The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-09
The A. M. E.
CONFERENCE.
Opened at WythsyiIIs Yesterday by
Bishop Handy.
REPRESENTATIVE CoLoRED MEN
FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED
STATES ARE PREsENr-ovER
100 MINISTER'S AT THE OPENING
SERVICES YESTERDAY = THE
BISHOP MAKES A VERY ABLE
ADDRESS wH1sKEY
DRINKING.

Nytheville, Va, April S.-Specinl-
representative colored men from all over
the country are in .he city attending the
olst annual session of the Virginia Con
ference OF the African Methodist Episco-
pal church, which opened this morning
at o'clock with Bishop james A. Hands
ID. d., of Baltimore, presiding, and will
continue in session until Monday or Tues
day.
The conference brings together the
leaders of the colored race in the State
and number of visitors are also present
perhaps there has never been such n
representative body of colored men as.
sembied in the city : They are men who
nave spent their lives in fighting sin and
Trying TO elevate their race. Each year
they meet mt such time and place agreed
upon for the purpose of reporting the re-
suit OF their past years. work, paying in
their contributions to the general church
work and devising ways and means of
extending their work and usefulness.
FOR this purpose they have met and
will be presided over by the sage of the
colored race in the person of Rt. Rev.
James Anderson Handy, ID. D., who was
elected bishop at the general conference
OF the connection held ataaPh:lad elphia.
"a, Io9S, and the last general conference
assigned him to thu second Episcopal
OF Columbia, North Carolina and Vir-
ginia. He mas entered the district with n
denomination to raise the standard of
his race and especially the ministry.
In this work he has the approval of all
the weil-thinking people of the country,
VINO are anxious to see the negro take his
place in this country, and who believe
that this can only be done by religious
ana moral reforms. The preacher being,
perhaps, the only recognized leaders OF
the race, they must take the first step for
right and the people will doubtless
follow.
The conference was called to order
promptly Mt O'Clock this morning with
over lou ministers present After an i'm.
pressive opening service the Holy Com
munlon was administered by the bishop.
who was assisted by the presiding elders
and general officers of the church, who
were Rets Fl. B. Parke, ID. D., New York
city, secretary of missions; Il. w. Hen
derson, d. d., Philadelphia, Pa, general
manager of the publication house and
book concern; r. M. Cheeks, d. d., editor
OF the Southern Christian Recorder, At
lantn, Ga. C. Il. Shafrer, NJ. D., Phiiadel
phia, secretary and treasurer Church Elk.
tension; NJ. NJ. Moore, d. d., Washing
ton, ID. c., financial secretary
Bishop Handy delivered short address
in which he outlined the work for the
conference and told the pastors what he
expected of them in the future, or at least
during the four years that he is to pre-.
side over them. He complimented the
ministers on the progress they had made
for the advancement of the race, along all
lines. He said that he was glad That the
preachers of his race, with but few excep
lions: could no longer be accused of
drinking wbiskey, and declared IF there
were any of the exceptions in the Virginia
conference the men would have to get
down and out. They would not receive
appointment from him. This declaration
was heartily approved by the members of
the conference, ana especially the presid.
ing elders.
Rev. J. Strange, D. D., presiding elder
of the district, delivered an address of
welcome, as did the pastor, DIR. j. c..
Williams. The pastors then prepared to
make thoir reports.
4 The afternoon session was spent In hear
ing PASTORS reports and at night the an.
nual sermon was preached to large con-
gregation.