The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-10
NEGRO CHURCHMEN MET
AFRICAN METHODIST CONFER
 ENOE NOW IN SESSION.
Delegates from All Parts of Middle . Alabama are Present-Bishop Gaines of Atlapta, 0a.,
 is Presiding.

The Alabama African Methodist Episco- nal Conference is one of the largest re- ligious bodies of negroes in the South. It is composed of churches situated in near Iy every hamlet in Middle Alabama. Bishop W. G. Gaines of Atlanta, Ga, whose Episcopal District includes the three conferences in Alabama and thFee in South Carolina will preside oveT the conference throughout its meeting in Montgomery. The conference met at 10 o'clock yes terday morning and after brief devotional exercises proceeded to the business of the body. Dr. W. c. Banton of Opelika, A. D. W. Mitchell of Clio and W. H. Bowen of West Point, Ga, were elected secreta- ries of the meeting. The marshals chosen were Rev. William Maywood and Rev. A. Martin.
 Assisted by several of the presiding elders of the conference Bishop Gaines administered to the body the Sacrament of tho Lords Supper. After the elective officers had been chosen Bishop Gaines addressed the con- ference on matters relative to the work accomplished during the last twelve months and the outlook for the approach 1 ing conference year. He reported large spiritual and financial gains>in four con- ferences, two in Alabama and two in South Carolina, over which he had recent ly presided.
 He was especially happy in his refer ences to the increased interest in denom- national education. The conference school at Selma, he said. will soon be To- cated in a substantial brick structure now in the course of construction. The following committees for conduct ing the detail work of the conference were appointed:
 Public worship-Revs. W. B. Johnson, c. W. Allen. W. c. Banton, w. W. Fra zier, J. A. Davta
 Dollar Money-Revs. G. W. Allen, F. n. Goodman, J. H. Warrick, A. W. Har- vey. Endowment Day-Revs. G. B. West. 8. P. Pryor, R. l.. Pope. Church Extension and Children's Day Revs. J. A. Cary, A. B. Evans, D. A.
 uenerai Conference Delegate Money Revs. A. J. Hukely. l.. Steele, M. D. Harris.
 Easter Day Missionary Money--Revs. s. W. Shields, J. H. BessickA W. H. Bowen, James A. Farrier. Contingent Money-Revs. W. w. Fra xier c. G. Hatcher, William Banton. Conference Finance-Revs. W. B. John son, G. W. Allen, R. c. Dlckerson. F. H. Goodman. woman's Home and Foreign Missions Revs. J. A. Davis, T. J. Jenkins, E. H. Miller,s John W. Thomas. Henry Walker. | Mite Missionary Money-Revs. A. w. Hill, W. J. Hightower, J. N. Houze. l Special Collection or Donation for Payne University.-Revs. c. W. Allen, w. R.. Dickerson, s. w. Shields, A. A. Goodwin, James s. Evans. James Farrier. E. H. Goodman. D. A. Bruce.
 Admission-Revs. G. W. Allen. G. W. Hill. J. F. Griffin, J. D. Bryant. A. A. Goodwin.
 First Years study-Revs. F. H. Good man. J. A. Carey, I. E. Fields, William Bryant.
 Second Years study-Revs A. W. Har- vey. E. H. Miller. G. E. Hunter. J. A Davis.
 Third Years study-Revs. T. J. Jen- kins, c. w. McClain. w.. H. Bowen, F J. Johnson, E. G. odom, A. D. w. Mitchell.
 Fourth Years study-Presiding Elders and Rev. W. B. Johnson.
 Education-Revs. w. H. Bowen. W. B Johnson, w. H. Robinson, W. c. Banton IG. w, Allen, F. H. Goodman, P. l.. Pope
 Temperance-Revs. T. J. Jenkins. J. A Carey, J. s. Evans. A. A. Goodwin, H. C. ICalhoun.
 Stations. Circuits and Missions.-Revs Is. H. Shields, G. W. Allen, W. c. Ban ton, H. c, Calhoun, F. H. Goodman, A A. Goodwin, s. P. Pryor, c. w. West, T, J. Jenkins, w. J.. Hightower A. B Evans, W. W. Frazier. N. D. Davidson
 Sunday School Reports-Revs. R. L. Pope. D. Williams, N. Davidson, James F. Griffin, c. D. Hatcher, A. D. w, Mitchell. H. M. Mitchell
 Deeds.-Revs. w. H. Bowen, G. w Boone, G. W. Allen, E. D. Butler.
 Bible Cause-Revs. I. D. Whately, A lJ. Williamson, J. D. Williams, M. W Wilson. T. H. Windsor, H. l.. Weston W. J. Webb.
 Judiciary-Minute Money-Revs. R. c, Dickerson. E. D. Butler. W. B. Robinson
 Publication Department.-Revs. w. B Johnson. w. A. Lewis, J. Mahogany, H R. Matthews, c. w. McClain, H. M Mitchell. .
 State of the Church.-Revs. F.. H. Mil. Ter, NJ. D. Thomas, 8. Grif1n, H. C. ICalhoun.
 Memoirs-Revs W. H. Warrick, A. D W. Mitchell. c. C, Wallace. Albert c Smith, s. P. Roundtree.
 Annual Sermon-Rev. T. J. Jenkins.
 Missionary Address-Rev. H. B. Parks
 Educational Address-Prof. John F Hawkins.
 Pastors from the several districts sub mitted their financial reports, most oi them showing creditable gains in church work.
 Among the other visiting preachers at. tending the conference are Dr. H. Blan- ton Parks. Missionary Secretary; Revs. F. Gillens, H. N. Newsome, w. H. Mix. on, D. D.. James Walker and G. H. Up. shaw of the Central Alabama Confer. ence; J. B. Carter, D. c. Edmondson, E W. Williams, D. P. Moore and Dr. L. w. Coffee of the North Alabama Confer. ence.
 The present session is of more than or. dinary interest because of the election tc be held for delegates to the General Con. frence at Chicago May, 1904. The annual sermon was preached by
 Rev. T. J. Jenkins of Clayton last night On the conclusion of the sermon excel. lent addresses of welcome were spoken
 by pr. D. H. c. Scott in behalf of the citizens of Montgomery, and by Dr. s. s
 H. Washington in behalf of the members of St. Johns Church, to which Rev. H
 B. Parks happily responded in behalf oi the Bishop and the Conference. The Conference will be in session this morning and again tonight. Today's ses- sion will be devoted to hearing Commit tee reports and the examination of appli- cants for admission on trial to the min istry Tonight a missionary address will be delivered by pr. H. B. Parks, Cor responding Secretary of the Missionary Department.
 The Conference will be in session until Sunday night when Bishop Gaines will probably announce the appointments. -----
 RAIN WAS GENERAL.