The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-22
To SUM UP THE YEAR
REPORTS IN METHODIST CHURCHES
WILL DE PRESENTED TO-DAY.
INCREASES IN ALL LINES
WILL BE REPORTED WITHOUT Elk
CEPTION BY SAVANNAH CHURCHES.

Missionary Rally Tonight at Trim
ity-RepOrts for Four Years and
the Farewell Sermon of Rev. j. A.
Smith at EpvvOrth-WesIeyC Church
VIII Report All Collections and
Assessments Paid and an Excess
NOted-Banque for Pastor and Of
fetal Members of Church-Grace
Church Will Also Make FIattering
RepOrts-GlOyv wing District Report.
Work of Board of Missions.
To-day is a Sunday Of wide signifi-
canoe among the Methodists of Savan-
nah, it being the last Sunday before
conference. On Monday all the Meth
odist pastors of the city, with the ex-
ception of Rev. H. c. Christian, will
leave for Sandersville. Conference
does not assemble until Wednesday
morning, but Rev. Messrs. Williams,
jackson and Smith are required to be
in attendance at the Board of Mis-
sions meeting, which convenes Tues
day morning. Rev. Mr.. Christian will
leave for Sandersville on Tuesday
morning.
This morning there will be special
services held in all the Methodist
churches of the city. Appropriate SER
mons will be delivered by all the pas
tors with the exception of Rev. Mr..
Christian. Rt. Rev. Bishop A. w. Wilson
will preach both sermons at Wesley
Church. Though it is probable that
all the pastors but Rev. Mr.. Smith
will be returned to their charges here
yet the action of the conference is
uncertain, and there may be changes.
Four Years the Limit.
No pastor is allowed to serve one
charge for more than four consecu-
tive years. Rev. Mr.. Smith has COM
pleted his time at Epworth Church
and new minister will be sent to
take his place. Rev. A. M. Williams
of Trinity Church has served but one
year, and Rev. H. c. Christian of
Wesley Church has served the same
length of time. Rev. C. A. Jackson
of Grace Church has served two
years.
A feature of the services this morn
ing will be the reports of the work
that has been done in the churches
since the last conference. All of these
Will be glowing ones, and the show
ing made by the Savannah churches
will not be equalled by any city in
the conference. Only a brief forecast
of the reports can be given at this
time, but all the pastors state that
it will be the best report that their
church has made in some time.
Trinity's Special Services.
At the Trinity Church there will be
special services both morning and
evening. In the morning a special SER
mon will be preached by the pastor.
Rev. A. M. Williams, and the reports
of the work done during the year will
be handed in.
These reports will deal with all de-
partments of the church. In the mis-
slonary line they will show that great
work has been done and the amount
contributed for missions to be in ex-
cess of that of last year. In all other
departments there will be a cores
spondingly good showing and an in
crease in church membership will be
noted.
In the evening the annual Sunday
school rally missionary service will be
held. A special programme has been
arranged and a pleasant evening is
assured all who attend. The music
will be a special feature.
Rally Review at Epworth.
The services at Epworth Methodist
Church will be the most significant of
any. This will be the last Sunday that
Rev. j. A. Smith will off1ciate at the
church as Its pastor On this account
the reports which will be handed in
win cover the entire four years pas
torate.
These reports will show that during
his service as pastor of Epworth Rev.
]. A. Smith has done much to in
crease the standing OF the church in