The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-28
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1897

ing member of the old Georgia conference,
and I'm 1879 the subject OF this sketch was
! born. He graduated at Emory College
! in the class of 1913, of which Rev. A. NJ
Wynn was a member, and which gave six
prominent ministers TO the church.
In 1S49 he was admitted on trial in the
Georgia conference and soon took high
rank as a preacher and pastor, as was in
dicated by his appointment in 1854 to the
Athens station, then regarded as the most
cultured Methodist charge i'm the state. A
few years later the University of Georgia
bestowed on him the honorary degree of
Doctor of Divinity
Dr. Key soon became a leader in his
conference, and filled the largest and most
important stations in the state. In every
place he was very popular, winning AMI
holding the confidence and love of a large
circle of friends. Several times he was
presiding elder and discharged the duties
OF that responsible office with fidelity and
ability. During number of terms ne
was one Of the representatives. of his con-
ference in the general conference, the leg
islatVe body of Methodism. and in May,
1886 he was elected and ordained bishop
at the general conference held in Rich
mond, Va
Bishop Key has a cultivated and we'll
stored mind and breaches to the edifica-
ton and spiritual profit of his hearers. He
possesses a sound discriminating judg-
ment is urbane and gentle in manner, and
in the discharge of his Episcopal duties
gives very great satisfaction wherever he
TTesides. Bishop Key has been twice
married. His first wife was Miss Susie
Snider, daughter of the late Benjamin
Snider of Savannah, and his present wife
was Mrs. Lucy Kidd, the accomplished
president of the North Texas Female Col
lege, at Sherman, Tex, where they now
reside. In 1856 and 81 Bishop Key was
# FTViD OH in, !,
he will no doubt be impressed by the sub
stantial growth and development of Meth
odism since his pastorate here.
Among the leading members of the con-
ference is Rev. G. G. ". MacDonen, pre-
siding elder of the Savannah district Dr.
MacDonell is well known and highly es-
teemed in Savannah. many years of his
life and work having been spent here
He is a forceful preacher and a cultured
gentleman. He began his ministerial work
in 1855, when he served the city mission
here. In 1868 and 1869 he was pastor of
Trinity, and in 1870 1871 and 1872 he was in
charge of Wesley church, which had not
then become Wesley Monumental He
was presiding elder of the Savannah dis
trict in 1876. In 1877 and 1878 he was sta
toned at Mulberry Street church at Ma
con, and in 1879 and 1880 he was presiding
elder of that district. Again in 1SS1-1883
DIR. MacDoner was at Wesley Monu-
mental, and the next two years he was on
the Americas district. He served ST.
Luke's a Columbus in 1886 and 1887 and
during 1S8S-lS90 he was at Thomasville
The Waycross district was presided over
by DR.. MacDonell in 1891 and 1892 while
from the close of his term there until 1896
he was the presiding elder of the Column
bus district. Four years ago Dr. Mac
Donell lead the delegation of the South
Georgia conference at the meeting of the
general conference.
Rev. DR.. James o. Branch, one of the
veterans of the conference was born in
Abbeville, S. c., June 20, 1888. When he
was ten years of age his father, DR.
Franklin Branch moved to Manatee Fla
In December, 1854 he was admitted on
trial into the Florida conference. and
remained member until December, 1869
He was in charge of St Mary's station
one year; of Wakulla circuit one year;
Jacksonville station, one year; Key West,
one year; Quincy, one year; Fernandna,
one year; Tallahassee, two years; Mon
ticello, two years, aud Tallahassee, four
years.
He was sent to Buena Vista circuit his
first year in the South Georgia conference,
and to Mulberry Street church, in Ma
con, the following four years, and to St.
Paul Columbus, the year after. He was
transferred to the Pacific conference by
Bishop Kavanaugh and stationed at Santa
Rosa, then the strongest station of the
Southern Methodist church on the Pacific
coast, and the seat of the Pacific Col
lege.
Finding, at the end of two years. that
he could not stand the climate, he asked
to be returned to the South Georgia con-
ference. He was appointed preacher in
charge of Wesley Monumental church, Sa-
vannah and served here for three years.
DR.. Branch was then. for three years,
preacher in charge of Trinity church, Sa
vannah and was appointed presiding ell
der of the Thomasville district in 1884.
When his four years term was out on