Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-22
A HEARTY WELCOME.
PREPARING AT ROANOKE FOR THE
BALTIMORE CONFERENCE.
Interesting Questions to Come Be-
fore the Body-The Female Insti-
tate ut staunton-Statistics and
Personal Mention.

ROANOKE. VA. March H.-(Special)-
The FIVE Methodist congregations OF this
city are making great preparations for
the coming OF the Baltimore Conference.
which begins its 18Th annual session in
this city next Wednesday morning.
Homes have been provided for 2SO men,
bors and officers. ard many more visitors
are expected. Bishop r. X. Hargrove,
OF Nashville. Tenn. who is 10 preside,
VIII be in Stanton Sunday. and come
from there to this city, arriving Monday
afternoon. The presiding elders OF the
conference will also arrive on that day.
and Will devote Tuesday TO consultation
with the Bishop. Bishop CRANBERRY is
also expected to be present during the
entire session OF the conference, and
among the other visitors will be Rev.
DR.. Hoss, editor OF the Nashville Adyo-
cate; DR.. J. d. Barbes, the agent of the
the heads of the various boards OK the
State; DR.. w. W. Smith. Of Randolph
Macon College: Or. j. J. Lafferty Of
Richmond. Rev. Collins Denny. OF Van
derbilt University. a former chaplain Of
the University OF Virginia, and Rev. w.
L. Hammer of Memphis, a former pastor
OF GreeneMemorial church. this city.
The greater part OF the conference will
arrive Tuesday afternoon, and the OPEN
Ing sermon will bs preached Tuesday
night by Rev. II. II. Kennedy, OF Salem.
The business sessions viii begin Wednes-
day morning at 9 o'clock, continuing
daily until the work is completed. 1t is
expected that the conference Will adjourn
Tuesday, March 31st.
THE STAUNTON INSTITUTE.
One OF the most important matters 10
be considered wiz be the affairs OF the
Wesleyan Female Institute, at Staunton.
The patronage OF the school was injured
when the late Rev. Or. w. a. Harris left
it TO establish Virginia College In this
city. Since that time the debt has been
increasing. and some time ago the ap-
pointment Of a receiver was necessary.
IL Is believed that the property can be
sold FOR enough TO pay the debt, and II
IS probable that this plan Will be adopted,
and the school closed. IL has not paid
current expenses for some time.
1t ia probable that the case OF z. W.
Wheeler VIII attract some attention. Two
years ago charges were preferred against
him. and while a committee was invesu-
eating as to whether there should be a
uAtls liz drhfA Pc lll4E 1iAiA ~ NAkiA4A q "
from the ministry and membership OF the
Church, which was granted. Since then
he has Joined the Church again. and II
is said that he will make application to
be restored to the ministry.
The evenings VIII be devoted largely
10 tho conventional boards, such as MIS-
sions. Educational. and Church Extension.
Mrs. Hargrove. wife OF the Bishop, who
Is president Of the Womans Home Ms-
sion and Parsonage Society, will be here
in tho interest Of that work.
CONFERENCE BOUNDS.
The conference embraces part OF Mary
land, the District Of Columbia, the Valley
OF Virginia, and part OF West Virginia,
the principal cities being baltimore. Wash
ngton, Alexandria. Stanton. Winchester.
Fredericksburg and Roanoke. The terri
tory IS divided into presidlng-elders' dis
tricts, and contained at the time o, the
publication OF the last report - local
preachers, 477l7 white members. and Il
colored members. During the preceding
year there had been Las infant baptisms
and lSs9 adult baptisms. There were also
"A Epworth leagues. go Sunday schools,
with 5.1G4 teachers and S9.s72 schools.
The contributions for the support Of
superannuated ministers and the widows
and orphans of preachers amounted TO
81, 500: the contributions for missions were
1850 S.; for church extensions, s205ic2;
for support Of presiding elders and preach
ers IN charge, !l2l, SO; for the support OF
bishops, $500.
The conference also had GIG societies
and owned IS church edihces valued al
$1,152,010. The number Of pastoral
charges was l5s. having 12S parsonage,
valued at $2l2.20o.
Bishop Hargrove. who Will preside, Is
a native of Tennessee. and practiced law
In the courts OF that State FOR some time.
lie had been IN the ministry only about
ten years when, in 1881. he was elected
Bishop. This Is the first time he has
presided over the Baltimore Conference.
He Is a man Of great ability. and a fine
orator.