Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-11
WORK OF THE MINISTER'S
Second Days Session,of he Virginia Annual
ConfreiCe.
Characters of Presidang Elders Pass
ed-MnjOrity FAwess Giving Lay
men Equal Representation.

The second days session Of the Virginia
annual conference Of tho Methodist Episco-
pal Church opened az Falls Church at $50
o'clock this morning. The first half hour
was devoted to religious exercises, which
were conducted by Bishop Goodsell.
The business session of the conference
was called to order at O'Clock, with Bish-
op Goodsell in the chair. Rev. w. A. Lyle
was appointed assistant secretary, and the
roll Of absentees was then called. The
statistical secretary also read the names of
the churches which have failed to report
One thousand copies of the minutes of the
conference were ordered to be printed for
the benefit of the members. The preachers
were assessed 81 each to pay the expense,
and Revs. K. H. Clarke and r. L. Leslie
were appointed to make the collection
The disciplinary question, WHO are the
supernumerary preachers?" was taken up,
and Revs G. w. Ball, c. B. Meyers, G. H.
Thompson, c. M. Mess, Jacob Halpenny,
Z. W. Graham. w. T. Schooley and G. a.
conner were named as sustaining that re-
lation. The conference declared by vote to
restore Rev. Jacob Halpenny to the eff
fective list.
The case Of Rev. w. H. Fitzwater was re-
ferred to the committee on conference rela-
tons. The character Of Rev. j. W. Crum-
ley, presiding elder OF the Abingdon dis
trlct was passed, and he reported for his
district 6S6 conversions, 357 added to full
connection, and 253 baptized. Two churches
were dedicated, one at Big Stone Gan and
one in Tazewell county, and he reported
that there are several churches in tie
course OF construction. The total number
OF churches in his district, he said, was
tnlrty-one, and he had obtained fifty-one
rev subscribers to church papers.
Favor the Laymen's Memorial
The conference then considered the "lay-
men s memorial" which was recently pre-
senfed by the laymer's convention in this
ctty 10 the Baltimore conference, in regard
10 the equal representation of laymen and
ministers in the annual conference. After
ballot had been taken it was shown that
large majority OF the preachers present
We're IN FAVOR of the memorial.
Inc Following preachers were introduced
to the conference: Rev. j.. NJ. Freeman Of
New York. assistant and corresponding
secretary of the Sunday School Union and
Tract Society; Rev. ]. e. Gilbert, DID,, of
washington, general secretary of the
American Society Of Religious Education;
Rev. s. p. Shipman OF the Wilmington con-
ference, Rev. Mr.. Cleaver of the Evangel-
ical Association of Pennsylvania, Rev. j. F.
Hetsse of Wesley Chapel, Washington:
Rev. DR.. Newcombe of Chattanooga, Tenn;
Rev. A. NJ. Cackloy of the local NJ. E.
Church South, and Rev. H. S. Wright, pas
tor Of the local NJ. p. Church.
Presiding Elder Ball Passed.
The character of Rev. S. A. Ball, presid-
ing elder of the Alexandria district, was
passed, and he reported membership Of
churches in his district as greatly in
creased. During the past year, he said,
there were It's conversions. two-thirds of
whom joined the church. Churches in the
Alexandria district have been dedicated at
Linconia and Falmouth, and three churches
are in the course of construction.
Addresses were delivered by Rev. DR..
Payne and Rev. DR.. j. NJ. Freeman of New
York.
The conference then adjourned until go
o'clock.
The afternoon session yesterday was de-
voted to receiving reports from the various
ministers. At night addresses were made
by Revs. w. A. Spencer, DID, on Church
Extension" and c. H. Payne Of New York
on Education"