The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-08


ference and J. NJ. Barcus Of the Northwest
Texas conference
Governor sayers was presented TO the
conference by Bishop Wilson to make the
address Of welcome, and the delegates arose
TO welcome him The governor was listened
to very attentively and was appauded.
In his address of welcome Governor snyers
referred to the early struggles Of Meth.
odsm in Texas, saying in part: ITO those
who can recall from personal knowledge the
infancy OF Methodlsm In Texas-its trials,
struggles privatons and dangers 80 It's
growth has been without parallel In the
religious annals Of any State Of the Ameri
can union. Pardon me II but briefly alude
to this most interesting period in its his
tory. The first annual conference, II I be
correctly Informed, was held In December,
1910, at Ruteryille, with Bishop Waugh pre-
siding. and r. o. Summers as secretary.
Seventeen iuucrant and twenty-five local
preachers and a membership OF 1923 per-
sons constituted the entire ministry and
laity of the church Twelve years later lts
ministry had increased to 104 itinerant and
107 local preachers, and its membership to
14,716 with two conferences organized
'rho Texas conference was held at Bas-
trop in December, 1852, with Bishop Paine
presldlng and Homer S. Thrall as secretary.
was then only a mere lad eleven years OF
npe) but my recollection Of the event is
clear, indeed. Gathered there were many
with whom ] became closely associated In
after years and whose friendship and conn
dence / enjoyed and greatly appreciated.
Bishop Paine, OF course, lowered above
them all. Robert Alexander Josiah w.
Whippe, Homer S. Thrall, Isaac johnson
were among those present. The conference
OF 1851 had been held ut the same place
in the rear room Of n store house, Temper
ary seats were arranged in another vacant
room for religious services. These were
The best accommodations that could be had.
year thereafter comfortable church
building had been erected and furnished
but not with carpet or windows with STAIN
ed glass or organ or chandelier or choir
md in it was held the conference OF 1857
How different the annual gatherings oil
the representatives OF the Methodist church
OF today from that OF fifty years ago! Mln-
listers then came not by railway, or In ear
riage or buggy, but on horseback; nor were
they as comfortably entertained as now
| They were more than satisfied II feed for
| themselves and forage for their horses was
10 be had, and were content to sleep upon
their blankets around warm fire places dur
ing mdwlnter.
"Such we're the men who laid the found
ations OF Methodism in TeIas-men OF stat
wart Intellect and character, pure ana as
interested motives, fearless. self-sacrincinS'
| natriotic. devoted 10 the cause OF the Mas
ter. They were, indeed. skilled workmen'
and their work was permanent. Their IN
]
auence in public and social life was no Tess
strong and beneficial than In matters
ecclesiastical Generations 10 come VIII
owe them much and they should not ne
forgotten. No history of this state wiz De
complete that fails to do them Justice
That their NANTES have fallen upon
worthy and capable shoulders can not DO
| doubted" t., Au.s
roni,ed .o the addresses Of welcome. He
said ali were glad to be here. lie knew
Texas was a great state and had great
people. because the best people OF all the
old states had come here
DIR. p. Il. Hoss OF Nashville moved t.at
the conference send It's sympathy TO Bishoo
Keener on account of his inhrmity, and 20
nIsbop Fitzgerald on account of the death
OF his daughter. Mrs. banks. a few days
apo The motion carried unanimously.
The rules Of the last general conference
were adopted committee Of I'VE to re-
wise the rules was authorized and Is TO be
appointed
Rev Horace Bishop OF the Northwest
Texas conference moved that the sympa-
thcs Of the conference be wired 70 DR.. b.
NJ. Palmer the celebrated Presbyterian d.
vine OF New Orleans who was run over
by a street car recently. Motion was
J adopted
! A committee of six on credentials was nu-