Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-28
Reviewed Today by the Conference
of the Methodist Church South.
HARD Times REPORTED EVERYWHERE
But the Condition of the Churches
is Really Prosperous.
INTERESTING SESSION TODAY

Inc 1l1th annual conference OF the Meth
odist Episcopal Church South continued its
sessions today, opening at o'clock this
morning at Mt. Vernon Church. The de-
votional service was led by Rev. ]. Lester
Shipley of Warrenton, Va. The first work
of the day, after roll call and reading OF
the minutes of yesterdays session, was
under what is called question twenty: Are
all the preachers blameless in their life and
official administrations" AS the success
sive names on the roll of the conference
were called each clergyman or some
brother for him made answer, the most
common one being There is nothing
against Brother -" A number CT
clergymen asked to be placed on the super
animated list. Among them Revs. Hanks,
Boteler and Hopkins.
Foreign Missions.
A communication was read from the
board of missions Of the church located at
Nashville Tenn. The board asked that
the conference mako an appropriation for
the support of conference secretary Of
missions, and to articulate the agencies
established by the legislative body of the
church. The full organization of the work
of the board was urged upon the confer
ence as subject of pressing and instant
necessity. The several annual conferences
are expected to appoint conference secre-
tary of missions to take up the work under
the general board. This Is a new office.
1t is separate from the old conference
board, the object being to have system
all centered at the offices of the board at
Nashville who in turn can direct the work
throughout the churches. Most OF the con-
ferences have appointed these secretaries
and the new system is rapidly being INTRO
duced in the church.
DR.. H. c. Morrison, one Of the general
secretaries of the board of missions, in a
clear, strong speech, set forth the need OF
the new office in each conference and eA-
planned the system proposed. He also set
forth the advantages to each church of the
missionary publications sent out by the
board, and commended them to each pas
tor. Dr. Morrison dwelt on the progress of
mission work in Mexico, where there are
one hundred native Mexican missionaries
He also reviewed the work in Japan, Chi
ma, Brazil Africa and the east
A motion was passed liking next MONDAY
as Memorial day, when, at 1880 am, ser
vices will be held in honor of those of the
church who have died during the year.
The committee on memoirs will meet in
room of the Mount Vernon Church Fri
day evening at o'clock to prepare and re-
ceive memorial tributes.
Rev. j. E. Gilbert, secretary of the Ma
tional Society of Religious Education, ad-
dressed the conference, inviting all its
members to attend the southern Biblical
assembly, to be held at Asheville, N. Co. in
July and August, where for four weeks
Il
Bible study, which will embrace addresses
by leading clergymen and scholars from all
parts Of the country.
Routine Work.
A communication was presented from
DR.. W. W. Smith, corresponding secretary
of the hoard of education, with head
quarters at Lynchburg, Va. The church Is
shown by the statistics given by DR.. Smith
to have 1T9 schools and colleges. in which
have been invested s6,O23.O42. Renewed
activity in educational work was urged
because free education by the state was
serious competitor to sectaris n institutions.
The assessment upon the Baltimore con-
ference for educational work was an
ncunced S3GU.
travelling preachers are elected deacons %
it was reported that the committee on
class for the second year could not report
finally today, but would do SO tomorrow.
The resolution adopted last year was re-
affirmed that public collections should not
be taken except on approval of three
cleIgymen.
DR.. c. T. Smith of the north Georgia
conference was introduced. and in happy
speech recalled old times, before he be-
came superannuated clergyman, and
the stirring times he spent as chaplain
in the confederate army. He brought to
the attention of the conference a number
OF theological publications which he was
e1Geavoring 70 spread among his brethren.
The committees on examination of
preachers of the first, second, third and
fourth years were called upon for reports,
but none were ready to report.
The president then took up the call of
each pastor.in the various churches in each
district, the inquiry being question 20: "Are
all the preachers blameless in their life and
official administration" This inquiry in
cluded reports on the religious condition of
each church and it's response to the calls
upon it for contributions and assessments.
Beginning with the East Baltimore con-
ference, each minister was called out and
answered for his special charge. AS rule
the reports showed a reasonably prosperous
condition of the churches, although COM
plants of the hard times were not infre-
quent. AS a rule there was gain shown
in membership, net loss occurring in a
comparatively small number Of churches.
Election of Elders.
Question was taken up for time, re-
ports being ready under that head. This
question is: "Who are the deacons of one
year?' The committee on examination re-
ported favorably on Messrs. Alfred B. Sites,
VIM. H. Marsh, Robert L. Fultz Chas. NJ
Sarver, John C.Hawk, Archibald c. Hamill.
James H. Wells, and these gentlemen were
elected elders without dissent
Business under question 20 was then re-
sumed, and reports ON work in the Wash
ington district during the year were made
Condition of Washington Churches.
rev. 0hllHSOI, pTeSlulllS elueF, speak
ing for the Washington district, said the
condition of all the churches was flour
ishing. In spite of the depressed condition
of business contributions had been liberal,
and the work of each charge had gone for
ward satisfactorily. There had been added
to the membership Of the churches in the
district during the year about 100 on con-
fession of faith. When the ministers were
called on individually. Rev. l. w. Canter
of Mt. Vernon Church said the member
ship of that church was now $40, there
having been received into the church dur
ing the year siXty-four new members ALI
it's assessments had been paid, and contri-
buttons to missions bad far exceeded what
was required of the church, the total
amount given for that purpose being 81 200,
the amount assessed on the church being
SIS.
Rev. J. c. Jones for Epworth Church on
Capitol Hill reported a net gain of fifteen
in membership, and that all demands upon
the church had been paid in full. Rev. w.
S. Hammond for Marvin Church reported
that his church was in it's usual prosper
Gus condition. Rev. T. E. Carson of the
Alexandria church reported that there had
been a revival and a consequent large in
crease in membership in his church, with
all collections paid in full. Rev. J. T, Will