Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-13
METHODIsTs MEET IN BALTIMORE
Quadrenniai session OF the General Con-
ference Held.

ference Held.
At the quadrennial session OF the
general conference Of tho Methodist
Episcopal church, south, which began
at Baltimore, Nd, Thursday morning,
the features were tho addresses Of
bishops aud the request of Bishop
John G. Keener, of New Orleans, the
senior bishop, to be relieved Of his
duties.
Bishop Keener called the conference
TO order. Opening exercises followed.
The Rev. J. j. Tigert, of Nashville, was
elected secretary.
The rules OF the last conference
we're adopted. The following were
appointed pages: ]. G. Hutchison, +.
w. Davidson, II. b. Whaling, G. W.
Care and Edward Stewart.
Rou'in business was transacted and
Bishop Keener was succeeded as chair
man by Bishop Wilson. OF Baltimore.
The address OF bishops was read by
Bishop Hargrove, Of Nashville, and
then came the surprise of the day in
the request of Bishop Keener to he re-
lieved Of his duties. Bishop Keener
said in part:
"The hour has come for me TO speak
Of matters personal TO myself. I have
had the honor Of being an itinerant
minister for fifty-six years, and for
half that time have been one OF your
general superintendent. My age and
infirmities demand some relief, both
for myself and the church, and / re.
spectfully refer the matter Of my fut-
ure services to your goodly Judgment.
In this city, in 1887. thank God that
He heard my cry; that He forgave my
sins and called me into the ministry
in the far south. There have been
permitted to labor, building up the
church."
Bishop Keener's voice broke mum
Der of times, and members of the con
ference were in tears. Bishop Gallo
way responded. He paid a high trib
ute to the retiring bishop on behalf o.
his colleagues. The resignation wa'
referred to the committee on episco
pacy.
In the address Of the bishop til,
death Of Bishop Atticus q. Haygoot
was mentioned, and this recommends
ton was made as to the election o
additional members Of the episcopacy
1--WE think, under all the condition.
that the work Of administration eau b,
efficiently done for the next qnadrien
NAL by the election Of two additions
bishops at this session Of the confer
ence.
1.-THE statistical tables show the ne
increase in itinerant preachers for The
four years to he 500, and members
123,221. The present number Of itin
Grant preachers ia 8, $3.50, local preach
ers $685.; total l1,674. The tota
number Of members ia 1,47s, 431. The
value of the church property is s85,
600, 900, an increase in four years o.
$4,000, 900.
1--WE have IA, 1888 Sunday schools
with l04, 1876 teachers, and S5l. ASS
pupils. This is an increase of S2'
schools. 8, 400 teachers and 80, 200 pu
pills. There are 1876 Epworth Leagues
with 126.504 members. The church
has seventy-six educational institu
tions, with 1000 teachers, 10000 pm
pills, property worth si,651, $50, and
endowments amounting TO $3.50, 695
"In the foreign missions field there
has been net gain Of Alt members
1,141 Sunday schools attendants
1926 Epworth leaguers, eighteen
church buildings and nineteen par
sonages. In self.support q gain OF
81, 1855. So is reported. Our mission
property is worth s30s,770. On the
mission debt OF s120.144.7S, the
church has paid s117,559.17 The
amount paid to missions in the four
years is s2,067, $50. So"