Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-07
BRETHREN In BLACK.
THE WASHINGTON CONFERENCE
Bishop Na1iaiIen Prcsides and
Makes an AJdress-Frcd. Douglass
Ia he HOnOrcd, Hut Not with Me-
mortal Services.

The Washington Conference, embracing
the colored Meihcdists of Virginia, West
Virginia, Maryland the District Of Co
lumbia. and 81 portion of Pennsylvania.
convened In its thirty-second annual ses-
sion at True Reformers Hall yesterday
morning at O'Clock.
The conference Is n representative body
OF colored ministers Of whom some $50
are IN attendance. IL Is presided over
by Bishop Mallalien. o. Buffalo, y. Y"
who opened the session by administering
the communion. assisted by several
elders.
After the roll-call. Rev. DIR. +. W. $.
Peck. pastor Of John Wesley church.
Baltimore. was elected secretary; VI. w.
Clair was chosen statistical secretary;
Il. r. Perkins. treasurer. and ". 2.
Ryder, conference steward.
THE BISHOPS ADDRESS.
Bishop Mallalien addressed the confer
crce and advised the ministers 10 urge
upon their people the necessity for adj
dit.onal school facilities for the education
Of the colOred people.
After some singing Rev. Or. Homer
Eaton. OF the New York Book Concern,
was introduced. lie spoke In the interest
Of the concern. and as dividend due the
conference. presented the stewards
check for flll0 10 be distributed among
the suPerdnnuated preachers. widows,
and the needy pastors ~ the conference.
Dr. Eaton urged the importance OF get
ting church literature into the hands or
;he people. and made a logical and ornate
address.
~ Cf
Rev :. e. Hatcher. Of Barton Heights
church. was introduced rad made a
short talk.
NO DOUGLASS MEMORIAL.
The feature Of the days proceedings
was the failure Of the conference 10
set APART a time for holding special me-
mortal services In honor Of Frederick
Douglass a resolution looking 20 this
action was offered Rev. J. W. Waters
opposed the proposition, saying That IL
had never been the custom OF the
Methodist Church 20 hold such
service, except In honor Of some one OF
its own ministers. Douglass was great
man, but IL was probable that the race
would produce many more such men III
the near future. probably three or -FOUR
year all Of whom must. in the course
of time. become victims of death. That
much time To hold service IN honor OF
every Fred. Douglass of the future. He
therefore moved as n substitute that
committee be appointed 70 draft suitable
resolutions. The substitute Was adopted.
and Rev. pr J. w. T.. Bowen. profes-
sor in Cannon Theological Seminary,
OF Atlanta, was requested 10 deliver an
culogy on the occasion of the commit
tees report.
After the announcement Of committees
the conference. at u o'clock NJ, took
recess
WELCOME RECEPTION LAST NIGHT.
The afternoon was devoted to the COM
mittee work, and there was "A welcome
reception The exercises opened with "All
Hail the Power Of jesus Name" Prayer
was offered by Rev &. G.. Key. Rev. Jo-
seph Wheeler presiding at thu organ. ON
the platform were seated Bishop w. +.
Mallalien. many members Of the confer
cnce. several city pastors. and choir.
Rev. j. J. Thomas. presiding elder of
the Alexandria District. in his opening
remarks stated that for the first time
in thirty-two years the Washington con
ference had come TO the city Of Rich
mond.
Kcv. r ". Cooper. pastor Of the Twcn-
uninsured Methodist Episcopal church
WIS the first speaker. H. said that for
entertainment Of the conference the
people regardless Of denomination. had
opened up their houses from the cellar
10 the attic. Rev. Or Hunter. pastor Of
the Third-Strcet African Methodist Epis-
copal church. was the second speaker.
lie spoke of his former acquaintance
with Bishop Mallalon. ana wished the
time might come when tn Methodists
would be not only Of one faith and order,
but one great church
Rev. =. II. Lewis. pastor Of the Second
Baptist church. spole of his association
with Methodist preachers. lie believed
that denominations would always differ
on some Of the tenets. but the great war
fare of strife was over, and now Chris
tianity was united in fighting intemper-
dnCe.
". W. Brown, president Of the True
R,formers. said he ala not welcome the
visitors 10 old, enslaved. but 10 the new.
free Richmond welcomed them 10 see
the fruits Of the doctrine they had been
preaching
Bishop Mallalien responded to the wei
come addresses. thanking all dcnomina-
tons for their warm reception.