Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-06
BISHOPS IN SESSION
Heads Of the Southern M. {.
Church Meet in Baltimore.
JOHN C. KEENER RETlREs
After Service Extending Over Half
Century He Asks to BE Relieved.
S General ssatIscs OF the
rs Church.
(By Telegraph.)

4S<AA|4 4AhSIAE, -Qe1y O.-AI the QOaUTl-
eEinial session OF the general conference
y of the Methodist Episcopal church.
9 South, which began this morning, the
teatures were the address of the Bish-
ops and the request of Bishop John G.
Keener, of New Orleans, the senior DISH
sSop. to be, relieved of his Duties Bishop
i KeenerH called the conference to order
Opening exercises followed. The Rev.
DIR. J. J. Tilge1t, of Nashville, was
elected secretary. and he appointed the
OF Louisville: A F. Watkins, ,Mississlp-
p; p. N. Barcus, Texas, and w T.
Mcclure. of Missouri. The rules Of the
last conference were adopted. The fol-
lowing We're appointed pages:
j. c. Hutchinson. E. w. Davidson. II.
B. Whatling. c. w. Care. Edward
Stewart
Routine business was transacted and
Bishop Keener was succeeded as chair
man bys Bishop Wilson. of Baltimore.
The address of the bishops was read
by Bishop Hargrave, of Nashville.
and then came the surprise of the day
in the request 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 I have
the honor Of being an itinerant minister
for fifty-six years, and for half OF that
time have been one of your general
superintendents. My age and ;nfirmi-
ties demand some relief, both for my
self and the church, and i respectfully
refer the MATTER OF my future services
TO your Cody 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 privileged to labor,
building up the church"
Bishop Keener's voice broke q number
OF times and members of the conference
were i'm tears. Bishop Galloway re
sponded. He paid high tribute to the
retiring bishop on behalf OF his col
leagues. The resignation was referred
to the committee on Episcopary. In
the address OF the bishops the death of
Bishop Atticus G. Haywood was men
tioned. and this recommends ton was
made as to the election of national
members of the Episcopary: We
think under all conditions that the work
done for the next uuadricnanuln by the
election of two additional bishops at
this session OF the conference"
The statisticty tables show the net
increase in itinerant preachers for 1he
-four years ITO be 502. and members 123,-
211 THE present number of itinerant
preachers is SOS, local preachers. 5,6S5:
total 1854. The total number OF menu
bers is 1.47s.431 The value of the
chuch property is $4,000. O00 an increase
in four years of $2,O0o,0 900.
AS to lay delegates. the following
was said:
rs not the vital relation OF the lay
delegates of district conference TO
ahose selected for tine annual and gene
raj conference to those selected tor me
annual and general conference a sui :
Gcieut reason to fix a uniform pIinciple
and method for their selection in all
the annual conferences?
The subject of union between 1he
Northern and Southern branches OF the
church was spoken Of as follows:
The commission on federation pro
vfded for at your last session met a
ksimiTar from the Methodist Episcopal
church in Washington in January last,
in Joint SESSION. which proved harno-
mious and was characterized by cour-
tesy and hearty good will. A report
will be made on THE subject.
Az reception was rendered the
Delegates in the Fourth Res!-
ment arrnory tonight which was
attended by 800 persons. An address
OF welcome was delivered by Governor
Lowndes. who welcomed the delegates
on the part of the people OF the state.
and Bishop A. Wilson. who spoke Tor
THE city churches. HI.