Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-11-23
VIRGINIA METHODISTs.

VIRGINIA METHODlSIS.
The fifth days session of the Virginia
Conference OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church South, in Danyille yesterday,
was perhaps the most interesting yet
held. The report of the Sunday school
board, which was read and adopted, re-
views the Sunday school work for the
past year and shows an increase all
along the line.
Bishop Fitzgerald rendered decision
on question OF law which had been
submitted Saturday by DR.. Brown.
The decision, in nut shell, is that
when recording steward removes his
membership from the church 10 which
he holds the Office to another in the
same district or anywhere in the Con-
ference, he ceases to hold the Office OF
recording steward.
A partial report of the board of f.
nance submitted shows that there has
been an Increase in 1897 over 1896 in
nearly all the Conference collections.
The total for 1897 amounts to $40 S72,
which is an increase over 1896 OF
81, 43O. In the General Conference as
sessment there was a deficit of 1929,
which was reassessed by order of Con,
ference.
The partial report of the committee
on memorials to the General Confer
ence to meet in Baltimore in May
caused animated discussion. The COM
mittee reported non. concurrence on
eight out of eleven memorials submit.
ted and concurred in three, one to limit
the years in which a preacher may
serve in the presiding elders Office to
eight, one making presidents of Ep-
worth Leagues, whether male or fe.
male, ex. officio members of quarterly
conferences, and one for rearraneing
and making more numerous presiding
elders districts.
Pending consideration of this report
hereafter, election of delegates to the
General Conference arrived. The con.
ference was balloting the remainder of
the day, but transacting much other
business between ballots and while the
same were being counted by the tellers.
The ballots, nine of which we're taken,
resulted in the election of the following
delegates:
Clerical-Rev. Drs. J. P. Garland, of
Norfolk; r. n. Sledd, ofDanville; Paul
Whitehead, of Richmond; A. F. Brown,
OF Ashland; A. Coke Smith, of Lynch.
burg, and W. e. Edwards, of Peters.
curg. Alternates-Rav. J. G. Reid, DR..
W. G. Starr and DR.. J. J. Lsferty.
Lay Dslegates-A. E. Kellam, G. E.
Vawter, w. W. Smith, R. W. Pea.
tross, ]. P. Branch and r. S. Paulett.
Alternates-E. g. Moseley, ]. G. Park
or and Carter Glass.
The committee on prison reform re-
ported vigorous resolutions calling at.
tention to the crowded condition OF
the Virginia penitentiary, the lack of
proper sanitary arrangements and
other evils in the system, and offered
the following resolutions, which were
adopted:
Resolved, first, That we most re.
spectfully and earnestly urge upon the
proper authorities that separate cells,
as far as possible, be provided for each
convict in our penitentiary and that
the sanitary arrangement of the prison
be improved.
Second-That such laws be enacted
and enforced as will operate to the
classification of the prisoners, so as to
produce the best moral results and that
will look especially to the keeping of
the young in crime from associating
with the more hardened and vicious
and that will aim to bring to bear the
whole possible reformatory forces to
reclaim and restore the criminal to
trustworthy citizenship.
Third-That such system of inspec
ton be formulated and set into opera
ton as will bring the best help of our
manhood up to the help of our prison
officials in their great effort to stem and
correct the rising tide of crime that
threatens our homes, our honor, our
lives and our civilization.
The bishop commended the report
ard requested all secular papers in the
State to publish it in full.
The report of directors of the Preach
ers' Relief Society shows total receipts,
$40, 4S3; total assets, s31, 953,82, an in.
crosse OF 81, 045.52 over last year.
The appointment of the following di.
rectors was confirmed by conference;
Rev. J. Carson Watson, Rev. F. NJ Ed
wards, Rev. John G. Reed, G. V. Win
free, W. J. .Killby, E. Y. White. S. @
Collins, E G. Moseley and W. W. Vicar.
Last night DR.. NJ. V. Tudor preached
the annual missionary sermon to the
conference and an immense congrega.
ton.
NOTICE TO QUIT.-Letter5 have been re-
ceived By Policeman A. A. Alvs, of Man
chester, giving him twelve days to leave that