The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-06
ALA. METHODISTS
 IN CONFERENCE
Thirty-Sixth Session Held at
 Cordova This Week
OFFICERS ARE ELECTED
3. M. Long Welcomes the Visitors. Address on Missions By pr. Ben ton of New York, Recording Sec
 retary of Missionary Society.

Cardova, December 5.-(Special) = The regular business session of the thirty sixth session of the Alabama conference of the Methodist Episcopal church was called to order yesterday morning by Bishop Leonard G. Andrews, who admin istered the sacrament of the Lords Sup per. The service was very impressive.
 Dr. Alderman called the roll and large number answered present.
 Dr. Alderman was reelected secretary, with J. L. Brasher of Simpson church, Birmingham, assistant. Samuel G. Jones was elected statistical secretary to suc- ceed Robert Stonsell who has been trans ferred to the Houlston conference, with George G. Miller assistant
 W. M. Croinan was elected conference treasurer and H. J. Brown assistant.
 The services are prefaced by a thirty minute devotional meeting each morning. pr. D. Lee Aultman of the Cincinnati conference preached one of the most elo- quent and interesting sermons ever de- livered in this section, and amens were frequently heard from all parts of the house. He will fill the pulpit at Simpson church, Birmingham. next Sunday.
 Dr. Wilbur P. Thirkield of Cincinnati was introduced and made an address on the work of the Freedman's Aid and Southern Educational society. His speech was received with hearty amens.
 Address of Welcome.
 One of the most interesting features of the morning session on the opening day was the welcome address delivered by Capt. B. M Long, a prominent citizen of Cafdova and a member of the M. E. church, South. He said: Tn behalf of the citizens of Cardova we regard it great privilege to welcome you here and feel that 1t is due you that I should say that we feel highly complimented that you have met here today In state con- ference want to assure you further that in the opinion of some of us you represent the grandest body of Christians in this world. I think so, and there are others who think so. Wherever you lave gone progress has been made and the Christian religion has taken root. Civili- zation and enlightenment have been uni- felt. In addition to this, you have been felt. In allition to this, you have been the aids and abettors of freedom, of lib- erty and of everything that makes up grand and glorious civilization"
 Captain Long also stated that he was baptized into the Methodist Episcopal church sixty-seven years ago and that ever since he has felt that he was a Methodist.
 Introduced Resolution. Dr. Ackerson of Chattanooga introduce ed a resolution to the conference express ing gratitude to God for the return of Bishop Andrews, who presided over the conference twelve years ago. Bishop An- T1r0 to lu 1do r,1oo t,, the affections of the members of the Ala bama conference as any bishop.
 pr. s. o. Benton Lectures.
 Last night Dr. s. O. Benton, D. D., of New York, and recording secretary of the missionary society of the Methodist Epis- copal church, was introduced and deliver ed a most charming lecture and gave us a bird's-eye view of the entire mission field. home domestic and foreign. Dr. Benton has a pleasing address and has the entire missionary work in hand. He explained the calls of the society for apportionments and the various distribu- tions of the money. He showed that every dollar contributed to the cause aided in the sending of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
 We gave the apportionment of the coming year at about one and half mill lions of dollars, and said that if every member of the Methodist Episcopal church would pay one dollar per capita as the recent missionary convention had recommended, over three millions of dol- lars would be sent into the treasury. He spoke very favorably of the entire field and especially the home work in the south, stating that there never was a time when the opportunity was so wide and varied as 1t now is in every field of labor.
 He urged upon the conference the fact that every member of the church could and should do two things-pray and pay that the spread of the glad tidings of salvation may be heralded to all nations, tongues and peoples upon the earth. He showed how one dollar with the bless ings of the God upon 1t, might become as the widows meal or the loaves and | fishes in its use.