The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-09
TO THEIR CHARGES
METHODIST PREACHERS RECEIVE
THEIR APPOINTMENTS.
THE CHANGES AT SAVANNAH.
cow THE PASTORATES HERE
WILL BE FILLED.


T.. Cook at Wesley-J. A. Smith ana
C. A. jackson Return Closing
Work of Conference.
Thomasville, Ca, Dec. S.-After de-
votional exercises, conducted by Rev.
]. H. scruggs of Macon, Bishop Can
ence to order at o'clock this
morning, Rev. a. NJ. Williams,
D. D., in opposing motion
to have the memoirs of preachers
wives considered on the regular mem
orial occasion, and also have the same
appear in minutes and year book, said:
Il recognize that in opposing this mo-
ton l enter into rather delicate
question, and yet the proprieties of the
case suggest to me that it is not best
to adopt this resolution. 1t often hap
pens that a minister may have three
wives during his ministerial life l
have known of some having two in one
year. Then, again, it sometimes hap
pens that the minister's wife does not
belong to the Methodist Church"
The speech seemed to meet the APP
prevail of the conference, for the reso-
luton was voted down.
The officers for the Mission Board
for the next four years are as follows;
President Rev. A. M. Williams, ID. D.;
vice president, George G. N. Mac
Donen; secretary, w. l.. Wooten;
treasurer of Home Mission Board Rev.
j. A. Hartman; Foreign Missions, Rev.
j. w. Weston.
Rev W. A. Parks of the North
Georgia Conference, was introduced to
the conference. He is the father of
Prof. M. NJ. Parks of Savannah, and
uncle of r. l.. M. Parks.
Pleased with ThOmasville.
In replying to a statement of Mr..
Parks that the visitors to the North
Georgia Conference from the
South Georgia Conference did
not get chance to speak
before the body on account of
the rush and press, the Bishop said:
II think / ought to say that Brother
Parks is mistaken about us being in
a rush during the North Georgia Con-
ference. The papers up there had 1t
that it was the longest session ever
held. Don't let US get into rush
We are being royalty entertained In
Thomasville. Matters of, interest are
yet to come before u.s."
The Chairman of the Committee on
Conference Relations. Rev. ]. p. Ward
law, presented the report of the com
mittee. An item of interest in the
| report was the refusal of the commit
tee to recommend Rev. c. L. Crawley
for a supernumerary relation. His
presiding elder, Rev. j. o. A. Cook,
dissented from the view of the COM
mittee in an earnest speech, asking the
conference to grant him the relation
for a year or so to give him time to
| recuperate and regain his health.
At the conclusion of his remarks Rev.
Mr.. Crawley arose to speak in his own
defense. He mentioned as reasons for
his temporary retirement from the min
istry, that nervous disorders, rheuma-
tism, ETC., had rendered him unable
for months to do active service. For
thirteen years. he said, save two, l
have not received enough money from
my charges to support my family, and
hence I am forced to resort to secular
things to supplement my income" The
case was discussed by many pro and
cons, many taking the position that
If he was active enough to travel and
attend to secular things he was able
to do the work of the ministry The
report of the committee was adopted.
After the report Rev. NJ. A. Morgan
moved that he be located for ineffl-
cheney and secularity. This motion
was likewise warmly debated. The mo-
ton to lay the whole matter on the ia
BILE was voted down. In the midst of
the discussion DR.. ]. o. Branch, arose
and said:
Brethren, we owe it to God and to
the church to speak out and tell the
truth, so that we will know whether
this brother has been so secular as to
disqualify him for the work of the
ministry or not"
CrawIey Spoke for Himself.
At this challenge, many of the
brethren spoke on both sides of the
question. The speeches for and against
were about evenly divided. Some pos
itively affirmed that Rev. Crawley was
the subject of criticism in different
charges because of his secular habits.
Others from the same charges state
that their information touching Rev.
Crawley was altogether favorable to
him.
Before the vote Rev. Crawley, by
consent, addressed the conference
Combating the making up of verdict
because of general reports, he turned
and said to the Bishop: why, / know
a rich woman in Augusta who quit
your church an| went to the Epistopal
Church because, she did not like YOU"
The motion of Rev. w. A. Morgan
to locate Rev. c. r. Crawley was voted
down. and on motion his case was
Conference Relations. The discussion
took up we'll nigh the entire morning.
After the reading and adoption of the
reports of several treasurers of the
different boards, the Bishop vacated the
chair for a session of the Legal Confer
ence. Rev. j. o. Branch, d. D., the
president, took the chair, and the diff
ferent treasurers gave in their reports.
All of these reports developed the fact
that the several societies under this
head were In a most iiourishing condi-
ton. Rev. J. o. Branch, d. D., was
again elected president of the Legal
Conference. and Rev A. NJ. Williams,
treasurer. At the conclusion of this
conference the Bishop again took the
chair. After various announcements
the conference adjourned to meet at
3 o'clock.
Afternoon Sessions.
After devotional exercises, conducted
by Rev G. q. y. MacDonell. Bishop
Gambler called the Conference 10 or
der. The reports Of the several com
mittecs were made and adopted Rev.
| I'D. y. Cook WAS elected Conference
Secretary ~ Education By "A vote Of
the Conference. This nomination came
from the Board Of Education IN their
| report
Reg. 2. W. Ellis was recommended
BY the Committee On Conference RE-
Continued on Fifth Page)