Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-09
Birmingham District Conference
 of the M. E. Church
IN SESSION AT W0ODLAWN
Full Attendance of Pastors and Laymen--Pre- siding Elder HOSmer Opens the Meet
 ing With Religious Services

The Birmingham district conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, convened at Woodlawn yester- day at a. m., Rev. s. M. Hosmer, D. D., in the chair.
 After religious services, conducted by Presiding Elder S. M. Hosmer. the con ference was organized by the calling of the roll and the election of E. M. Glenn as secretary. n
 The membership of the conference is composed of the pastors and local preachers of the district and four lay delegates from each pastoral charge. All of the pastors answered to roll call, and there was an unusually large attend ance of laymen. '~ ss At the morning session the, pastors made reports on the spiritual condi- ton of their respective charges. These reports showed large and growing con- gregations, good revival meetings and a healthful state of things generally. At the close of these reports dis cussion of the subject followed. The concensus of opinion was that evange- lists were not needed in the Methodist churches of the district, but that the revival work could be better done by the pastors, with the cooperation of one an- other.
 A spirited discussion was started by Rev. Thomas Green, a local preacher. MT. Green thought that the pulpit had not as much power as in former times. pr. John o. Keener, president of the Southern university of Greensboro, took issue with MT. Green. Dr. Keener thought that the church and Christian people generally have more character, if they do not shout as much as formerly. Dr. Keener is son of Bishop J. 0. Keener, senior bishop of the Methodist Inrai. ran1 nh naffh ts A lN.-O Olf one of the brainiest men in the church. He is magnificent speaker and the peo- pie listen when he takes the floor.
 The following committees were ap- pointed by the chair: .s On Alabama Christian Advocate-St Palmer, J. H. Garner. V. L. Thompson. D
 On missions-J. L. Ferguson. s. Bi Johnston w. l.. Wilson. On quarterly conference records-J. H. Mccoy A. J. Tarrant, J. V. Glass. si Afternoon Session. In the afternoon the subject of mis- sions was reported and discussed. Night Session. 1T Dr. John O.. Keener preached last night His text was: Tt is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure" It was an un- usually able sermon, and for an hour the preacher held the strictest attention of his hearers.
 AL the cOnCluS1On or the sermon last night Rev. S. P. West agent of the Methodist orphanage at Summerfield, took up a collection for that institution
 Conference Notes.
 Revs. $. F. West, agent of the Ala bama Methodist orphanage at Sum merfield; John o. Keener, president of the Southern university of Greensboro. and z. A. Parker of Birmingham, are among the visitors at the conference.
 The preachers and delegates are being entertained in royal style by the people of Woodlawn. The brethren report chickens galore.
 Rev. E. M Glenn has been secretary of the district conference for a number of years. He is authority on church books.
 Rev. E. Nicholson. chaplain to the state convicts, preached at Il o'clock, his subject being "Atonement." The sermon was an able one.
 This morning at Il o'clock pr. J. c. Morris, pastor of the First Methodist church of this city, will preach, and at night pr. w. o. WagGner of TruSsvile.