted. especially the large number of
conversions and accessios to the Churc b,
should awaken in us profound gratitude to
God. to whom we are indebted for all our
success.
Brethren, our coming together on this
District Conference occasion, our touch
of heart and hand should bo to Us spirit
ual benediction. Is it too much to ask
that we be here and now endued with
power from on high, that we may take
with us to our charges hearts all ahame
with love and divine power, which shall
serve not only to strengthen and encourage
us, but shall guarantee unto us success IN
our work -? Moved 10y a consideration OF
these facts, be 1t
ResolUed, That while we thank God for
His presence with US and blessing upon us
as Church we will renew our efforts
under grace to reach still higher stand
ard of spiritual life andpower.
Rev. j. w. Bledsoe, by appointment,
made the Introductory speech TO the edit
cation Of the Conference, after which
Reys, W. Young, w. G. Lumpkin. H. E.
Johnson. G. G. Wertenbaker, q. III. Ray,
Jr., II. Ii. Whltlock, and Rev. w. i. Jud-
kins, ID. D., made earnest speeches on the
subject.
On motion il was ordered that this after
noon the special order Of the day be the
election of delegates to the annual Confer
ence.
The Conference then adjourned to meet
this afternoon at o'clock.
Afternoon Session.
The Conference met at p. NJ. Rev. A.
G.. Brown, ID. d., in the chair. Religious
services were conducted by Rev. w. ii.
Atwill. Rev. G.. II. Ray, from Richmond
district, was formally introduced TO the
Conference and invited TO take seat IN
the body.
The Conference then proceeded to elect
delegates to the annual Conference, which
resulted as follows: w. A, Cogbill, X. u.
Richardson. j. j. Mills, and Professor w.
A. Sheppard were elected delegates, and
X. Irby, Il. II. Whitlock, q. j. Hunt, and
L. S. Leach alternates.
SUBJECT OF EDUCATION.
The subject of education was next taken
up, and the following paper was offered by
Rev. w. l.. Judkins, ID. D., member OF the
Business Committee:
Whereas we are called upon as a District
Conference to consider the interest OF our
Sunday schools and our general educa-
tional works: therefore
RESOLVED, That while we have heard with
pleasure of the general prosperity OF the
Sunday-school work in the district, we yet
regret TO learn our literature is not used
in all our schools and earnestly request
our Sabbath-school workers to use our
own Methodist publications, and especl-
ally to see that our Methodist Catechisms
are taught.
Board Of Colportage (of which Rev. A. G..
Brown, ID. d., our presiding elder, is the
AGENT, and by which our schools can now
be 80 readily supplied with all our litera-
ture, we recognize new ally to our work,
and earnestly commend to our people their
support of the board in its efforts to secure
wider circulation of our publications.
EARNEST SUPPORT.
ResolUeJ 8, That loyalty to our history as o
Church not only demands continued and
most earnest support of our colleges,
both male and female, but the increasing
demands of our age, the welfare OF our
children. and the public good all require
our increased efforts to foster higher
education under such influence that, as in
the Sabbath school, so here the supreme
teachings of the Bible shall inspire and
control all other instruction.
Rev. w. Z. Judkins,. ID. D., made a
speech of earnestness, impressing upon
the Conference the importance of observ-
ing the salient points of the report. and
especially the duty of having the Bible
firmly fixed in all our institutions of learn
ing and greater zeal manifested in Chris
tan education.
Rev. Il. III. Ror, principal of the Bowling
Green Female Seminary situated at Bow
ling Green, Va, presented the claims of that
institution to the Conference.
THE CHURCH ORGAN.
Rev. Paul Whitehead, ID. D., presented
the claims of the Richmond Christian AdU0-
cate, the church organ of the Virginia Con-
ference.
Rev. j. w. Bledsoe presented the claims
OF church extension, in which he stated
that most Of the money for this purpose
was raised in our cities, while most all of it
was spent for country work.
Il. Il. Whitlock offered paper looking
to the formation of q laymen's union in the
country charges.
The Committee on Quartery Conference
Records made report. which was adopted.
RICHMOND NEXT PLACE
Richmond was selected as the place of
holding the next session Of the West Rich
mond District Conference.
Resolutions of thanks were offered to
the people of Ashland for the very kind