The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-09
First Law Passed by Conference. BRITISH DELEGATE PRESENT : Resolution to Protect Dry Counties
 Introduced. Imuense Thropgs of People Attend Meetings of Great Methodist Body in Birmingham.
 Bishop Candler Has
 Returned.
BRITISH DELEGATE PRESENT

Returned.
 fifteenth general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South Is now down to business and reports are being received from the various com mittees. The first law to be enacted by the conference was passed today. It amends Article 120, page fifty eight of the laws of the church so as to allow unordained ministers to perform ritual as well as spiritual duties.
 A resolution to urge members of Congress and the State legislators to enact laws to protect dry counties from the shipment of liquor from other lo- calities was also introduced at today's session, It was referred to the com mittee on temperance. and later a mo- ton was made to suspend the rules and let it be passed at once. The rules were suspended for the calendar, but the resolution was not reached before the conference adjourned. It will prob ably be passed tomorrow.
 The Rev. Dimsdale T. Young. frater- nal delegates from the British Wes- 1eyan conference. was among tho dis. tinguished men to reach the seat of conference today. He spoke at the First Methodist church tonight, and the Rev. Shepard, fraternal delegate from the colored NJ. F. Church will speak Wednesday night.
 The conference was called to order promptly at o'clock by Bishop F. R: Hendrix. The Rev, c. P. Ryland of the Los Angeles conference conducted the devotional. exercises.
 Before taking up the new business of the day, Bishop Hendrix relinquished the chair to Bishop J. s. Key. who presided.
 It was announced from the floor conference had reached Birmingham and was present He was delayed on account of the earthquake.
 There was a big increase in atten- dance today. Nearly every delegate was in his place. and by the time the devotional exercises had been con- eluded a large number of visitors, i'm cluding ladies. occupied seats in the main auditorium and in the gallery,
 Bishop W. A. Candler of Georgia, who went to, his home in Atlanta Sat urday on account of a slight indfspo- sition. returned this morning much re- frcshed. Other bishops to- reach the seat of conference early were; Hen drix. Galloway, Key, Morrison and Hoss Seated on the platform with the bish- ops were the various secretaries and several ministers.
 The committee on itinerancy report ed non concurrence in a series of res- lutions enlarging the functions of the annual conference and regulating the exercise of the transfer power of the bishop.
 Continuing the report says: Your committee has given careful attention to the suggestion made in the episcopal address concerning the restoration to the quarterly conference of the au- thority to license local preachers and in connection herewith memorials from the Memphis and the North Mississippi conference and from the quarterly con- ference of Leesburg Charge. Pitts burg district, Texas conference of simi- lar purport. The committee recom- mended non concurrence with each of them"
 The report was signed by B. G. Lipscomb, chairman.
 The committee on education recom- mended concurrence in the resolution relating to an increase in the member ship of the board of education. This means an increase from fifteen to sev- enteen members.
 The Committee on Education recom- mended non concurrence in the memo rial from the Cherokee district. Indian mission conference, Ito amend the dis cipline at page IFS, paragraph 420," by adding certain clauses.
 The Epworth League Committee rec commended concurrence in a memorial from the Board of Trustees of, the Texas State Epworth League conference. ask fng that Section 6, Chapter 6. of the Book of Discipline, be amended by in serting d new paragraph.
 A resolution from the Epworth League Board asking for certain changes in the Book of Discipline, was concurred in by the Epworth League Committee.
 Only Surviving Member Telegraphs.
 telegram from the only surviving member of the conference of 1S44, when the church was divided, was read, as follows:
 Truesdale. Mo. May :, 1906 J. J Tigert, Secretary Conference
 Methodist Episcopal Church. South.
 Birmingham Ala:
 Greeting most highly appreciated Please convey to conference and church at large fraternal benediction, with the assurance that he Is still preaching from the grand text. Job xix. 25.
 "J. W. Berryman.
 The text referred to reads: For know that my Redeemer liveth. and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth"
 The telegram was in response to one sent to Dr. Berryman by the confer ence.
 The Committee on Revisals submitted majority and minority reports on the memorials asking that unordained preachers be authorized to administer sacrament and celebrate rites of mat rimony Ths majority report recom- mended that unordained preachers be allowed to preach the Gospel. to cele- brste rites of matrimony and in the absence of the presiding elder or bishop 10 administer baptism The minority report. signed by c. H. Briggs and three other members of the committee. rec ommends non concurrence in all the memorials.
 Many memorials were introduced at today's session, all of which were re- ferred to various committees.
 Bishops Duncan. Smith and Wilson reached the conference at this time and took their places on the rostrum. The Rev. w. J. Startling, the fraternal delegate from Canada. also came in during the morning and took a seat on the platform. He speaks at the First Methodist church tonight.
 Of the several memorials presented today the following are some of the most important: