The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-24
CONSERVATIVE VICTORY.
RUMORED CHiNGEs AWONG THE
RrCHMOyD CHARGES.
1t is Generally Accepted That Rev. a.
Coke smith will be Elected Bishop
at the General Conference.

orally believed that the delegation would
| be conservative one on the whole, but
| II was known that "a number OF men
! who want the next General Conference
to make radical changes in the law OF
| the Church were working like beavers
| 10 keep some of the old delegates at home
| and there were many VINO thought that
| the hight would be exceedingly close. NO
| one looked for "A landslide. As n was,
| the candidates who were supposed TO rep
| resent the radical element of the Con-
! ference received no serious vote in any
| ballot, while the men VINO were most
| earnestly opposed were elected by large
| majorities on the first ballot. The lay
| delegation is perhaps stronger than usual,
| and gives great satisfaction. The cleo
| uon or Dir. John y. Branch has delgnted
| his many friends here. Mr.. g. j. Hunt,
also Of Richmond, received a handsome
! vote.
SOME RtiMORED CHANGES.
| With the election of delegates out Of me
| way, there is to-day renewed interest
| an the appointments, ana fumofs are ny
! ing thick and fast in every direction. 10
| is said that nothing has been done as
( yet which affects the Richmond appoint
] ments. The Bishop Is still besieged by
committees who are trying 10 secure Dr.
| Starr, but il is not believed that ne VIII
be taken from BrOad-Street church. Rev.
VI. q. Cheatham has been men
toned Tor Laurel-Street church. ~
Is said that Rev. j. whey hledsoe' or
Charlottesville. will accept the chaplaincy
Of the Miller School and there b a rumOr
TO the effect that Dr w T.. EdWard7
will so either 10 Charlottesville or cum
berland Street church. Rev y. j.. Lips
comb is frequently mentioned for Wash
ington-Street church. PeteIsburg.
DIR. a. COKE SMITH FOR BISHOP.
The rumOr current last night that DIT
a. Coke Smith. Of COurt-Street church,
Lynchburg. and Dr. W. j. Young. ~ ZIP
worth church. Norfolk. would exchange
pulpits cannot be traced 10 anyDooy VINO
is willing 10 be responsible Tor n.
IL is generally accepted as f0regone
conclusion that Dr. Smith will be elected
Bishop az the meeting OF The General
Conference in May next. a prominent
minister who has recently visited every
section OF the South and West toid tne
Times representative That Df. SmHh u
the only man named for the bshopric
who has no opposition. II he should go
10 Norfolk he will bee able 10 serve ont
the half year which the Epworth people
asked for AT the Richmond Conference
two wears ago. and when ne is elected
Bishop the EpWOrth people viii nave an
opportunity TO cali pastor from
abroad. The man who worked ont this
idea is probably the only source OF the
THE END OF HARD TIMES
The missionary anniversary last nign.
drove another nail into the hard tunes
coffin. The report Of the Board OF MIS-
siOns showed an increase ID the loIelsn
and domestic missionary collections
amounting 20 nearly 81 500. The report
also announced that the debt OF SH3'W".
which for two years has MARI dss'u lhe
work OF the General Board or Mi7Slois'
has al last been provided for through
Ne efforts Of missionary secretaries. This
work was done largely by Dr. Morrisoh'
az Nashville who got the money hV per
eonal solicitation from well-to-do Mctho-
distS IN an parts Of the south ana West
Following the report Dr. TUDOR. ol isl'li-
mond preached AN eloquent sermon OF
"The World for Christ ....~.-.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS.
The routine work which consumed three
fourths of this morning conference ses-
sion tried the patience OF the lneinpei6
as well as the spectators. The last hour
was. however. interesting enough 10 re-
ward those who waited Tor II.
The preachers OF the Danvlle, Farm
vile. Petersburg. Portsmouth, Norfolk
and Eastern Shore districts made fheir
reports and passed the examination OF
character.
Rev. II. y. Dadmun, of CaDell-street
church. reported that his sunday school
has on its roll l,l6i teachers and pupils
Rev. n. ". Green. Of Calvary church.
this city, reported his Rosebud society
as the banner society Of the conference
MIR. WILSON'S LIBERAL FLOCK.
Rev. w. L.. Thompson. Of Boylin, said
that his membership had paid during the
year 500 on the missionary DEBT one
member paying half Of the amount.
Rev X. II. Wilson, OF Market-Streel
church, Petersburg reported that after
his salary was paid In full his stewards
presented him with a purse Of 800.
Rev. j. T. Riddles Of Sussex, reported
on ,.of,,-.rafoue an his circuit.
DR. Brown reported that the standing
Committee on Conference Entertainment
had selected Portsmouth as the place for
the meeting Of the next annual confer
ence
They recommended that an assessment
Of 81 800 be made upon the Church for the
EXPENSE Of their entertainment Adopted.
II is believed that the committee will
soon be able to discontinue the assess
ment. ,,..,
SUPERANCATED LIST.
TIE superanuated ministers passed the
examination Of characters, and their
names were referred % the proper cop'-
mittee for continuance In ther present
relation. The conference listened win
sympathetic interest TO the testimonies OF
these worn-out veterans. lhe talks were
interspersed with touching songs and az
times many IN the audience We're IN tears
The case of Rev NJ S. Watts. who has
been on trial for immortality since last
THURSDAY. was given 20 the jury at
O'Clock this morning
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
The trial was conducted behind closed
doors. and while nothing is really known
80 the testimony. 10 is understood that
the case was well managed by the pros
ect,tor Rev. J. +. Deshazo. and that Mai.
r. " Peatross defended his client In
his usual mastery manner.
THE SPEECHES.
Al, peatross and Mr. Deshazo each
spoke an hour
At / o'clock to-day the Trial Committee
,,,,eared in the conference room with the
,.ardict hut some interested parties be-
inc absent il was not announced.
n, fs vybispered that the verdict Is
against the defendant
NIGHT SESSION.
DANVILLE, VA, Nov -a-speclal.-
The night session was devoted 10 me
mortal services in honor OF the nve min
isters OF the Conference VINO died during
the year. DR.. johnson opened the SER
vices and Rishop Fitzgerald spoke briefly
az the heroic men that had fallen. DR..
Whitehead read q memoir OF Jacob III.
proctor who was born in England. but
came TO this country wheh enid ana
spent his youth in Richmond
DR. Starr read the memoir OF +. M.
Peterson. who was born ana uled In Pet
ersburg. The memoir OF {. T. Gibbs was
read by Rev. T. Il. Johnson mat or H.
=. Mitchell by Dr. Vandershce' ana that