The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-10
Alabama Conference is il
Session.
Bishop Warren A. Gambler Of aeOr-
gia 10 Presiding-Nearly All
the Ministers Answer to
Their Names on
Roll Call.

| Pensacola, Fla, Dec. 9.-(Special.)- 1.-THE
annual session Of the Alabama Confer
ance Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, was called to order by Bishop War
rem A. Gambler of Georgia this morning
at o o'clock. He announced and the con-
gregation sang hymn No. 221. Then the
Bishop led in prayer, after which he read
Ephesians. first chapter.
Bishop Gambler said that Paurs Epistles
divided themselves into distinct groups,
| ranging around great controversies. Paul
was not uncertain of what he believed.
He was a man of modest views and said,
IT know in part" but he was certain of
the part he did know.
The Bishop said that a cessation of con-
troversy was not token Of deep piety In
the church. Paul assailed every heresy
that asserted itself in his day. The con-
troversy about the person of Christ was
waxing warm when the Epistle was writ
ten.
No man can have incorrect views with
out being hurt in his life. Paul never was
one Of those to think 1t doesn't matter
what a man believes so long as he IL sim
cere. He thought it made q lot Of diff
ference what he believes.
A man can not think badly of God the
Father without very soon thinking wrong
ly of man the child. So Paul sets forth
true views of God and Of Christ the Son
of God.
The Bishop spoke of the controversy
about the incarnation.He said II was not
best generally to dogmatize about the
union Of the two natures It 10 enouga
that he is God. not an Aeon nor any 9TH
or created thing.
Upon this basis is built church which
has divine prerogatives. Apostolic zeal
and fafft, hava diviua a,Yfhorifv Coma
men say they consult not with flesh and
blood. Some of them would better consult
with them II they will pick the crowd. 1t
would help the sanity and the piety of
some.
The church and the ministry need not
try TO act always upon business princi-
pies. The first man who ever tried to do
this went out and hanged hlmse'f shortly
after the crucifixion. Judas knew what
an ounce Of perfume WAS worth, and the
poor woman who poured It out on the
Lord was not business-like. They mighi
have said to her. "our Lord Is no dainty
dandy to be anointed with perfume. But
Jesus accepted love that was profuse and
extravagant Ho did not think Of bust
ness, but of heart and life. And you can't
run a church and . conference like you
would Legislature.
The church is above the societies OF
| HuOu. A9 OuFtBt was unlQu0 dNlOnK tue
| sons of men so Is the church UNIQUE
| among the organizations Of men. There
isn't any other that is Just as good-nons
that has the same great ends In view
/ The truly redeemed OF the Lord will moi
be asking II they can't get to heavar
without belonging to the church. Every
one that is wanting TO get to heaven OIL
At to get there will want to belong to the
church. 1t Is not a voluntary or optiona
institution.
There is no room for an attorney or q
go-between outside of Christ between g
man and his God. He has given US all Il
be sons. and man does not intervene Il
tell US Gods message to us. Do we moi
know our Fathers voice? Did a mar
ever forget his mothers voice? Yet HI
has dreamed he was a boy again anG
thought he heard a sweet voice that Il
still maybe these twenty years. But mis-.
take 1t one never does. So q child of Goo
knows his Fathers voice.
The roll was called and nearly all the
one hundred and seventy-seven preacher:
and some of the lay delegates answered tC
their names.
DR.. J. NJ. Mason was elected Secretary
with DR.. A. ]. Lamar, DIR. w. p. Dick.
inson. George Fontaine. c. H. NJ 'tley
H. T. Ellison, e. A. Donnslly and H. T
Strout as assistants.
rev. .. r. Mar6nAl. VINO IS an exper1
accountant. was added to the Auditins
Board to receive all moneys and reports
Rev. c. p. Atkinson resigned as a mem
Der of the Board OF Church Extension.
A communication was received from the
publishing house and was referred with
out reading to the Committee on Publish
ing interests.
From Board of Mission.
A very interesting communication from
the General Board of Missions was reat
to the Conference and referred to tn,
Board of Missions of the Conference.
A communication was read and referred
from the General Board of Education.
A communication from the Alabams
Baptist Convention relstive to a Stat,
INSTRUMENTATION Anti-Liquor LsaRu,
was read and referred to a special com
mittee of three. The chair appointed A
j. Lamar, H. Trawick and j. d. Flowers
An interesting report of DR.. Massey
Iconcerning the school at Tuskegee wa,
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