Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-21
THEIR FOURTH DAY.
IAHY MEMORIALS PRESENTED.
Interesting sundny-scAeel Statistics,
Literature Distribsted-Ineresss IN
the Number of Bishops ssgsssted-s
The Cause of Educatien.

sion OF the Virginia Methodist Confer
ence was marked by the ideal autumn
weather that has characterized the en-
tire session thus far. SO well pleased
apparently. were the ministers to star
out OF doors. that when Bishop O. r.
Fitzgerald called the body to order. at
o'clock, the absentees were more nume-
rous than the attending members. HOVE
ever. the majority were In their piacos
half hour later, and the general audi
ence of townfolks comfortably filed the
remainder OF the pews. Rev. william
e. Judkins, d. d.. of Ashland. conducted
the preliminary devotional exercises
after which an important session Of the
conference was under way.
The annual report OF DR.. Atkins. OF
Nashville, the general Sunday-school
editor. was read. giving interesting
statistics, as follows:
Number OF Sunday schools in the south-
ern Methodist Episcopal Church, 1884,
an increase during the year OF LA schoolsa
number Of officers and teachers. l03,2x
increase. S,7o7: scholars, Ss.oes. increase
2O.SSs. Total number OF scholars. oiti-
GERS. and teachers. 9i2,7si. an Increase OF
24,O96.
Literature, according to DIR. Atkins'a
report, was distributed as follows: Maga-
zines, $1,000; senior Quarterlies. ~, 100;
international quarterles, 2sl.ooo: illus-
trated lesson papers. 10000: Our Little
People, 10000. In addition. several thou
sand minor publications were dis
tributed. making a grand total OF 1.0i2 000s
Several memorials to the General Con-
ference. OF far-reaching Importance. were
submitted and referred to the Com-
mittee on Memorials to the General Com
ference. Rev. Charles Il. HOLIDAY. OF
York county, memorialized the General
Conference TO enact a law empowering
the annual conference to accept or reject
transfers; to amend Paragraph 90 so that
church conferences may have power -
strike from the roll the names OF mem-
bers who, though able, refuse to support
the institutions Of the Church; to amend
Paragraph 100. so that the Bishop may
have the authority to appoint presiding
elders, thus preventing any presiding
elder remaining In Office for more than
four years; to give each annual confer
ence the right to determine the number
and size of its own districts; and, finally,
to transfer Fredericksburg back to the
Virginia Conference. and then divide the
conference, making James and Elizabeth
rivers the dividing line.
INCREASE OF BISHOPS.
Rev. w. p. Wright. presiding elder Of
Danville District. and others memorials
lied for an increase In the number OF
bishops and for reduction Of the size
OF the Episcopal districts. SO that they
may embrace not more than 800 minis
tsrs, thereby enabling the bishops to
travel some in presiding elders districts,
as required by the Discipline"
The memorial submitted by Rev. James
Cannon, Jr., OF Blackstone. prays for
changes in the law governing the ap-
pointment Of presiding elders.
DR.. William Royall, Of Chase City, SUBJ
mitted a memorial for the appointments
OF conference eyangelists."
Rev. J. H. Amiss, presiding elder Of
Portsmouth District, memorialized for q
law forbidding any preacher or member
OF the church to sell or rent any pro-
perty to be used for immoral purposes.
so long as the same may be under hia
control.
A memorial. submitted by Judge Kilby
ami others, prays that the Annual Con-
ference be authorized to organize a con-
ference board of education TO inquire
into the condition OF the various insti-
ELECTED ELDERS.
Minute Question No. 12-"What tra-
yelling preachers are elected eldersT'--
was called, and the following were
elected: s. c. Hatcher, J. g. Peters, II.
w. Proctor, G. Il. Booker, Jr., II. IT.
Hall, A. b. Sharp, X. Il. Waterfield, w.
Il. Beachman, A. A. Whitmore. James
w. Baker.
Among the visitors introduced at this
juncture were Rev. George ID. Smith, ID.
D.. OF Georgia, and Rev. Dr. e. II. Hoss.
editor OF the Nashville Christian Adyo-
cate.
Rev. A. G. Brown. ID. d., OF Ashland,
submitted the report OF the trustees OF
the hall fund. The report shows that
the trustees have In hand $3.50 In bonds
which rnatured November ist. and SIG in
cash, to be turned over to the Board OF
Finance. The proceeds from the bonds
are to be reinyested.
Question 20 was called again, ana all
the ministers In the Lynchburg District
satisfactorily passed the character ex-
animation, reporting, each as his name
was called, the progress Of tho work In
his charge.
The report Of the Board OF Education.
the special order or the hour, was sco-
mitted and read by Professor A. M.
Hughlett, principal Of Randolph
Academy, at Bedford City. The report
which was quite voluminous, went into
the details of the educational interests
OF the conference. concluding with the
following resolutions:
1. That pastors be requested to hold
I'm their territory some time between
June 18th and September ist general
mass-meetings, the object Of which II
TO increase interest In education.
As IA,
appoint DIR. w. II. Tillett to his pro-
sent position at Vanderbilt University;
Rev. Mr.. Cannon at Blacksburg Femato
College: Y. II. Rowe at Southern Semi
nary. and J. II. Moss at Emory snd
Henry College.
3. THAT the Board Of Finance be inc
structed to apportion among the districts
the following assessment:
For Randolph Macon College. G.5oo: fov
ths use OF the Board OF Education. Hfls
ana for the Payne and Lane Institute.
4. That pastors and preachers IN
charge be requested 10 select some Sun
day In the spring TO preach special sers
mons on education.
Following the boards report. DR.. Kern
president OF Randolph Macon EoiIe8a
and DIR. W. w. Smith. chancellor OF the
Randolph macon system OF schools ana
colleges. addressed the conferences.
When consideration OF the report -
the Board OF Education was resumed Dr.
Raw moved that the yeconmendatioo ~
appropriate 500 10 the Payne and LAS
Institute be stricken out but the mo
Rev David Morton. ID. D.. Of Kkz-
t,eky. secretary OF the General Church
Extension Board. by invitation. addr>eee4