The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-09

Conference convened at $50 o'clock.
bishop A. Coke Smith in the chair.
Roy. j. d. Hammand. d. D., conducted
the devotional exercises.
The minutes of the session of yester-
day were read and approved.
J. d. Pegram offered a resolution that
recommended the sending of the money
To the conference claimants, the super
preachers and widows and
orphans of deceased preachers, by mail
instead of distributing it in open con-
ference. Bishop Smith said that the
names of the claimants and the
amounts they receive would have to
be read in open conference in order to
comply with the discipline.
Another resolution was offered by N.
H ID. Wilson which provided that the
pastors in the place where the confer
encc is held and the president of the
different boards be constituted a com
mlttee 10 arrange for the different an
niversaries to be held during the con-
ference sessions. Both of these reso-
buttons were adopted.
On motion of r. A. Willis, w. 4.
ErrBeS was referred to the committee
on conference relations for the super
animated relation. Mr.. Forbes charac-
ter was passed and he spoke to the
conference. He referred in a touching
manner to the fact that he had been lii
n Passionate for seventeen years, and
that he regretted that the failure of his
health made it necessary for him 10
ask for the s-uperannuated relation. He
referred to his love for God, the mem
bers Of the conference and the work.
His presiding elder. r. A. Willis. COM
mended him and his work most highly
and said that his poor health was the
only reason why he should ask this re-
IatiOn.
On motion the name of c. r. Taylor
was referred to the committee on con-
terence relations for the supernumef-
airy relation. He is now engaged in
teaching.
GREETINGS.
w L. Cunningham read a telegram OF
greeting to this conference from the
South Carolina conference. which is
now in session in Newberry, s. c. This
WAS IN answer to the greeting sent to
that bod by this conference at the
opening of the session.
Rev. James Carmichael, d. D. rector
Of st Johns Protestant Episcopal
church, OF Wilmington. was introduced
to the conference and made an. address
which was characterized by numerous
expressions of Christian fellowship. In
substance he said: 1T gives me great
pleasure TO look into your faces and to
bid you God-speed in you work. l am
said to be a high ChurChman. but hat
IS an earthly name l belong 10 that
church that knows no name in Gods
work. bat loves all men who are en-
gagged in the work Of leading the un-
saved to God. Sin is the barrier be-
tween men and God and love all who
are tryin" to break down this barrier.
/ don't hesitate to say that I love
MethodiSm To see you carries me back
sixty-hve years when 1 was a child III
Fredericksburg. Virginia. where l
learned to love a most cody man who
was a minister in your church" He
paid a high tribute to this friend of his
childhood, and referred 70 the fact that
he preached his first sermon in 4
Methodist church.
Rev. e. w. Kegley, pastor of the Lu-
theran church and J.. NJ. Wells. pastor
of the First Presbyterian church.. were
introduced 10 the conference.
Goth QUESTION RESUMED.
Bishop Smith resumed the call of the
10Th question and the pastors IN the
Fayetteville, Rockingham. Wilmington.
New Bern. and Washington districts
were passed and they submitted their
reports. The Methodists OF WilmingtO-
have reason 20 be Sratified at the re
ports submitted by the pastors here.
all of which were encouraging. The
conference ~rejOiceS especially over the
payment of the debt that has so Ions
hung over Fifth Street church. In this.
connection J. n. Hall spoke OF the
church, and of their heroic work all
through the trying time in the history
of the church. He said also hat had il
not been for the b~rOtherly support and
encouragement given by Rev. j. y.
Cole. d. D., pastor of Grace church. he
believed the debt would not yet be
paid. Bishop Smith said in this con-
nection. I love 10 hear that. If you
preachers viii get together you will get
your people together. 1t hurts me to
see our churches standing apart, but
/ love to see them working together
and helping each other in every way.
LOCATED.
Bishop Smith stated to the confer
ence that the conference had not yet
disposed OF the case OF }. 7. BaSWellr
and that some action must be taken or
his ease. J. T. Gibbs said: Il move that
DIR. Bagwefl be coated. Certainly he
has no special claim upon this confer
ence, and 1 regard it an injustice to our
conference claimants to put him on the
-rDerannuated list. Personally l have
orly the kindest feeling for DR.. Bag
well. and | pity him for his mistakes
and shortcomings, not to say sins. but
5u~tice demands his location on the
~rors5 OF unacceptability. This confer
arca he's tried him twice before, and
he has been found to be unacceptable.
.Ipst before he left Raleigh he sought
conference with me, and claimed that
the pastor of the leading church in my
district and one OF my other pastors