The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-19
METHODISTS WILL MEET WEDNESDAY North Alabama Conference
 Convenes at Athens GAL LL0WAY WILL PRESIDE Resume of the Important Matters to Come Before the Conference.
 Historical Sketch of North
 Alabama Conference.
BY E. M. GLENN.

BY E. M. GLENN.
 The thirty-sixth session of the North Alabama conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. south, will be held at Athens November 22-27. under the presi- dency of Bishop Charles B. Galloway of Jackson, Miss. This Is the third time the conference has had its sittings in Athens; first In November, 1878. Bishop Kavanaugh presiding, and second in Mo- vember, 1894. Bishop Dunan presiding. Since the latter date Athens has been characterized by a very substantial and extensive growth, and will handle with ease and elegance the greatly increased body.
 The North Alabama conference was or ganized at Gadsden, under the presidency of Bishop McTyeire, in the fall of 1870, the territory now covered having been previously embraced by the Montgomery, the Mobile and the Tennessee confer ences. As at present constituted, the ec- clesiastical confines cover that part of the state of Alabama lying north of line with the southern boundaries of Cham bers and of Pickens counties, and cutting across the counties of Bibb and Talla- poosa, thus embracing all of Alabama's s farfamed mineral region.
 This territory is subdivided Into ten districts, each specifically under the su- perintendency of a presiding elder, whose duty it is to look after all the interests of the church within his particular bor ders. The presiding elders constitute the cabinet of the bishop in handling the business of an annual conference. They, like all other regular Methodist minis ters, are appointed annually to their re- spective districts and continuance in any given place is limited to four years, though change may be made sooner. They hardly ever resign. Among the Metho- dists there is supposed to he a sort of unwritten law that after four years of district work the elder is to take a pastorate. In It's operation this law Is not invariable. Frequently there are con- dtions that call for given man to re- main in the presiding eldershp for sev- eral terms consecutively. But the senti- ment of the conference iss against that as rule4
 The presiding elder is counted among Methodists as a sort of sub-bishop, or bishop coadjutor, and in this particular most nearly approximates anything like diocesan episcopacy, the district being the diocese and the presiding elder the diocesan. All ten of the North Alabama presiding elders are true and tried men, and fill well the places they occupy.
 Smallest District TerrltoriaIIy.
 The smallest district territorially is the Birmingham, which does not cover all of Jefferson county. Parts of this county are included in five other districts, name- ly. Gadsden, Guntersville Taladega, Tus- caloosa and Jasper. Consequently the twelve thousand and odd members of the Birmingham district do not represent the full strength of Methodism in that prod- gious county All told, Methodism has at least fifteen thousand communicants in Jefferson county
 In all the districts there has been of recent years progress of marked extent. New and tasteful church buildings and parsonages have been erected, and old ones have been repaired and beautified Thus has been found widespread express sion of the prosperity and liberality of the Methodist constituency. Progress and development have been notable particu- larly in the Guntersville and Jasper dis tricts. Ten years ago these were mis- sion districts-that Is. the presiding el- ders serving them were in part support ed by appropriations from the domestic mission board. Several years ago Jasper district made distinct advance in every particular, and continues to forge to the front. Covering this period the presiding elders were Dr. R. w. Anderson, Dr. J. F. Sturdivant and Dr. Edward F'ulmer. The Guntersville district occupies terri tory in the counties of Marshall, Etowah, DeKalb, Jackson. Blount, Morgan, Gull man and Jefferson. The presiding elders serving during the present period of It's advancement were Dr. J. S. Glasgow, Dr. J. T. Morris and Dr. J. I. Williams. The last named has served that district dur ing the past three years, and under his wise and able leadership there has been very notable increase. During his first two years membership increased 10 per cent. contributions for support of minis try increased 47 per cent. and for connec- tional and benevolent causes 82 per cent.
 Pastoral Charges.
 In the conference there are 226 pastoral charges-stations. circuits and missions. Of these. thirty-five are supplied by local preachers. Local preachers among the Methodists are ministers who do not be- long to the "traveling connection" and are not subject to the appointing power of the bishop. Many of them from time to time accept pastoral charge as sup plies." Some of them have seen service in the regular itinerant ranks, and among them are strong. efficient men. Local preachers have been a very important and honored factor, particularly in the rural regions, for the success of Meth odism.
 The North Alabama conference during the generation past since its organiza- ton has witnessed a revolution in indus trial, commercial, social and educational conditions. Originally 1t was counted a