The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-12
MEN OF GOD ASSEMBLE
To Begin the One Hundred and Twelfth An.
nual Session of Their Conference.
THE BALTIMORE METHODIsTS GATHER.
The Session Was Opened by Singing
The Hymn "And Am 1 Yct Alive
Grcnt Intercst I'm the Bncon Rcso-
lutfon Conccrnitig Lay DcIngates-
Preachers Hold ~ Caucus.

Baltimore, March 11.-Bishop Henry
Warren, OF Denver, this morning called
to order the 18th annuel session of the
Baltimore NJ Il. Conference. The visit
ing clergymen made their way to the old
broadway Church IN the heaviest snow
storm of the winter. They enjoyed the
discontinue of the local members and
others who were yesterday extolllng the
beauties OF Baltimorc's balmy climate.
One hundred and sixty minister an
swered the roll call at 8 O'Clock Sevr-
raj came IN thereafter, until the full
membership was present
Within the altar rail with Presi(,n,.
Bishop Warren and his ca bInet sat Rsh-
op Bowman, senior bishop of the church
In the United States
And am | yet alive" was the opcn-
Ing hymn of the initial session. After
Scr'pturai reading the sacrament Of
me Lords supper was celebrated by
b'shops. presiding elders, and assisting
ministers. Bishop Bowman made n
snort address, which was freely punctuat
ell by fervent amens
Rev. DR.. John Lanahan and Rev. ]. p
Wright, Jointly offered resolution in
relation to the abolshment OF the lime
limit of the itlneraut system. Tho nh
Ject or the resolution Is to have the
General Conference refer the question nf
changing the time limit back to The an
,iuai conferences for further discussion
before taking final action thereon.
After considerable discussIon mo rosn
luton was adopted
lhc remainder OF the morning session
was devoted TO clecting officers and get
ING things in working order for The
general business to follow. At I2 o'c,ock
ne conferences took Il recess until even
inG. when the anniversary of tho Er,.I-
mans Aid and Southern llduc,.IonnI
society was celebrated
me conference will remain in spssion
nniii next Tuesday and will be frounht
WIN usual interest. not only TO the thrne
states ana the District OF Columbia ron
ltsGh,ed py Delegates, but To the country
at large. General interest In The n,cnn
resolutions, originally offered by Rey.
George Z. Bacon. Of lIagcrstown. Thesc
resolutions provide for the admission nf
iaNinen TO the annual conference in
such proportion as shall hereafter bc
uc,erhihed, hhe election OF presiding
eiders by the annual conference and
me giving OF coordinate power 10 the
presiding elders In the cabinet
ne preachers meeting Of Baltimore
ana washington have discussed the re-
solutions during the pas, year with
nearly an even division in settlement
"A ieaSt half the conference members
IL is said. do not reach the prea chers
meetings and their votes Will decide
the question so far as the annual con-
ference is concerned.
In addition to the Bacon resolutions
a resolution simply ravoring lay repre-
sehiations IN tn" annual conferences
which was adopted at a conferences of
iHyinen held last June. will be presented
to the annual and lay electoral confer
enccs. ana Will also be carried to The
''eiicTai conference. These resolutions
VIII cause The most animated and in
teTcstins discussion of the conference
week.
y caucus was held last night by forty
four ministerial friends of the Bacon
resolutions. Washington City was well
represented and the indica tions point 10
n majority of the clergy OF that city vo,-
Ing in favor of the measures.
II is said that us the mattrr will come
up on the report of committee of the
last conference, IL can be called up Mt
any time. thus preventing the Bishop
from shelving bhe resolutions until The
closing hour of that body as Mr. Bacon
stated on the floor last March, was done
by Bishop Andrews.