The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-26
MEET IN TUSCUMBIA
THE NORTH ALABAMA METRO.
 DIST CoNFE. .ENCE.
Bishop A. Coke Smith is Presiding Magnificent Reports Are Re-
 turned By the Various Pre- siuing Elders.

| F 8&&A&A8 8&&0gADs | &
 Tuscumbia, Nov. 25.-(SpeciaL) )-The thirty-fourth annual session of the North Alabama Conference of the Methodist | Episcopal Church, South, convened in | this city at e:30 o'clock this morning. Bishop A. Coke Smith, presiding. It is the second annual conference ever held in Tuscumbia. the first being held in 1895, over which Bishop Stoles presided, this conference at that time being the Ten nessee conference. The Methodist Church here was built in 1929. three years prior | to the meeting of the conference and un- | til last year when the building was re- | modelled, has served continuously as Q place of worship for the Methodist peo- pie of Tuscumbia and vicinity. The devotional exercises were conduct ed this morning by Bishop Smith. The opening song Come. Thou Fount of Every Blessing. !" was led by the bishop. and over 250 preachers and delegates joined, the sound representing that of many rushing waters. Bishop Smith read for lesson the 12th chapter of Romans, and commented interestingly upon each verse, his remarks being beautiful thoughts and practical Illustrations.
 pr. John w. Newman of Talladega, was elected secretary. Dr. Newman has serv- ed the conference in this capacity for the
 
 was a tribute to his ability and popu- larity. He named as his assistants. H. E. Wheeler, T. C. Banks K. N. Mat thews, w. E. Morris, !. A. J. Brock, E. M. Glen and R. T. Black.
 Dr. Newman called the roll of the con- ference, disclosing the presence of near ly 300 ministers, laymen and delegates, the largest session in the history of the conference. The bishop announced that the confer ence would convene promptly at S:30 a. m., and adjourn at 12:S0 D. m., the re- mainder of the day to be devoted to de- votional exercises and the work of the various special committees nominated by the presiding elders at a meeting last evening and elected as follows:
 Public Worship-S. L. Dobbs, chairman; George Stoves and P. L. Abernathy. Books and Periodicals-J. s. Robertson, c. Wolford. J. F. Sturdivant, D. M. Is- bell. Walter Kelly, R. H. Jones, G. T. Harris and W. B. Hope.
 Conference Relations-T. G. Slaughter, chairman; L. A. Dorsey. J. O. Hanes. M N. Morris, W. M. Dowell, c. c. O'Neal and J. W. Tucker. AH t District Conference Records-E. B. AL mon. chairman; S. M. B. Smith. J. F.. | Miller, R. F. Lovelady, W. c. D. Cook, R. L. Bradley, J. S. Harris, George Mo | Eldry W. F. Herndon and J. H. Leslie. Memories-J. w. Newman, chairman; T. A. Kerr and J. T. Black. Temperament. T. Millil<in, chairman; T. G. Mackri. Frank Troupe, J. w.. | Spain, B. W. Cunningham, J. M. Mo Cleskey. J. T. Williams. H. L. Aldridge. | T. O. Jones, o. L. Milliken, J. E. G. Dris- kell, and T. B. Mccain.
 | Sabbath-R. I. Walston, chairman; w. W. Dorman. R. A. Thompson. J. H. Vann. | W. L. Rice, W. R. Beal, w. E. Draper, | G. w. Hall and c. s. Hirley. Communications from the agents of the | publishing house and secretaries of the boards of church extension and missions were referred to their respective boards and committees without reading, as were | also communications from the board of education, Sunday school board and gen. eral secretary of Epworth League. A communication from the Anti-Saloon League was referred to committee on tem- | perance
 l The office of conference treasurer was created to which Rev. w. T. Andrews of Avondale, was elected for four years. He is to receive all contributions in seal ed envelopes with the names of contrib
 utors for the several church funds and account for and deliver them to the va rious committees for distribution. It Is
 said he will handle from $15,0OO to $25,0OO l each year.
 Under question twenty the characters | of the ten presiding elders, J. D. Simp-
 son, of Birmingham district; J. c. Per
 singer of Decatur; s. l.. Dobbs of Flor
 ence; J. R. Turner of Gadsden; J. I. Williams of Guntersville; G. E. Boyd | of Huntsville; Ed. Fulmer of Jasper; w.
 F. Andrews of Lafayette. and l.. c. Branscomb. Tuscaloosa, were passed.
 Each of the elders made a flattering re- | port, those of Dr. Simpson of Biru1ing- ham, Dobbs of Florence, Turner of Gadsden, and Andrews of Lafayette, be- | ing exceptionally good.
 The Birmingham district reports won
 derful achievements during the past year. The membership increased over 1, | GOO, six churches and two parsonages were built at a cost of $6O.OO0. and all as- ! sessments, amounting to $S50O, were paid 1 in full. The total collections reached | $110.O00, against $70,0O0, the year before. l The Florence district made equally as | fine showing, the membership increasing s57, thirteen new churches built and col lections reaching $40,000 or $4,0O0 in excess
 of tho previous year, and all assessments paid.
 The Lafayette district brought up the
 best report in it's history. over 1000 con
 versions and a clean record.
 | The Gadsden district also did well.
 Bishop Smith congratulated the elders on the great work accomplished, and congratulated the conference upon It's phenomenal success and prosperity. On motion of E. V. Glenn, the confer l ence will adjourn at Il a. m. tomorrow. and Bishop Smith will preach the | Thanksgiving sermon.
 Several visiting brethren, E. H. Jones of the Alabama Orphanage, s. M. Hos mer of the Southern University, J. J.
 Stowe s. M. Cherry and O. M Shackel-
 ford of the Tennessee conference, the | former presiding elder of the Savan- nah district, Rev. Mir. Booth. of the West Texas conference. and Rev Mir. Notestein of the Louisiana conference. were introduced and received warm well | come.