The colored American., 1900-05-19
AN HOSPITABLE TOWN.

The Members of the A. M. E. Conference
Pleased With Aorgantown as a Con.
vsntlon City Literary and Social
Notes.
Mergantown, W. Va, SpeciaI-T his
pretty little college to wn was the scene
Of much Christian activity April 1O,h,
11tn and 12 b, the occasion being the
annual conference Of the Wheeling
District OF the A. M. E. Church, pre-
sided over by Rev. G. A. MeGes. There
was a time not SO far removed tnat
the mind of man runneth not to- the
contrary" when a conference of Negro
ministers hardly attracted the respect.
full attention of the people of the eona-
muni!y in which shey ohaaced to
meet. On the contrary such gather
Ing was frequently the subject Of
humorous reference ia the newsp apers,
the humor (0 usually consisting Of
covert allusious to chickens, WATER
Heons, etc But time has wrought q
wonderful change in public sentiment
and today the friendly interest of an
intelligent oommua1tyis attracted by
the dellbers ions Of our representative
men, whose chosen life work IL the
saving Of souls and the development
of christian character among eur peo-
ple, and 10 manifested In various ways.
This fact was never more signally
demonstrate than during this con
ference.
The attitude Of the people Of the pre-
dominant race was extremely crafty ing
and would materially change the views
of the most pssslmlsEIo Afra- American.
The first Of the sessions was held On
Tuesday evening when Mayor Preston,
Prof. Hodges of the West Virginia
University and Dr. Leach, an eminent
divine, delivered splendid addresses Of
welcome 60 unmistakably genuine and
SO cordial that all Of the visitors at
once voted MorgsntoWn the most hos
pitable place on earth.
Mr.. a. Blue also welcomed the visi
tors in behalf Of the church and colered
residents. Appropriate rssponses were
made by Revs. Sampson and LoWery.
The real work OF the conference began
with business session on Wed esday
morning when the roll call was fe4-
lowed by the announcement of Com.
mittee ehairmsnships as follows; DR.. d.
8. Bentley, OF Wheeling on admission
aud license; Rev. w. q. Lowery, of
Washington, Pa, on resolutions; Rev.
G. O. Sam psOn, OF UnioRtewn, Pa, eD
temperance; Rev. Sandy Christian, of
Morgantown on finance. Reports from
the various churches of the district were
than heard and disc used and q report
on the finaD eial ability of the district
was presented by Mr.. Albert Jones. The
afternoon session began at 2 O'Clock
and after dispos1ng of some routine
business the conference prepared for
literary treat which consisted Of two
well written and well read papers On
"the moral worth of the people and
what they are doing for MISSIONS" by
Rev. Lowery; sBd "the reQuireme nts
of the Sabbath school" by Rev. J. E.
Morris OF Clarksbnrg Both p,pres
were presented in q most eloquent and
interesting manner and gave rise to
much discussion. DIR. Bentley was
belsted arrival and was warmly greeted
by his co'labors at this junetpre.
Tne Uolored Americsn's representa-
tive was also introduced to the con
ference by Rev. Morris at this session
and received cordial welcome. Upon
a motion by Rey. Norris be was made
an honorary member of the con-
ference. AS a result Of the discussion
evoked by Rev. Norris paper the Pre-
siding Elder appointed Kevs. Bentley,
Lowry and Mrs Rachel White as q
committee to present plans for the de-
velopment of Sunday school work in
the district. A large congregation as
sembled at night to hear sermon by
Rev Sampson of Uniontown, Pa. He
selected as his theme the "Christian
Cenquerer," and preached a very elo'