Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-12
DISTRICT CONFERENCE.
Session Held in Monumental M.
E. Church, This City.
Forty Delegates Present Mt the Opening
and Others Expected Call OF the
Churches Gratifying Reports Made by
Pastors : orphanage and Epworth
League Reports appointment of tho
Usual Committees.

The Portsmouth District Methodist
conference began u three days session
In Monumental NJ. e. Church at 10
O'Clock yesterday morning.
The conference was opened with reli-
gious exercises by Rev w. C. Walden.
presiding Elder of Portsmouth, who
VIII preside over the conference.
Among those present was Rev. A. c.
Z. Newton, d. D., returned mission
airy 10 Japan. Rev. w. S. Magee was
elected secretary, with Mr.. James e.
SeDrtll as assistant.
The roll call showed the presence OF
forty delegates. with others expected.
"he arrangement of the routine was
then taken up. The hour of converting
tne morning session was fixed at $3.50
O'Clock. adjournment at 1 o'clock: re-
convene for the afternoon session al 8
ana for the evening session of the con-
ference at o'clock.
On motion OF Rev. Mr.. Booker. the
presiding elder and pastor of Monu-
mental Church were made a Committee
on Public Worship.
Two candidates will be before the
committee on Examination of Minis
terial Candidates.
On motion of Rev. ]. II. Mastln, the
presiding elder was empowered to APP
point the standing committees of the
conference.
The presiding elder emphasized the
need of very thorough examination
OF ministerial candidates.
Rev. r. NJ. Chandler was announced
as present from the Norfolk and East
ern Shore District, and, on motion of
Rev. j. Il. Mastin. welcome was ac-
corded to visiting ministers.
Church, was then introduced.
TO the COMMITTEE on Epworth League
was referred, on motion of Rev. MIR.
Mastin, the matter of the Virginia
Conference Orphanage.
1t was resolved that the call OF the
the pastors in brief detail. touching all
subjects, on motion of Rev. Il. +. Bea-
dies.
The Rev. e. II. Rawlings. pastor OF
Monumental Church, of this city. made
the first report. He said the general
departments The financial conditi n
was good. A recent revival showed
125 converts nearly 100 gain in mem.
bership. The several missionary so
cieties of Monumental, he said, were
In !lOurishing condition.
The report of Rev. r.. i. Beadles, of
Central Church, showed gain of
thirty-four members cottage prayer
meetings, stated prayer meeting at the
church. During the summer the Ep-
worth League has continued its meet
ings. Nearly COO children attend the
two Sunday schools of the church. For
the Twentieth Century Thank Offer
Ing Central has raised 81 900. He re-
ported that the new church OF Central
is still in prospect, owing to q delay
In the sale of the present church prop
erty.
The Rev Mr.. Booker made most
encouraing report for Wright Memo
rial Church. He was complimented
upon the state of his church.
Mr. ]. j. King. of Wright Memorial
also made an encouraging report.
The Rev. K. T. Waterfield, pastor of
Owens Memorial Church, reporte1 bic
church in "a good state, especial pro:
gross being made in mission work
The Rev. j. l.. Latham, of Park
View Church. said that the spiritual
condition OF his church was excellent,
He said much credit was due his nrc-
decessor Rev Mr.. Proctor. His vari-
Gus departments of church work. he
said, was very satisfactory. For tnr
Twentieth Century Thank Offering the
church has raised some $780,
The Rev. Mr.. Carey, of Port No, folk
e.'1sf' tet'---maoe an encouraging report
from his church. Which is a new one
by next March the debt on the struc-
ture will be raised.
The Rev. Mr. Bargamin reportcd
from Churchland and West Norfolk
charges; he said these churches are in
their usual condition. He has been i'll
ana consequently the THANK offering
collections have been somewhat ne
elected. Nevertheless. Mr.. Ames. one
of his members, he said, has made an
individual contribution of 81 900 so
that the churches will show up well
In this respect.
ATr
charge is paying the highest per capits.
assessment in the district, but the dis
trict stewards seem not TO realize this
or to heed II. and the result is he said
that his people are thoroughly dis
gusted.
Mr.. j. w. Baker. of Oakwood and
GilmertOIf, declared the work had been
affected by the fact that the curtail-
ment of the output of the great lum-
Der plants there had perceptibly af-
fected the work there. The men have
had serious problems of domestic sun
port, owing to the fact that they are
working only about two-thirds of their
time.
Other reports were made as follows.
Chestnut Street, by Rev. j. Y. Mas
tin: Liberty Street. by Rev. Paul Brad
ley; McI<endree. by w. C. Proctor;
Trinity by Rev. G. w. Jones: Lam
bert's Point, by Rev. j. w. Carroll.
On motion of Rev. T.. H. Rawlins. the
order for o'clock was made the hear
ing of the report on Orphanage and
Epworth Leagues.
Mr.. Rawlings stated that the OPEN
ing sermon of the conference will be
delivered by the Rev. DR. Newton at
Monumental Church tonight
The conference adjourned for dinner
after all the delegates had been assign
ed to homes for their stay in the city.
Meetings were called by the chair
men of the committees. the personnel
of which Is as follows:
To Examine Candidates-W. r.
Crowder, N. b. Foushee. ]. n. Latham.
On Quarterly Conference Records.