The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-15
READY CIRCUMFERENCE
WILL WELCOME
 THE METHoDIsTS.
|Dr. A. Coke Smith and Dr. c. B. Gal loway Will Be the Bishops in
 .Attendance--Newma Will Be Secretary.

from next Wednesday, approximately two hundred and fifty ministers, repre- ,enting nearly seven hundred churches and something over seventy thousand with their following, num- oering many thousand move, composing with the two-score lay delegates the North Alabama Conference of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South, will assem- ole in this city, where the thirty-fourth annual session of the conference will be held. Bishop Coke Smith, whom all the preachers love and admire will preside Bishop c. B. Galloway, the eloquent, and Mississippian, known far md wide as the silver-tongued pulpit orator, will also be in attendance in the
 interest of a special educational work to which he Is devoting much of his time.
 John W. Newman, for many years sec retary of the conference, will probably be unanimously reelected to the position he has filled so satisfactorily.
 The success of Methodism throughout North Alabama. as reported at the last annual session of the conference, was intensely gratifying and pleasing. to all but the record of 1902 promi- ses to be shattered by the work of the past year. At the close of the confer ence year of 1902. the total membership of the churches within the ten districts the conference, reached 69,942, a gain of 2,5l4 over the previous year. The houses of worship. 67s in number, were valued at s775,34s an increase of s39, ,166 over 1901, with 162 parsonages, a decrease of two, the value of which was estimated at $151,035, a net increase of s6, ,692. 50 over the year previous. The value of the ten district parsonages was placed at S30,200, an increase of $1,500 over 1901 The magnitude of the growth and de- velopment of the churches comprising the North Alabama Conference can be readily appreciated. when 1t Is said that at one time this conference was the poorest financially in Southern Methodism, but at this time it is reckoned and rated among the wealthiest. In fact. if its present
 Increase is maintained for few more years in the same proportion which has its progress during the past ten, it will stand at the top. The re- ports to be made at the ensuing session,
 t is believed, will show the most phe-
 he conference.
 It is not expected that the Bishop and lis cabinet wil make many changes in
 he way of appointments, although it Is possible that numerous ministers would ike change. It Is an indisputable fact, however. that at the beginning of every lew conference year" every Methodist preacher gets a disappointment" not that 'appointmnt" may be lis old, or one formerly filled by him. The limit of service of one change is Our years, and although a preacher is never appointed four years at time, he ,an. however, be appointed four times n succession. There are very few who nave served four years. though there are some, and these in accordance with the written laws of the Methodist Church, will have to box their earthly belongings, and go where the Bishop designates.
 None of the presiding elders of the North Alabama Conference has served four years in his respective districts, and hence 1t is likely there will be changes Churches in Birmingham. Huntsville, An niston, Florence, Tuscaloosa Bessemer, Gadsden, and other stations paying salaries of $1,200 or more, are apparently satisfied with the pastors they have and as none of them has reached the four year limit, there will hardly be any ''electioneering" or 'log-r6lling" at this time, and the pastors of the above men toned charges will be 'sent back" The First Church, at Birmingham surrender ed by Dr. John P. McFerrin, who goes lO SIuICh, 4NdSHNlllet Dy will, 1t is thought be ministered unto by pr. c. B. Riddick, who was it's pastor four years prior to 1891, when he was transferred to California, but has since been transferred to the North Ala bama Conference. Dr. Riddick resided In Birmingham twenty years or more, and
 Is considered one of the strongest and most polished scholars and pulpit orators
 in the South. Although the loss to Birm-
 ngham Methodists of the brilliant Dr. McFerrin as a severe one, they congratu-
 late themselves on the prospect of secur-
 Ing Dr. Riddick. as his successor.
 J. H. Mccoy, the talented editor of the Chritian Advocate, the conference organ, will doubtless be assigned to the new Five Point Church in Birmingham, and modern structure recently completed at a cost of several thousand dollars. It Is understood the congrega-
 ion of this church will petition the Bishop for Mir. Mccoy. who is one of
 he brighest young members of the con ference. He lately tended his resigna-
 ion as editor of The Advocate, and the conference will be called on to elect his successor. The editor of this journal is paid handsome salary, and it is one of
 he ''plums" to be dispensed by the con
 erence.
 The above are the only changes of i'm ,ortance that are likely to be made by
 he conference.
 Tuscumbia. notwithstanding the fact
 hat it is one of the oldest cities in the State. with one of the oldest churches, las never had the pleasure of entertain ng a Methodist conference in annual con- lave. and the people scarcely realize the import of such a body of men. However. ruscumbia has an enthusiastic welcome waiting the North Alabama Conference This is signihed by the ease with which homes have been provided for the 2S6 and delegates. among the good people of this city, and teh committee, having in charge the securing and assign nent of these homes. met with such ready and willing response that the task was a delightful one. The Methodist families met the demands made upon them. 236 of the 2S6 ministers and dele gates finding homes with Methodist per- sons.
 In the matter of entertainment by the noble people of this city, those partaking )f their hospitality can compare 1t with that of other cities or towns where the conference has been held. Everybody is Vieing with his neighbor in beautifying lis home and premises, and when the preachers arrive Tuscumbla will have lonned her newest and whitest ''bib and
 uocker" and present a most attractive appearance.