Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-14
THE,CoNFERENCE
Of Portsmouth District Held at
Franklin, Virginia.
rho Proceedings ~ Not, q by tho vir-
sinian-PilOt's Special COrrc.pons
dent-Fnvorab @ Reports From the
Stations aud circuits.
Especial to virglnian- Pilot.)

Especial to Virglnian- Pilot)
Franklin. Va, July 13.-The Ports
mouth District Conference met in it's
fifth session at Franklin, Va, July -,
1899. with Rev. w. c. Walden, presiding
elder. in the chair After divine SER
vice. conducted by the presiding elder.
the conference was duly organized and
proceeded with the consideration of the
business os the body. as ordered by
fact that q large number of delegates
were present. representing the various
charges of the district. The usual rou
tine business of organization was pro-
cceded with. and committees were APP
pointed on the following subjects:
Spiritual Condition of the Church,
Missions. Sunday Schools. Education.
Bible Society. Finance. Quarterly Con-
ference Records. Epworth Leagues,
Circuit Boundaries. Temperance. Col
portage.
These subjects were placed in the
hands oc competent committees. who
will doubtless furnish glowing reports
to the conference
The spiritual condition of the church.
es, from the reports given in
by their pastors and delegates. is ex-
in large number OF churches. With
the most gratifying results. AT one.
central, Portsmouth. over 20 CONVEX
SONS were reported. In several other
churches also gracious reviva!s have
taken place. The attendance upon the
ordinances of the church by the menu
bership generally is very good Every
thing being considered. the district has
every cause for encouragement. and 1t
will probably be the best year in the
history of the district.
Financially, the success of the year
so far has been almost unparalleled
There are. perhaps. only ten churches
IN the district on which all the obliga-
tons of the church will not be met in
full. Several churches have reported
all obligations paid up to date. Doubt
less the great financial success is due
10 the Divine Spirit at and among the
churches. There has been, also, large
successes in church building. Several
churches have been repaired and buils
ana debts on parsonages cancelled
Kew X. +. Beadles reported a move
ment to erect handsome church for
our people the large sum OF 800 hav-
ing already been secured looking to
that end.
Rev. w. r. Proctor. of Park View,
also reported enlargement OF his
church building in the near future. at
pleted before the conference
Rev. a. b. Frasher. of Neusoms Cir
cunt. reported debt on parsonage paid
and repairs made to several churches.
new and elegant church building
has been completed and dedicated IN
Smithfeld within the year also. the en-
tire building costing between 81, 500 and
$4,000. There is no debt unprovided for
on the church.
1t Will be seen from these meagre
reports that the Church has not taken
all OF its religion out in shouting and
revival. but that il has made substan-
tial progress in the material things as
WELL
The missionary spirit in the district
is on the increase. according to the re-
ports. 1t Is thought that all the as
sessments ordered by the conference
VIII be raised. The report of the Com
mittee on Missions. of which Rev. J..
n. Jillin Is chairman, was submitted
at this mornings session (sccond
day. after short address by the
chairman Of this committee.
The report of the Committee on Col
portage and Religious Literature was
also submitted. by Rev. d. 3. Austin,
and was adopted without debate.
Rev. j. Wiley Bledsoe. ID. D.. repre-
senting the Methodist Orphanage of
Virginia made a most felictious and in
the purpose of DR.. Bledsoe to make n
canvass of the conference on behalf of
this most worthy cause, and may he
nave right glorious success. His adj
dress was thoroughly enjoyed and
made a deep impression on the large
audience
Rev. NJ Campbell. agent of the Vir-
Ginia Bible Society. represented tina,
cause before the conference.
PREACHING
The opening sermon of the conference
was preached last night to a large au-
dience from Hebrew list. 10 II was
n fine effort. and made deep impress
sion on the audience.
Rev. K. B. B,ankenship preached n
most excellent sermon in the afternoon
session Of the first day.
l'ishop j. c. Cranberry and Chan
cellor Smith. of the Randolph Macon
system. were introduced to the confer
ence and made strong addresses with
regard to the great movement of The
Twentieth Century
The conference will adjourn on Fri
day. y further report will be sent in
later of the proceedings of the confer
ence.
DEMOCRATIC MEETING AT DEEP
'T2IrINLr