Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-26
THE H0DISTS.
18TH SESSION OF BALTIMORE
CONFERENCE.
Commenced mt Roanoke Yesterday
The Attendnnce-Bishop Hnrgrove
Presides-The Reports of Bonrds-
Some Prominent Figurcs-Notes.

ROANOKE, VA, March 25.-(special)-
The 18TH annual session OF the Baltimore
Conference OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South. convened In Greene Memo
rial church here to-day, with Bishop Har-
grove in the chair. and more
than 200 clerical and lay delegates pre-
sent. The day was devoted largely 70
the work OF organization. and the hear
Ing Of reports from the correctional
boards.
For some minutes before the conference
was called to order. the members ex-
changed greetings, and enjoyed a sort Of
reunion.
Rev. j. T. Armstrong, the veteran sec
rotary, was soon at his post and Bishop
Cranbery was also present Among the
familiar faces OF the leaders Of the con-
ference were Revs. Rumsey Smith. j. S.
Hutchinson. =. II. Whisner. j. W. Duffy,
s. G. Ferguson, Collins Denny, and DR..
Hyde.
While Bishop IIargrove Is a man Of
snowy locks and apparently advanced in
years, he makes a vigorous presiding
officer, and disposes of business with
great dispatch.
CALLED TO ORDER.
The conference was called to order
promptly at 3 o'clock by Bishop Hargrove
and was opened with devotional exercises.
conducted by the Bishop, who read a
portion Of the Gospel according 10 st.
Luke. This was followed by the singing
OF hymn 73j, "All Praise to our Re
deeming Lord" in which the whole con-
ference and the spectators who filed the
auditorium Joined with the zeal ana
spirit characteristic OF Methodlsm
Bishop Hargrove then offered feryent
prayer for the blessings of God upon the
conference.
on motion OF Presiding Elder Ball of
the Roanoke District. Rev. j. Il. Arm.
strong was reelected secretary with the
privilege of nominating his own assis-
tants. He announced the following, who
were elected:
G. T. Tyler a. r. Martin, ]. p. Stump
ii. s. Coe. William Waters. and Edward
V. Register, the same staff that served
at the last conference. The conference
then proceeded 10 complete the organiza-
ton by the election of the standing
boards and committees.
BISHOP CRANBERRY RECEIVED.
Bishop Hargrove introduced Bishop
CRANBERRY, who was received by tho
conference rising. The Bishop expressed
his qualification at being with the con-
ference without official cares. and, re-
ferrng TO his having presided over the
last meeting OF the conference He
hoped that the wisdom OF his appoint
ments would be shown In all the reports
presented. and that all OF the breth-
rem would get the best appointments
in the Baltimore Conference for the
next year
Bishop Hargrove also introduced Dr.
Barbee, the publishing agent; Dr.
Lambeth, secretary of the Board Of
Missions; Rev. Mr.. Collier. mission
airy to China; Rev. David G. Norton
Of the Church Extension Board DR.. Ii
CERT, editor Of the Methodist Review:
Rev Mr.. Jarvis, transferred from the
Tennessee Conference by Bishop VIII
son; Revs. Newberry and DeFeu trans
ferred from the H0lston Conference by
Bishop Duncan; Rev. Mr.. Thompson,
o. West Virginia, and Rev. G. q. smith,
Of Georgia.
Mr. Barbee called particular attention
to the claim now pending In Congress
against the United States Government
for the use and abuse OF the property
Of the Church by the Union armies Gu-
ring the late war, and said that the
prospects for recovery were better than
ever before. A petition TO Congress ask
ing for the passage of the pending bill
was largely signed
CHURCH EXTENSION.
DR.. Morton presented the work of the
Church Extension Board, with special
reference TO its efforts among 5000 Gu
bans, recently settled I'm Florida, and
the Indians. \ collection for this work
was taken. The official reports CT the
Church Extension Board, the boOk-agent,
the SundaySchool Board, and the
Board OF Educaton-all .howed gratlfy-
ing growth in these various departments
of church work.
DR.. Campbell next presented the cause
Of the Bible Society for Virginia, from
the secretary and general agent.
Bishop Hargrove spoke a few words
endorsing the work, and Rev. Dr. Lam
beth instanced the value of It by stating
that the Emperor OF China was now
reading the Bible, having been inter
ested in one sent the Empress. the proof
sheets of which had been read by Mr..
Collier, the missionary present at the
conference.
Rev. DR.. Lambeth, the missionary
secretary. delivered an address at Trinity
tonight on Medical Missions