Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-11
BISHOP HAYcooD.To PRESIDE.
Facts OF Interest About tho Virginia Con.
ference and Its Work.

ference and Its Work.
In view of the approaching meeting OF
the Virginia Annual Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. South, the
certainty of two and the probability OF
other pastoral changes In the churches Of
this city and Manchester. the Dispatch
gives elsewhere this morning statements
Of the condition and the recent progress
of most of these churches. together with
expressions from some OF the ministers
as to their relations with the people OF
Richmond
A few facts regarding the conference
itself will, however, prove interesting
AS stated In the article referred TO. the
body will convene at Charlottesville on
next Wednesday. the 18th. 1t will be
presided over by Bishop Atticus
G. Haygood, Of Athens. Ca. who will
then have his first experience in that
capacity with the conference. Bishop
Haygood enjoys distinction which has
been shared by only one other Metho-
dist divine. He has been twice elected
bishop. The first time that he was elect
ed he put away from himself the high
honor, but four years afterward the
Church again called him TO this exalted
office and then he accepted its dignities
and responsibilities.
BOTH OLD AND LARGE.
The Virginia Conference Is one OF the
Oldest and largest in the connection. 1t
has upon it's roll the names OF 253 preach
ers. Some of these are Ineffective, while
others are probationers: but such hospi-
tally will be dispensed at Charlottesville.
and there Is so much social Joy at these
annual gatherings that there VIII be few
absentees. Besides. there are forty-four
Nd Ia
members Of the various boards. Added
10 these are the candidates for admis-
sion into the ministry. This will make the
number to be entertained more than
800.
Although called the "virginia Confer
ence." the territory Of the body does not
include all of the STATE. Its eastern
boundary il the Atlantic Ocean; its
northern Is the Potomac and Kappa
hammock rivers; its western, the Blue
Ridge mountains; its southern, the State
line. 1t includes the Eastern Shore OF
Virginia and that part OF Maryland and
Delaware not within the Baltimore Con-
ference II did comprise a part of the
State Of North Carolina, but at the recent
General Conference the nine appointments
within that territory were given to the
Western North Carolina Conference.
These charges will be taken away at
the approaching session. and this dismem-
berment will necesstate some changes
in the Suffolk and Norfolk districts.
At the last session of the conference
there were reported Si569 members. 75f
churches, valued at sl.7S4.59o: lSi parson-
ages. valued at s2iS. $50; 799 Sunday schools.
| sc, 400 scholars. and S2I, 66.S9 given to mis-
sions.
FOUR-YEAR LIMIT CHANGES.
There will be comparatively few changes
made necessary by the law that limits a
pastors term OF service to four years.
There are only twenty preachers who will
be changed by this rule. and five of these
are presiding elders. These twenty
changes under the law Of limitation. will
make twenty other changes, and when
the changes that are made necessary for
other reasons are to be added to these.
the Bishop and his advisors will have all
that they will want OF labor and respon.
sibility in readjusting the work and the
workers. That 1t will be done we'll is
guaranteed by the reputation that Bishop
Haygood has as an administrator In such
affairs.
The past year has been a trying one on
religious, as well as on all other forms
OF enterprises. but 1t Is safe to say that
the reports to the conference will dis
close the fact that the fervor and fidelity
that have made Methodisn a power have
marked the labors OF the year. The
faithful servants Of this great Church
deserve the abundant hospitality which
will be lavishly bestowed by the people
Of the prosperous Piedmont city. They
will heartily enjoy the feasting and fra
ternity Of their annual conclave. and when
the word is spoken that sends them back
TO their former focks or to new folds
they will be all the better because Of
the bracing breezes Of the Blue Ridge
foothills for the sacred tasks Of another
wear