The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1898-05-14
MEET IN BALTIMORE
Quadrsnnial Session Of the General Con-
ference Held.

0uadrennial Session OF the General Con-
ference Held.
At the quadrennial session OF the
general conference OF the Methodist
Episcopal church, south, which began
at Baltimore, Nd, Thursday morning,
the features were the addresses Of
bishops and the request of Bishop
John @. 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. ]. ]. Tigert, Of Nashville, was
elected secretary.
The rules OF the last conference
were adopted. The following were
appointed pages: J. @. Hutchinson, E.
W. Davidson, H. B. Whaling, @. w.
Care and Edward Stewart.
Routine 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 be re-
lieved Of his duties. Bishop Keener
said in part:
"The hour has come for me to speak
OF matters personal to myself. have
had the honor Of being an itinerant
minister for fifty-si1 years, and for
half that time have been one of your
general superintendent. Ny age and
infrmities demand some relief, both
for myself and the church, and I re-
spectfully refer the matter of my fut-
ure services to your goodly Judgment.
In this city, in 1887, I 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
permitted to labor, building up the
church"
Bishop Keener's voice broke num-
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 OF
his colleagues. The resignation was
referred to the committee On episco-
pacy.
In the address of the bishop the
death OF Bishop Atticus G. Haygood
was mentioned, and this recommends
ton 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 quadrien.
nial by the election Of two additional
bishops at this session Of the confer
ence.
"The statistical tables show the net
increase in itinerant preachers for the
four years to be 502, and members
123,221. The present number Of tin.
Grant preachers is g. $50, local preach
ers $685.; total 1854. The total
number of members is ], 47s, 491. The
value OF the church property is $685.
100000, an increase in four years Of
81, 100000.
1--WE have 1873 Sunday schools.
with 104,135 teachers, and s5l, 4S8
pupils. This is an increase Of 1875
schools, s,459 teachers and SO, 200'pu-
pills. There are 486 Epworth Leagues.
with 1885, 04 members. The church
has seventy.six educational institu.
tons, with 1000 teachers, 10000 pu-
pills, property worth $4,651, $50, and
endowments amounting to $500
'In the foreign missions field there
has been a net gain of 2,177 members,
1,14l Sunday schools attendants,
1925 Epworth leaguers, eighteen
church bV tdings and nineteen par
sonages. IN self.support q gain Of
81, 1855. IS is reported. Our mission
property is worth $398,770 On the
mission debt OF 20.144.78, the
church has paid $117,559.l7. The
amount paid to missions in the four
years is 81, 067, $50. So"