The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-24
FROM POLITICS TO PULPIT.
A Reformed Legislator TO Begin a
Trial as a Preacher.

Some Objection Made in the Confer
ence But the Debate Ends in Favor
able Aotion-The Lives of All the
| Ministers Passed Upon as Blame-
less - The Work Of the Mission
Board.
Danville, Va, Nov. 23.-The Methodist
| conference reconvened this morning at
0:15 o'clock, with Bishop Cranberry in
! the chair
Devotional exercises were conducted by
Rev. j. W. Southall
A lengthy communication from the com-
missioners OF education for the colored
people was referred to It's proper com-
mittee. The amount contributed to this
cause by the southern church last year,
including legacy, was s7l ,706, virginias
proportion being 5000
Rev. NJ. A. Davidson, who has been
transferred from the West Virginia con.
ference to join this, was received and in.
troduced to the conference
Minute question No. 20, "Are the lives
of the ministers blamelesslD was resumed,
and all from Petersburg and Charlottes-
vile districts passed examination Of char
acter.
The elder Of the Petersburg district re-
ported that charges growing out Of rumors
| had been preferred in the early part OF
the year against Rev. r. T.. HarrelL An
| impartial committee of investigation had
reported the charges groundless.
AS each minister's name was called he
| gave a short verbal report Of the work In
his charge, and the reports in the aggre-
| gate show an Increase in membership,
| Sunday schools, etc, but some decrease
| in contributions TO the mission fund, also
| other financial arrearages, all OF which
| are accounted for by the general financial
stringency.
| THE GENERAL MISSION BOARD.
The bishop introduced to the conference
| Rev, II. Q. Morrison, d. d., OF Nashville,
secretary of the southern churches gem
eral mission board. The doctor made -
/ BRIEF statement OF the condition Of the
board. The assessments for the current
year aggregated SIG, 600.
The conference mission board, through
/ its chairman, DR.. Slcdd made q partial
| report, in which the pastors are urged to
| give the subject of missions more promi.
| nence in their sermons and ministratioons.
A large number Of memorials TO the
| general conference were referred to the
| committee on memorials. These memo-
| rials suggest many changes in the discip-
/ line among them, one requiring that the
| conditions for admission Ia the Methodist
| church shall be more stringent, demand
| ing that the candidates shall profess such
| repen tance as laid down In the New Testa-
ment as a condition of personal salvation.
Another is that the delegates TO the genA
eral conference shall be on basis Of fifty
| members TO one delegate instead Of thir-
| ty-six as now. Another is that the right
10 administer the sacrement and perform
the marriage ceremony be conferred to
local preachers and preachers on triali
who are found worthy without regard TO
| ordination.
| ADMITTED ON TRIAL.
The following applicants were admitted
| to the conference on trial as preachers of
/ the first year: Samuel G.. Hatcher, j.
| Sidney Peters, Earnest f. Hall, George
II. Ray Jr., f. w. Proctor, George Il.
| Booker, Arthur b. Sharp, Robert S.
Baughn, Robert f. Watterfeld, William
| B. Beuchampo and A. A. Whitmore.
The application Of Mr. Peters elected
lengthy discussion, because Of the follow
ing facts The applicant is very bright,
| brainy young man, and a politician of
some note, he having been one Of the
| bright members of the legisla-
ture. He has been rather wild
and dissipated, but was converted
| about six months ago. He Is cultivated,
and before the examining board he stood
at the head of the class Mr. Whitmore's
case also caused some discussion, there
being some objection TO him because of
his being at the head of a large family.
The collections yesterday by the differ
| ent boards Of finance amounted TO S2S, 900,
the largest for any one day in the history
of the board.
Rev. DR.. j. r. Brook Of the western
| North Carolina conference, preached to-
night TO packed house.