The Atlanta constitution., 1894-05-14
CHURCH CONVENTIONS.
THE METHODISTS CONFERENCES At
MEMPHIS-BAPTIST 1T DALLAS.
RESUME OF THE WEEKS PROCEEDINGS
What Is Going on In the Religious World
Sam Jones ON Trial-The Temperate
Question and Other Movements.

Memphis Tenn, May 1.-(Special Corre-
spondence 1.-The splendid church in which
the general conference conducts its dellb-
erations is in marked contrast to the house
in which the nrst Nj thodist society of Mem
phis Worshiped. That was sixty-eight years
ago, and the house Was very uhPIelei
tious structure 1t sert ed it's purpose well
for seventeen years, and then Secoi'o
house. large, solid aud, for its day, attract
i've, was erected. 1t stood for nearly halI
century, being :aken do"n in the summer
OF 1891 Many able and faithful minis CTS
occupied its pulpit, and vast numper Oh
souls were trained within it's courts for this
world and the world to come. Inc Stately
edifice in which the sessions OF TINS cohiel
ence are held was completed ana oeulcateu
last year. With the possible exception ol
the First church. Birmingham, Ala.' IL IS the
handsomest church in southern MethodlSm.
1t is built of gray Arkansas granite OF the
hardest and most durable quality ana mas
rough-face surface. A great CLOCK III lne
tower marks the passinsg of the hours. Inc
interior finish is of whiteoak ana hardWoou
The Sunday school department Is Separaleo
from the auditorium by sliding doors. "A
gallery runs entirely round the "ho'o "
terror. The seating capacity is 2,5oo. Inc
organ is an instrument of great power anu
rare tome. and is located back of the pull
Dit under the rose window
Visitors and delegates find the cnufch
most pleasant. The former attend III iaree
numbers; the latter occupying their aSslSneu
places in apparent contentment.
All exposed carpeting is canvaseo Inc sec
retaries occupy the pulpit platform on the
right Of the presiding bishops seat, 'he
editors and reporters of The Daily AoVo-
cate the conference organ, have seats on
+ba onDosite de of the platform from the
sacretaries Representatives OF the press
have tables just back of the pulpit platform
in the first tier of the choir seats. VI lheSe
important factors in spreading church news
there are quite number, which shows there
is widespread interest III the pao'iiiS D1'i
ness of the conference.
A number of bright boys are on duty as
pages and their assistance facilitates the
dispatch of business. Indeed every mag
Unable comfort seems to have been PROVIDED.
A nostofffce is conducted in the Epworth
hall in the basement of the church, through
which members receive their mail. In
another part Of the hall a, number Of stenog-
raphers. whose services are kindly rendered
nv the Memphis Commercial college, await
the pleasure of members, and take from
dictation. Typewriter copies are delivered
expeditiously making the stenographer S
assistance very valuable.
Thus far the sessions have been shorter
than the daily limit, which is from o CLOCK
e. TO L CLOCK ID. Ill., Dul CoiulIAltleeo iiiCCe
at o'clock and o'clock p. m. every after
noon, at which sessions much work for the
conference is digested. When these mills
have had time to grind a little and begin to
deliver the grist back into the main body,
the heavy work Will begin in earnest. Then
will come debate on the leading questions
arising at this session, and some intere&-
ing talk viii be heard. Here are some of
the vital matters in sight Fixing the exact
in, 4I,a a,,tJ, Lot Sl-y nP
those wandering stars'-vde Jude V, 13,
which gives wandering stars over to the
blacknCSS OF darkneSS-the evangelistS; the
establishment of educational bureau; the
missionary question; and probably an effort
to pass some extreme legislation on the
holiness question.
Conflict in Some Conferences.
Some Of the bishops have assumed au-
thority, they say, to control the funds Of
the various home mission boards. Such ac-
tion has produced a conflict in some of the
conferences. The committee on missions
will report an Interpretation of the law in
such a way as to put the funds of the
board en- irely under their own management;
which will probably produce considerable
discussion, involving the duties of bishops,
missionary secretaries, presiding elders and
pastors Rev. W. w. Wadsworth of the
North Georgia conference secretary of the
committee on missions, will make an effort
&C have enSrafted into the laws of the church
the idea of missionary education.
Recurring to the matter Of evangelists, the
Associated Press dispatch in your issue of
Saturday, to-wit: The trial of Rev.
Sam z. Jones, the noted evangelist,
who was suspended by the Geor-
gia conference because he refused to
perform regular pastoral duties, will come
up next week Rev. Sam Jones is here to
defend himself. He is particularly severe
the bishops and lively times are antici-
pated when the case is called, is
1lagrantly erroneous and should be fully
corrected. Mr.. Jones has never been sus-
pended. He was, at his own request To-
Gated, as it is technically called in church
parlance, for the reason that Bishop Hay
goods construction of the law did not per-