Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-06
NJ. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.
OPENING IN BALTIMORE or THp
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
BISHOP KEEHER ASKS TO BIZ RELIEVED
His Request n surprise-Two Adj.
tionaI Bishops Recommcnded-<sen
eral Church Statistics-Lay Dele
gates.
gates.

| quadrennIal session OF the General Con-
| ference OF the Methodist Episcopr
| Church. South. which began this morn
| ing. the features were the address OF the
bishops and the request OF Bishop John
| c. Keener, OF New Orleans, the senior
bishop. to be relieved Of his duties.
Bishop Keener called the conference to
order. The opening exercises followed.
The Rev. Dr. J. J. Tigert. Of Nashville.
was elected secretary, and he appointed
the following assistants: Gross Aiexsn-
der. of Louisville; A. F. Watkins, OF Mis-
sissippi: j. McF. Barcus. OF Texas, and
w. 4. Mcclure. OF Missouri.
The rules of the last conference were
adopted. The following were appointed
pages Messrs. ]. c. Hutchinson. +. w.
Davidson, H. b. Whaling. c. w. Care.
Edward Stewart.
Routine business was transacted, and
Bishop Kenner was succeeded as chair
man by Bishop Wilson. OF baltimore.
The address of the bishops was read by
Bishop Hargrove, Of Nashville, and then
came the surprise of the day In the re-
quest of Bishop keener to be relieved OF
his duties. Bishop keener said I'm part:
The hour has come for me TO speak or
matters personal to myself. | have had
the honor OF being an iunerant minister
for hfty-six years. and for half OF that
time | have been one Of your general su-
perntendents. My age and inhrmiiies
demand some relief both for myself and
for the Church. and l respectfully refer
the matter OF my future services TO your
good judgment In this city, in 1897,
thank God that he heard my cry. that
he forgave my sins, and called me into
the ministry in the far South. There I
have been privileged to labor, building up
the Church"
CONFERENCE IN TEARS.
Bishop Keener's voice broke a number
of times, and members OF the conference
were i'm tears.
Bishop Galloway responded. He paid
a high tribute to the retiring Bishop. on
behalf of his colleagues. The resigna-
ton was referred TO the Committee on
the Epscopacy
In the address OF the bishops. the death
of Bishop Attlcus G.. Haygood was men,
toned and this recommendation was
made as to the election of additional
members of the Episcopacy:
1--WE think, under all the conditions.
that the work OF administration can be
efficiently done for the next quadrennium
by the election of two additional bishops
at this session of the conference"
1.-THE statistical tables show the net
increase i'm itinerant preachers for the
four years to be SOP. and In members
~, POI. The present number of itinersnt
preachers is 1883; of local preachers. 5,6s5:
total. 1894 The total number OF mem-
bers is 147S. 4Sl.
THE value of the Church property is
$35. 900, an increase in four years OF
100000
1--WE have l4lSS Sunday schools, with
10i, 1876 teachers, and S5l ,4SS pupils. This
is an increase of S2j schools. .i59 teachers.
and So POP pupils. There are 3,iS6 Epworth
leagues, with 1876 Si members. The Church
has rs educational institutions. with 1909
teachers, 5000 pupils. property worth
81 65l $50, and endowments amounting TO
S. 1883, 69j.
I'm the foreign mission-feld. there has
been "A net gain Of 2,177 members. LII
SQnday-school attendants. i,225 Epworth
Leaguers, IS church buildings. and 10
parsonages. In self-support. gain OF
81 6j6.S5 is reported. Our mission pro-
perty is worth no. On the mission
debt of sl29lii7s. the Church has paid
Sill. 5j9.l7. The amount paid 10 missions
I'm the four years is s. .955.S3.'
LAY DELEGATES.
As to lay delegates, the following was
said:
lis not the vital relation OF the lay
delegates to district conference to those
selected for the annual and general con-
ference a sufficient reason TO fix a uni
form principle and method for their Sc
lection in all the annual conferences"
The subject of union between the
northern and southern branches OF the
Church was spoken Of as follows
1.-THE commission of federation provided
for at your last session met a similar
one from the Methodist Episcopal Church,
I'm Washington. In January last. In
Joint session, which proved harmonious.
and was characterized by courtesy and
hearty good will. a report will be made
on the subject"
SOCIAL RECEPTION.
A reception was rendered The delegates
In the Fourth Regiment Armory tonight,
which was attended by 1900 persons. An
OF welcome was delivered by
Governor Lowndes, who welcomed tho
delegates on the part of the people OF
the State, and by Bishop A. W. Wilson.
who spoke for the city churches. Bishop
L. r. Hendrix. OF Kansas city. responded
for the delegates.
4 =