The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-05

 CONFERENCE 3lSt General Session
 COnveneS. HINGLEY MADE SECRETARY Succeeds pr. MunrOe, Who
 Served 20 Years. Photographers Flashlight startles pr. Buckley, and He Protests Against "such Nerve wrecking Performance."

Los Angeles. May z.-The absence of many delegates at the opening session of the thfrty-hrst general conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church. due to belated trains disturbed to some extent the program that had been arr ranged and the first days work ended at 6 o'clock this evening. with nothing accomplished except the selection of the conference secretary. This honor fell to Rev. James B. Hingley of the Minnesota conference and 1t required many ballots to make a choice.
 The afternoon session met at 2 o'clock and spent three hours in ball. loting for secretary and in referring to committees various resolutions bear ing on the questions to be considered by the conference.
 Tonight at o'clock the reception of the general conference by the citi- zens and the churchmen of Los Am geles was held at the Pavilion. Ad- dresses of welcome by representatives of the city. State and church in South ern California and responses by prom inent leaders in Methodism made up the program, which kept the tired dele- gates occupied until a late hour.
 Called to Order.
 Bishop Merrill called the conferences tO UEQSt anu AutEO0uCG0 DiHtkOR 4a Ns Hartsell of Africa. who delivered the opening prayer. He was followed by Bishop W. D. Warren and Rev. w. c. Hewington, D. D.. of Nebraska Univer- sity, who delivered brief prayer. An hour was then given over to musi- cal service. The calling of the roll consumed the time up to noon when adjournment was taken until o'clock.
 Bishop Edward G. Andrews presided at the afternoon session and secretary of the general conference. pr. Y. Num- roe of the Central Pennsylvania con- ference called the roll Of dalaxakea.. After hniahing this task pr. Munros asked to make q abatement to the con- ference. He wanted. he said, to be ex. cused from further service as secre- tary. Dr. Munroe told of his service as secretary extending over d period of twenty years, and asked that the conference not to consider him a can. didate for reelection.
 Startled the Speaker.
 Dr. James M. Buckley of New Yorh presented resolution commenting the great work performed by Dr. Munroe dt1- ring his term of office as Secretary and expressing the appreciation of the church. While Dr. Buckley was readine his resolutions, photographer set of a fiashlight in the gallery and the sudden flash and report so startled the eminent New York churchman that he took occa- sion to express his condemnation of such methods.
 T want to say" Dr. Buckley said, pausing for a moment after the flash, that the man who did that may be a good photographer but he Is ignorant of human nature. I trust that those in charge of this hall will not again permit such nerve-wrecking occurrences without due notice to those present" Dr. Buckley's resolutions were adopt. cd unanimously and a copy presented to the retiring Secretary.
 The election of a General Conference Secretary was then held. Tonight at Hazards Pavilion Governor Pardee well comed the General Conference in behalf of the State of California.
 Mayor Snyder for the city of Los An- geles, and for the Pacific Coast Method- ism, Bishop Hamlin bade welcome to the visitors.
 Related Trains Arriving. Related special trains from the East continue to arrive. There was some lit- tie annoyance and delay experienced in securing hotel quarters for a part of the colored delegations. Two of the prornt- nent hotels refused to admit them and at another hostelry they were assigned to a separate dining room. This was dis tasteful to the colored churchmen and they sought other quarters. All how ever, were eventually comfortably quar- tered.
 Among the delegates were twenty-three women, seventy-three colored men and two native Chinese, the latter being Lo Chi Ming and Ding Miang Ing. The form CT of these two Orientals is the first del- eEate ever sent to the conference from North China
 The following bishops have arrived; Stephen NJ. Merrill, Edward G. Andrews. Henry W. Warren. Byrus D. Ross. John M. walden, Willard F. Hallalleu, Charles Fl. Fowler. John H. Vincent Earl Lan- don. John W. Hamilton, Joseph c. Har- zell, Frank W. Warne, Daniel A. Good selly Bishop Moore is on his way here from San Francisco.