Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-01
WEST DISTRICT CONFERENCE.
Two business Sessions Yesterday
With Sermon AT Night.

The second day of the West Richmond
District Conference opened in the Sun
day-school room Of Centenary church
yesterday morning at $50 o'clock. Dr.
Garland announced that Bishop Granbery
was present, but preferred not to preside.
Rev. X. II. Marks, Of Ashland Cir
cult read the report of his circuit, which,
IN general. was encouraging. The secre-
tary read a letter from Rev. O. Little
ton, of Chesterfield Circuit. explaining his
absence and giving his report Rev. Mr..
Laughan, of Epworth church. gave his
report.
BISHOP GRANBERY'S ADDRESS.
Bishop CRANBERRY made a short address
on the subject of the twenty-century
thank Offering. He said he had prepared
no set speech. but he was always glad
10 address the District Conference.
He said: 1T does us good to feel that
we are a part Of this vast host of Metho-
dists. II is well TO compare our
selves with the other portions of the
Methodist world 10 see what proportion
Of good work we are doing" He showed
how each part of the Church. stirring up
and squirting on the others, made all do
better work.
An, DIelnItN, Sdlu he, we want 10
raise the standard higher He COM
pared the Methodist Church in England
with that of the United States and said.
though the Church was much richer and
more powerful there than in this coun-
try, yet, as Uncle Jonathan was more
slender and had longer legs than John
Bull he hoped that In the end he would
outstrip him.
He referred 10 the enormous sum to be
raised in England for the twentieth-cen-
fury thank Offering, and said as the
sum to be raised in the United States
was so much smaller, every cent, and
more. should be raised. 1T is not enough
20 give" said he. "One must give
gracefully. 1t must be a manifesto
tion OF grace. We do not wish that
this sum which we are TO raise for the
benefit Of education should exhaust the
soil but 10 enrich it. We wish to train
the soil so 1t will get in the habit
OF giving. and the crop will be larger
every year. And so 1t will be with us
II we give with a cheerful heart"
resolution was offered by w. H. At
well and Or. Potts. thanking Bishop
CRANBERRY for his speech, and suggesting
that the District Conference pledge itself
TO collect the required sum for the TWEEN
tieth century fund. The resolution was
carried.
Mr. Richard Irby read the report Of the
Committee on Thank Offerings.
ADDRESS BY DIR. SMITH.
Rev. DR.. w. w. Smith. of Randolph
Macon College, made a stirring speech
concerning the twentieth century fund.
1t was decided TO make the order Of the
day at o'clock the reading of the report
of the spiritual state of the Church.
The report of the Committee on Bible
-.
dick. Rev. w ii. Atwell read the report
of the Committee on Missions, which was
adopted. and Mrs r. L. Michaes. of
ParkPlace church. that of the Woman's
Parsonage and Home Mission Society, of
which she is secretary
The secretary read the report of the
Foreign Missionary Society," Of which Mrs
Albert L. West is the secretary. Both OF
these reports were accepted.
Rev. Mr.. Rowe. president OF the Bowl
ing Green Seminary and Academy, made
short address and the rel ort OF the
Committee on Finance was read by Mr.
John Branch and adopted. The confer
ence took a recess at lis.
---~r AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session began at $50
o'clock. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.
Hatcher.
Dr. John II. Kern, president of RAN
dolph-Macon College, made a short add
dress. after which the consideration OF
the report on finance was resImed. II
was adopted.
Rev Porter Hardy read the report on
the spiritual state OF the Church. which
was adopted. DR.. Tudor spoke on this
subject. and then conducted brief ex-
perience meeting on the subject OF family
prayer.
Rev II. Finlay Gayle read the report
on church literature. especially endorsing
the Richmond Christian Advocate. Rev.
DIR. Lafferty and Rev. II. NJ. Hope. edi-
tors Of the paper addressed the confer
ence in reference 10 IL.
The Committee on Examinations Of
Candidates for l4censes 10 Preach stated
that Mr.. l.. G.. crutchneld passed an APP
proved examination. He was unanimous
~ licensed TO preach. w. IL. Page and
J. X. Holman passed an approved ex-
animation. and were recommended 10 the
annual conference for admission on trial.
THE SERMON LAST NIGHT.
Al sl5 r. NJ. Rev. W. ii. Atwell preach
"a IN excellent sermon. taking as his