Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-18
MEETING OF THE ANNUAL CONFER
ENcE or VIRGINIA.
The FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Large Attcndance-Tbe Opening
Exerciscs-The Report OF the Conn
mittcc on Conference Entertain
mcnt-Rcsoiutions Adopted.

DANVILLE, November l7.-(Special)-
The southern Methodists Of Virginia are
represented here to-day by the distin-
suishsd men OF the Church. including
nearly all OF the 26i pastors in the State
and the forty-four lay members OF the
conference. which convened to-day for the
us;h time in the history OF the denomina-
ton in the state. The scene in Main
street Methodist Episcopal church, where
conference IL holding. was one of anima-
ton and inspiration during the hours OF
the opening session, and an observer
could not fail to be impressed with the
distinguished appearance OF the body and
10 appreciate the pride OF the Methodist
laity In its clerical representatives.
From the seat Of prominence on the
rostrum the scholarly, dignihed face Of
the venerable presiding officer. Bishop
oscar Penn Fitzgerald. OF Tennessee,
bcamed on the group Of scarcely less
notable men about the chancel, such as
Presiding Elder Paul Whitehead, "the
lawyer OF the conference; the intellec-
tual Robert Newton Sledd. ID. D.. who
may be elevated TO a bishopric; William
J. Edwards that terror Of stenographers;
the popular W. G.. Starr; the gifted and
eloouent William V. Tudor; the ener-
getic young Eugene Rawlings, whom
church In Danville would like TO have,
and others.
CALLED TO ORDER.
At 9l5 o'clock Bishop Fitzgerald rap
ped the members TO order and opened the
devotional exercises by reading the old
conference hymn. No. 22S. beginninS,
"A=G We are yet alive" etc. The hymn
was followed by prayer and the reading
Of the 18th chapter of Corinthians by the
Bishop. who concluded 10y reading some
"iottings" made by him while en- route
70 the conference.
Dr. Paul Whitehead. the secretary,
called the ron, and announced the death
OF the following ministers since the last
conference: Rev. H. p. Mitchell. Charles
T. Gibbs. L. NJ. Peterson. Jacob II.
Proctor. and Thomas =. Wise.
Dr. Whitehead was unanimously chosen
secretary again, and on his recommends
ton Reys S. S. Lambeth and Is. Nj.
Beckham were elected his assistants.
The Committee on Memorials was APP
uointes as follows: Revs. 7. II. john
sion. w. c. Vanderslice, W. G. Starr,
and Paul Whitehead.
Rev. r. N Sledd, ID. D.. pastor OF the
church in which conference is being held,
spoke briefly in behalf of the local Com
tnittee on Entertainment, showing that
private families had volunteered accom-
modations for 2S4 delegates, a statement
that was mildly applauded.
RESOLUTIONS.
The following resolutions were adopted:
That a committee Of ten, 10 con-
sist of five preachers and five laymen,
be appointed by the Bishop on the sub
feet Of memorials TO the ensuing Gene
raj Conference.
. That all such memorials be referred
10 said committee without debate, pro-
vided that the author of memorial
shall explain briefly its purport before
such reference.
Another resolution, shortly afterwards
adopted. was this:
RESOLVED THAT the Bishop presiding,
or the president of the conference, be
requested to appoint on the first day of
each conference session, n committee,
composed of one clerical member from
each district. TO be known as the Com
mittee on Applications for Admission
before which all applications FOR admls-
sion on trial, readmission, ana admls-
Sion from other churches shall come
before they are presented to the con-
ference and that this committees re-
mort shall be called for before any one
IS received on trial from other churches.
ENTERTAINMENT.
After the reading of regular connec-
tional reports, which were referred 10
the proper committees Rev. DIR. A. c..
brown read the report of the Commit
tee on Plan of Conference Entertain
mont which was made the special or
der for II o'clock tomorrow morning
The report. which Is of considerable i'm
nortance. is in full. as follows:
The committee appointed at the con-
ference in Lynchburg, Va, November,
1895. TO consider the plan Of conference
entertainment, beg leave to submit their
report.
We recommend that all previous action
OF conference on this subject be repealed
ana that the conference adopt, in lieu
thereof. the following plan for con-
Ference entertainment-to wit;
/ The conference shall appoint quad
rennIally. beginning November 1897.
committee OF five members-three clerical
and two lay-to be known as the COM
mittee OF entertainment. The method
III appointments shall be as follows:
The president of the conference shall
appoint a committee of nomination of
three members. whose report shall be
subject TO amendment. or recommtment;
but when approved by the conference
shall be final.
The committee OF entertainment shall
elect their own chairman. secretary, and
treasurer, and shall hold office for four
years. or until their successors have
been appointed.
They shall submit 10 the conference,
annually. a full report OF their proceed
inrs. and vacancies occurring from time
10 time shall be filled by the conference,
on nomination Of the committee.
ii. The duties Of this committee shai
be-
/. To select. IN advance Of the meet
ing Of conference, the place for its ses-
sion next following. and report the same,
which shall be deemed the answer 10
Minute Question No. 40. and shall be so
entered on the journal OF the conference.
For this purpose they shall put them
selves In correspondence with the author
titles OF our churches at places when
may be under discussion for selection as
the seat OF conference. and shall use
"a possible diligence and forecast to
secure the holding OF the session from
year to year at those places In our ter
story at which the greatest Dement'S III
al respects, may be secured TO the locai
churches. without unnecessary expense
or Inconvenience 10 the conference.
. III being the design of this plan u
lessen the expense OF entertaining the con-
ference. 10 encourage and develop hospi-
tally. and TO secure the holding OF the
sessions Of conference in the smahei