The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-04
CONFERENCES STAR SESSION.
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CONTRO-
VERSY TO COME UP TO-DAY.


to BE Elected This Morning The
"AduIIamites Circular" Likely TO
influence the EIectiOn-Anecting
scenes at Yesterdays SessiOn-The
sBishOp Of the Wiregrass" Put on
the Retired List-XOung Ministers
Observation-Disclosures Play in Ty-
bees sands-The Missionary Meet
ing.
The session of the South Georgia con-
ference yesterday morning at Wesley
Monumental church was devoted striBly
to business Nothing occurred to jar upon
the feelings of any of the members. The
ordinary business of the body was con
Quoted expediuousy, and with but little
delay. The session was marked with ad-
dresses. Two visitors We're introduced.
The feature of the session was contain
ed in the pathos OF two events. These
were so affecting that tears welled to
the eyes of many of the members, and at
times there was scarcely one in the house
who did not feel his heart stirred by the
emotions displayed. Some were so moved
that they wept freely, breaking forth with
words of praise and JOY. A season of jol-
lily had Immediately preceded that of
intense seriousness, making the latter all
the more evident by the contrast.
The call upon the emotions of the men,
bers was occasioned by the announcement
of Rev John D. Anthony of Statesboro,
'"rhe Bishop of the Wiregrass,' that he
desired to be placed upon the retired list
of superannuated preachers, and the re-
ception by the bishop of eight young men
into fun connection with the conference.
The conference assembled at o'clock.
A large number of members were pres
emit more than have been answering to
the roll-cal. The devotional services were
conducted by Rev. ]. w. Domingos of
Waycross, who gave out the opening
hymn and followed 1t with a forceful
prayer.
Visitors to the meetings of the confer
ence have become impressed with one
fact In all the force of its truth. This is
the ability of the Methodist ministers
to raise a tune. All that is necessary is
for some brother, usually the bishop, to
lift up his voice in song, sending the open
ing words of some well-knoWn hymn
sounding over the church. Then there
will start a volume of sound that, swell
ing through the alcoVes and galleries, nils
the church and ascends in paean of
praise from the hearts of men consecrated
to the work of the Master. There are
good voices among the ministers, and they
are always ready to sing. At any I'M
pressiVe stage in the proceedings the mo-
ment Is made more impressive by an APP
peal to the feelings with that wonderful
mover of hearts song.
Upon the conclusion of the devotional
service the question bearing upon the adj
mission Of young men into the conference
on trial was taken up. Some OF the names
that were proposed created considerable
discussion. Those received were Messrs.
Leonard A. Hill of the Second Macon
district, w. W. Seals of Columbus, Robert
p Fair, Eustin f. Clements Of McRae
and Thomas b. Stamford of Waycross.
The secretary of the conference, Rev.
w. c. Lovett, moved. that the action taken
by the conference some years ago in pro-
viding for the publication of the minutes
be rescinded. BY that action the secretary
was made the editor and publisher of the
minutes though ready funds were not
placed at his disposal for the payment of
the expenses incident to the work. it is
regarded as highly important that the min
utes be published, as members of the
church throughout the territory of the con-
ference feel a natural interest in its work
and are always anxious to obtain copies
of the publication. A small sum has been
been found that a sufficient number could
not be disposed of to defray the expenses
of the publication.
The vote on Rev. Mr.. Lovetts motion
to relieve the secretary of the duties of
editor and publisher resulted in call for
a division. Before the division could be
made, another discussion ensued. Rev. DIR.
j. o. Branch moved that the secretary be
authorized to wait until he has sufficient
money in hand to proceed with the publ
cation of the minutes. This did not APP
peal to the body, and one of the members
suggested that a committee be appointed
10 consider the matter in all it's relations
and render a report. Some little amuse-
ment followed in the discussion, and Bish-
op Key finally appointed Rev. T. I. Chris
tian, Mr.. w. r. Rogers and Rev. w. c.
Lovett the committee
just here occurred one of the affecting
scenes of the day. Rev. ]. d. Anthony
arose from the place he had occupied near
the bishop and asked to be heard. He
spoke of the years he had spent in the
service of the Lord, saying that tifty-one
of his three score and two have been de-
voted to the cause for which all of his
brethren are labOring. OF late, he said,
he had become feeble and unable to give
his full attention to his duties. After long
years of usefulness, years during which
he had tasted of joys and known the Bit
terness of trials, the patriarch stood be-
fore those he has loved and who have low
ed him and told of his ministry. He said
he had heard people speak of their sacri-
fees for the cause, but he had nothing to
say of sacrifices. Those he did not con-
slider, when he thought he had given his
life for the upbuilding of His kingdom.
During the past year he said it had been
growing more and more difficult for him to
attend services, he had been at only sixty
during the entire time, and asked to be
put upon the retired list. When he had
finished, bandkerchiefs were drying many
eyes. Bishop Key reached over, grasped
the hand of Rev. Anthony and said: God
bless you, my brother" The bishop then
began the hymn, How Firm a Founda-
ton" and the entire conference Joined.
The scene will live long in the memory of
those who witnessed it.
ATESG no