Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-05
METHoDlSTSiNco CONFERENCE
Thirteenth Session Of the General Meeting,
Southern Church.
Special pispatch to The Eyeuin, Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
BALTIMORE. May 5.-Methodists from
all over the south and southwest are gath
cred in Baltimore for the quadrennial meet
ing of the general conference of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church South, which COM
menced it's thirteenth session this morning.
Bishop John c. Kerner of New Orleans
the veteran member of the episcopacy in
this branch of the church, called the con-
ference to order. The nine members of the
board Of bishops will alternate daily in per-
forming the duties of pre- siding officer.
The first days session was devoted chief
ly to organization of the big body of 272
delegates, equally divided among clergy
men and laymen. In some cases the depu-
tation is only nominal, as in the case of
Rev. Sam Jones, the well-known evan
gelist, vino is accredited a lay delegate
from Georgia.
Forty-one annual confer nces are repre-
scented, including missions in Japan, China
Mexico and Brazil. The delegations were
seated by lot in the big drill room of the
4th Regiment armory, on West Fayette
street, which will be the scene of the meet
ing OF conference. Behind the seats re-
served for the delegates are over a thou
sand chairs for the public, and additional
seats are provided in the galleries over
looking the drill! floor.
liz aLuiSSS VI tHS DIshOF WAS utllNtTeu
at the opening session by Bishop X. X.
Hargrove, reviewing the work of the past
four years and containing their recon-
mendations Among these was one for the
election of two bishops; one of whom is to
sue coed Bishop a. 6. Haygood of Atlanta,
who has died since the last general con-
ference. Increased work in the various
fields of the church and the advanced age
or some of the remaining bishops makes
necessary the elevation of an additional
clergyman to the episcopacy.
In the business to be brought before con-
ference is a memorial from the Baltimore
annual conference requesting the increase
of the number of charges in each presiding
eldership district from twenty, as at pres
ent, to thirty. This, it is contended, would
entail no hardship, as at present the ap-
pointments are combined to keep within the
required limit. and the work cannot be
carried on 81 well as if they could be made
Independent Of one another.
Naturally, with such big body, the
principal work is done in committees, to
which all resolutions are referred and
afterward reported to the general body for
final disposition. Each conference is en-
titled to member on every committee.
Delegates who have previously attended
general conferences are complimenting the
LEGAL committee upon the complete arrange
ments for the comfort of the delegates and
the expedtting of business Mr.. Robert
Magruder is chairman of this committee
with Mr.. Samuel II. Randall as secretary.
The delegates from the Baltimore confer
er ce are:
Cle-ical-Collins Denny, Nashville. Tenn. ::
Rumsey Smithson, Charlestown, W. Va;
+. H. Whisner, Staunton, Va; j. A. Kern,
Ashland, Va; j. A. Hutchinson. Baltimore,
Nd.
Lay-Robert Magruder, Baltimore, Nd;
Ed. S. Conrad Harrisonburg, Va; p. " d.
Conway, Fredericksburg, Va; l.. j. Will
!lams, Lewisburg, w. Va; J. w. Woods,
Roanoke, Va.
Fraternal delegates are present who will
De given receptions upon two nights yet to
be decided upon. These delegates are Rev.
Joseph r. Berry, editor of the Epworth
Herald, Chicago, and a delegate from the
Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr.. Jonathan
+. Dolliver, member of Congress from
Iowa, and a lay delegate from the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church; Rev. w. T. David
son, professor of theology at Hansworth
College, Birmingham. England, and dele
gate from the Wesleyan conference of
Great Britain; Rev. Dr. w. S. Griffin of
Toronto, Canada, delegate from the Meth
odist Episcopal Church.