Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-11-19
THE METHoDIsTs.

The most interesting feature of yes
terday's session of the Virginia Metho-
dist Conference in Richmond was the
position taken by that body on viola
tions of the Sabbath by secular employ
ments. Rev. F. M. Edwards read the
report of the committee on temperance.
1t said that the church should use every
legitimate means to insure the observ-
ance of Gods day. The public mind
must be educated to this, or ruin Of the
country will follow. Liquor selling was
strongly condemned. Sunday e1cur-
sions, the running of railway trains on
Sunday, and all sorts of pleasure on
that day were deprecated. A vigorous
protest was entered against the Sunday
newspaper. Especially were the prac-
tees of filling up paper with descrip-
tons of theatrical performances, con-
certs, prize-fghts, society news, sports
and games, and all other features cal
culated to keep people from Sunday
school and church strongly condemned.
Says the report: "Think, then, of the
effect of this on the young. Rapes,
murders, embellishments, theaters, prize
fighting, filling nine pages out of ten,
magnifying what ought to be kept in
the background and minimizing the
true, the honest, and all that is of good
repute."
The Society for the Relief of Indi-
gent Preachers, Widows and Orphans
made it's report. There was shown to
be a balance on hand of 81 ,574 Is in
cash and $24, $50 in notes and bonds;
total assets, $26, 224.16, an increase of
81, 15275 over last year.
On motion of Rev. F. NJ. Edwards,
thu conference agreed to appoint two
delegates to the anti-saloon convention
to meet in Washington.
DIR. A. G.. Brown presented the re-
port of the joint board of finance, Civ
ing the disbursement of the board of
widows and orphans of deceased minis
tiers for the last year in detail, the total
sum being S11, 800.
Beginning at II o'clock memorial
services were held for the ministers who
had died during the year. The list
embraced D. P. Wills, E.. P. Wilson, j.
w. Hildrop, Sam W. Eason, ]. c. Mar
tin, and Wilbur F. Robins.
In the conference resolution urging
the pastors to institute Rosebud socie-
ties whenever practicable provoked
some discussion. The resolution was
finally adopted.
Bishop Galloway gave his reply to
the Interrogation submitted by Rev.
DR.. A. G. Brown during the call for
examination of characters few days
ago. This was the substance of DIR.
Browns Interrogation When pre-
:iding elder knows that serious ques-
tions have arisen with respect to the
life of a preacher in his district, should
the presiding elder state that fact for
the information of conference or should
he answer Nothing against him." on
the ground that he has not been mott
fed that charges would be preferred ?
The Bishops answer was that during
session of conference if presiding
elder knows of anything against a
preacher of such gravity as to re-
auire investigation it il his duty to
mention it to the conference, though
no Written charge mas Deen preIeIIeu.
The committee charged with the in
vesigation of the Laferty- Cannon
Bennett case agreed upon report last
night.
The committee in the case of Rev.
J. R. Griffith, charged with not paying
his debts, also reached conclusion last
night.
The trial of Rev. DR.. George W. Car
ter for immortality in contracting mar
rage while having wife living from
whom he was not divorced for scriptur-
al reasons is progressing. The prose-
cution has not yet finished with their
evidence.
Bishop Galloway gave a dinner at
the Jefferson last evening to the pre-.
siding elders of the conference.