The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-11
CONFERENCE ENDS
ANNUAL SESSION
Church Extension Plans Dis
cuSSed at Selma
tLKS WILL GIVE BAZAAR
Director of Cotton Census Writes spe-
claI Agent Mel Giving Ideas for
Better Collection of
Statistics.

ference of the Methodist church of Ala
bama did not prove to be a lengthy one.
the adjournment coming before the noon
hour. In fact, the work of the conference
seems to have been expedited by Bishop
Wilson In an unusual manner. a feature
in which he has been aided greatly by
the efforts of the secretary, the Rev. J.
M. Mason.
The devotional exercises this morning
were conducted by the Rev. John p.
Sadler of Mariana, Fla. Then followed
the reading of the minutes. after which
came the reports Of the various boards.
The Rev. j. p. Hamilton made the re-
port from the Bible board. showing an
increase of nearly double over last year.
The Rev j. ". Shoaff made the report
from the Epworth league board. The
committee ON providing homes for the
superannuated ministers or more specific
ally on putting an agent In the field To Sc
cure the homes, recommended the APP
pointment of the Rev. j. w. hillough as
field agent with a salary of $3.50, which
tho committee had secured pledges for.
They also allowed him 500 to fit up a cot
tage that had been donated by d. c. Tur-
nipseed to later be turned over to the
superanuates, and also to allow the agent
$3.50 travelling expenses.
The Rev. j. NJ. Danney then raised a
collection for the Rev. ~ r. Games, a
superanuate who was greatly in need.
500 being raised in a short while.
Upon motion Dothan was selected as
tho next place of meeting, the capital of
the wire grass section having little OPP
position
The Rev A. ]. Lamar addressed the
conference upon the work or the Metho-
dist Publishing house in Nashville civ
ing out some interesting figures on the
profits and the dispensing of the same for
the benefit of the church.
The Statistical Relations.
The committee on statistical relations
made the following report on the condi-
ton of the conference:
Number of local preachers, 143, as
against 1874 last year.
Number of members, $3.50 as against
3D. 7S9 last year; gain of 1869.
Number of infants baptised, sos. Adults,
156S
Epworth leagues, 100; league members,
Sunday schools, 55j; Sunday school
| teachers, 1913; Sunday school scholars,
1894
Bible contributions $795,A.
Assessed for presiding elders, 1884;
| for preachers $lO3,906.6l
| Number of societies, 675.
Number of church buildings, col.
| Adlue Oh tHHltH buiihiAt'of F"'vfNA-' W
an increase of about $4,000 over last
year. Indebtedness on churches. sH,65l.S6.
Number Of pastoral charges, ISL.
! Number of parsonages, 127 value of
parsonages. s204 44O indebtedness on par
| sonages, s4918.38.
Number of districts, 8; number of dis
| trict parsonages, 6.
| Value of district parsonages' 5000 In
| debtedness $4100.
| Number Of churches damaged by fire
or storm during the past year. 10.
| After the report of the statistical COM
mittee the following resolution of thanks
were presented and adopted by the con-
ference by a rising vote
Resolution of Thanks.
Resolved, We the members of the Ala
bama conference, hereby return thanks
to the good people of Selma for their
kindness and generous hospitality in
opening their hearts and homes to us
| and we will ever remember our stay here
with the greatest pleasure.
We also thank the railroads, street rail-
way company, the hotels and steamboats,
for courtesies shown us and the repre-
sentatlves of the press for their most
accurate reports of our deliberations.
| We also thank the officers of the Pres
byterian and First Baptist churches and
| the Y. NJ. c. A. for the offer of their
buildings for divine worship. We would
especially thank Bro. A. l.. Andrews. the
members of the entertainment committee
and Mrs. Kahie for their successful eff
forts to provide for our entertainment
and convenience
]. NJ. DONNELLY,
c. II. MOTLEY.
The conference then adjourned to meet
| tomorrow afternoon at 2:30. when memo
rial services will be held
United Commercial Travellers.
During the coming week a local coun-
ell of United Commercial Travellers will
be formed in Selma. The exercises at
tendant upon the Induction of the new
council will be held at the Hotel Albert
next Saturday night Levi c. Pease of
Columbus, O., will preside, and he will
be assisted by r. M. Wells of Birmlng-
ham, secretary OF the local council in
that city. On Sunday night Rev. A. A.
Little will preach a special sermon to
the travelling men at the Broad Street
Presbyterian church.
An interesting Service.
Friday evening was given over by the
I conference to the board Of church ex-
tension and their annual meeting was
held in the presence of a large congrega-
ton. Rev. o. c. McGehee. as president
of the board, presided and DR.. E. NJ. Tur-
ner opened the services with prayer. DR..
f. NJ. Peterson, treasurer of the board
read his report, which showed a total
raised this year Of $4439.50, an increase of
several hundred dollars over last years
total. Rev. j. M. Glenn, secretary, read
his report, showing that the sum of $2325
had been apportloned this year to nine
teen different charges where efforts were
being made to build or improve church
property and where assistance was need.
ed OF this amount the Water street, or
as 1t Is now caller, the Alabama Street
church Of this city, received $500. and
Whites chapel, near Uniontown, receiv-
ed s1o0. This apportionment is an in
crease over the amount apportioned last
year of some 1926. The remainder OF
the total raised some $211450 goes to
the general board Of church extension
and loaned. donated and distributed all
over the Southern Methodist territory
some of It coming back to this state In
different forms.
Mr.. Sanford Speaks.
After the reports had been heard and
adopted the chairman introduced Hon. W.
III. Sanford OF Troy, Ala. a prominent
layman of the church and member of
the board Mr.. Sanford spoke for about
forty minutes. presenting clearly and for
chilly the aims and objects Of church ex-
tension work and urging the necessity for
renewed efforts along that line by b0th
the the laity and the ministers. AS he
warmed to his theme and spoke OF the
mission of the church. its onward prog
ress through the world. and pictured the
church militant sweeping from victory
to victory until every hill top of the
globe has been surrounded and the
church had been extended to the utter