The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-06
CONFERENCE OF METHoDIsTS.
oUADRIENNIAL SESSION OPENED
AT BALTIMORE.

Features of the Opening Sitting the
Address of the Bishops and the Re-
auest OF the Senior Bishop, John
e. Kreener of New Orleans, to BE
Relieved of His Duties-BishOp
Keener Deeply Affected and Menu
hers of the Conference in Tears.
Baltimore, May Sat the quadriennial
session of the general conference of the
NJ E. Church South. which began this
morning. the. features were the address of
the bishops and the request of Bishop
John C. Keener of New Orleans, the Sc
nior bishop, to be relieved of his duties.
Bishop Keener called the conference to
order
Opening exercises followed.
The Rev. DR.. ]. ]. Tiger of Nashville
wa elected secretary, and he appointed
the following assistants: Cross Alexander
Of Louisville; A F. Watkins of Missis-
s7pi; ]. McF. Barcus of Texas, and w.
r. Mcclure of Missouri.
The rules of the last conference were
adopted. The following were appointed
pages: J. c. Hutchinson, E. W. David
son. H. B. Whaling, c. w. Care, Ed
ward Stewart.
Routine business was transacted and
Bishop Keener was succeeded as chair
man by Bishop Wilson of Baltimore.
The address of the bishops was read by
Bishop Hargroye of Nashville, and then
came the surprise of The day in the re-
ouest of Bishop Keener TO be relieved of
his duties. Bishop Keener said in part:
The hour has come for me TO speak OF
matters personal to myself l have had
the honor of being an ,itinerant minister
for hfty-six years, and for half of that
time have been one of your general SUI
perintendents My age and infirmities de-
mand some relief, both for myself and the
church, and 1 respectfully refer the mat
ter of my future services 10 your Cody
judgement. In this city in 1897 thank
God that he heard my cry; that he for
gave my sins and called me into the MIN
istry in the far South. There have been
permitted to labor building up the
church"
Bishop Keener's voice broke a number
of times, and members of the conference
were in tears. Bishop Galloway respond
ed. He paid a high tribute to the retiring
Bishop on behalf of his colleagues. The
resignation was referred to the committee
on Episcopacy,
In the address of the Bishop the death
of Bishop Atticus G.. Haygood was men
toned, and this recommendation was made
as to the election of the additional mem
bers of the Episcopacy:
1--WE think, under all the conditions,
that the work of administration can be
efficiently done for the next quadriennial
by the election of two additional Bishops
at this session of the conference.
1.-The statistical tables show the net in
crease In itinerant preachers for the four
years to be SOP, and members 123,221. The
present number of itinerant preachers is
$3.50; local preachers, $685.; total, IL GA
The total number of members is !, ATS, All.
The value of the church property is S35,-
100000, an increase in four years of $1,000
co.,
I'VE have 14,1S8 Sunday schools, with
141S5 teachers and SOL, 4SS pupils This is
an increase of S25 schools, S,459 teachers
Leagues, with 1854 members.
THE church has IS educational institu-
tions, with one thousand teachers, sixteen
thousand pupils, property worth $4,651, $50
and endowments amounting to $3.50, 695.
I'm the foreign mission field there has
been net gain of 2,177 members 141
Sunday school attendants, 1225 Epworth
leaguers Is church buildings and 10 par
sonages In self-support gain of S11 $50. IS
is reported. Our mission property is
worth $685. no. On the mission debt of
$l29,lH.7S, the church has paid $117 $50. IL.
The amount paid to missions in the four
years is $2.067, 955. SO.
As to lay delegates the following was
said; Are not the vital relations of the
lay delegates of a district conference to
those selected for the annual and general
conference sufficient reason to fix uni
form principle and method for their selec-
ton at all the annual conferences2"
The subject of union between the North
ern and Southern branches of the church
was spoken of as follows THE commits
sion on federation provided for at your
last session, met a similar one from the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Washing
ton in January last, in joint session, which
proved harmonious and was characterized
by courtesy and hearty good will. A re-
port will be made ON the subject"
A reception was rendered the delegates
In the Fourth Regiment armory tonight.
which was attended by 1900 persons. An
address of welcome was delivered by Gov
Lowndes, who welcomed the delegates on
the part of the people of the state, and
by Bishop A. w. Wilson, who spoke for
the city churches. Bishop E. r. Hendrix
OF Kansas City responded for the dele
gates.