Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-12
THE NETH0DISTS.
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
VIRGINIA CONFERENCE.
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The Address Of bishop Duncan-Tbe
Richmond neutrality-suspicious. Of
CommitteeS-The Epworth League.
Characters Passed-NOtes.

! Ell-NNital AAAlrt4f -'Allif pr 1.At go N'--
| Street church 1t go o'clock this morn
/ ing. Bishop Duncan presiding
The Bishops prayer was tender with
I touching references 70 the past and %
the veterans who have gone. before. AID
was punctuated with fervent amens from
/ every part Of the house. Then followed
a Scripture lesson and The address 10 the
conference
i 90 not know" said the Bishop. how
to- express my feelings. IL is great joy
/ ana feast % be with the Virginia Con-
/ ference. without aneciation. I can say.
/ however. that my joy is insepsrabie from
"a great sorrow. FOR as ] look over this
/ body and remember that 10 was in this
/ church. thi-ty-seven years ago that 90 was
/ the pleasure 90 the brethren % receive
/ me into conference on trial. J arm panied
to think how many % those who were
here than. precious 20 us all have passed
/ away. when think OF the twerts young
/ brethren who were received on trial then.
/ only six of them. I believe. remain bon this
I conference. ] am amazed 40 Coos
] great mercy and forte1rance and loving
/ kindness % us. his unworthy servartz.'
rfe said that 90 had always been mar
I vel o. him that le was ever received into
I tle ministry on trial. and that De- had
/ never received an appointment 10 al his
I ministry that was not surprise % him.
I He had been asked how DE liked travel
I ling about as a Bishop. II answered
/ never since I entered the ministry have
I thought anything about my work. exc
I cept 90 90 the best ! knew how. ! have
always been surprised az any work the
/ Church has pleased 90 give me. lie
I said these things he explained unconven-
/ tionaly. in the presence OF men who
/ would understand his motive, which was
/ 90 say something that might benefit the
/ younger brethren. lie spoke Of the old
/ heroes that have long since passed away
\ OF William A. smith. l. l. R1sser, II. T.
/ Cole. William COwling. ana Leroy Ut.
/ Lee "aui that valiant servant or Co..
/ who presided over that conference thirty
/ seven years ago here in his own home
/ Bishop Early
4 GREAT SPIRIT.
/ Speaking ~ Christ as the preachers
/ example. he said. "But my Lord never
/ came So near 20 me as when in that upper
I room be took the basin and gir-ed him-
I self with a towel and washed his disciples
/ feet. All, II takes great spirit 90 DO
I that We would all Ike 20 call the dead
] 20 lfe and stM the roaring waves, but
] 10 give I'D Naa SERVES AN ~ assn WAL A"-rH
/ 90 pour out ourselves into sweetest SYM
! rlthy for troubled hearts-thars wonder
/ iul work. He told how at a certain session
/ Of the Virginia Conference 1here was
! good display Of loyalty among the
/ brethren. one after tine other rising upon
the floor and assuring the Bishop that
/ they were ready 90 go anywhere D.
/ might send them.
KNEW HIMSELF.
/ Dr. Leroy II. Lee stood IL as long as
/ he could. then. rising TO bis feet. said.
Bishop. I thank the Lord that / am
/ loyal enough 20 go anywhere you may
send me- especially TO the Richmond Dis
trict." "He knew himself said Bishop
Duncan some Of the others did not
+ know themselves. 4 gooI many are
I ready 20 die for the LORD. if they can eN-
/ pire on the Richmond Circuit IT," said
| he in conclusion. II can lead you. espe-
/ ciaIv the younger brethren, 90 think more
/ Of the royalty az suffering and serving
l in the work of the Lord getting ril OF
/ everything that is unworthy and unholy
/ and ungenerous. ! shall De more than
repaid for the privilege OF meeting you
and standing I'm your presence am
/ going 20 Try 20 do my duty. ! know you
I w.l try 10 DO yours
ROLL OF CONFERENCE.
/ Dr. Whitehead then called the rol Of
I conference. and OF the Isl clerical mem
beers 28 answered 20 their names. while
/ Is % the g lay delegates were present
The names OF Adam O.. Blelsoe, ". II.
Christian. John a. Smith. and Z. a.
Gibbs were called. and "a commlttee-col-
/ sisting of DIS. Judkins. whitehead. and
/ Laffarty-was appointed 90 write memoirs
/ OF these noble men, who have passed
away during the year.
Dr. Whitehead was again elected Sec
/ rotary Of the conference. ana DR.. :. :.
Lambeth and Rev. Ernest stevens were
/ elected assistants.
COMMITTEES.
The following committees were appoint
ed:
Publishing Interests-Cierical. ]. T.
Martin. W. II. Ridlick. C.. r. James.
! a. c. Bergman o.. H. Ray =. W.
] Shackfor1 T.. T.. Gayle. W. O.. Walden
w. II. Edwards. W. W. Royal n. J..
/ Johnson. Lay: c. p. Armistead. T. j.
Cooke. j. T. Miner. c. ID. Carter. A. ".
N0wfn. Z. Or Moseley. r j. Carter j.
". Bradbury. =. v. White. j. ". Gran
/ dy. j. +. Hines.
Colportage Boari-Clerical: ". T. VIII
Iams. George II. McFadden. ". ". Saw
/ yer T. j. BianEensrip. vs.. II. Gregory.
/ J. p. VIM T. p. Barham. J. T. Moore.
| IT. c.. Cheatham. J. :. Wallace, W. r.
| Crowder Lay: G. Anderson. u. J. Hunt.
oliver Eastbourne b. 3. Campbell j.
/ F. Spence +. O. Moseley. r. +. Bridge
I ford. r. b. Hartley. ". u. Folk. vs..
| VicaF L. 7. Hyslip.
Committee 20 Examine District Con-
ference Records - Turner. r B
Scott. p. Z. Lelhetter. ". A s Con-
rad r. Ferguson. a. L. Carson. II. J.
Traynham. Is. Dey. O.. G.. Withersbaker.
| C.. ID. Crlwley. W. II. Robertson
on Church Extension Board-George W.
Wray. J. r. GIL ". c.. Bledsoe. r. =.
/ Pulen. J. L. Spencer. J. ". Carroll. c. II.
| Boggs W. J.. Young, and J. II. Roberts.
4 committee Of three on the subject OF
temperance was ordered. and the Chair
appointed W. W. Lear. r. Ferguson. and
| J. T.. Spencer.
The usual reports were received from
the secretaries Of the various boards Of
the Southern Methodist Church. and re-
ferred 20 the proper committees. These
reports win be heard from later in one
way or another.
BOOK AGENTS.
The report of the book agents. Messrs.
Barbee and Smith, shows the publishing
interests OF the Church 20 De Ia excellent
condition. The total business In an de-
partments OF the publishing house during
the year amounted 20 Sj95i26d, a gain In
assets for the year Of S9s@7 The total
assets are s722 $3.50: the total liabilities.
N8s9s.O9. During the year the house has
kept its conservative course Of the last
several years IN taking risks on books:
twenty-eight books and booklets have
been published. but for the most part on
account OF the authors.
The annual report OF the secretaries
OF tho Board Of Missions shows that there