The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-01
BISHOPS ID MEET
 HERE TOMORROW
Distinguished Methodist DiyineS
 Will Arrive Tonight
CANADA DELEGATE COMING
Local Committee on Arrangements for General Conference Will Hold Final Meeting Thls After
 noon to Hear Reports.

The first official gathering in connection with the general conference of the NJ. E church. south, will be the meeting of the bishops tomorrow. The eleven bishops of the church. nine of whom are on the &C., tive list. are expected to arrive in Br- mingham tonight and while the hour for the meeting has not been definitely de- cided upon 1t is expected that the bishops will get together tomorrow night.
 This meeting of the episcopate always occurs just before the assemblage of the geenral conference and the feature of the meeting is always the drawing up of the episcopal message to the general confer ence which has been lkened to a presi- dents message to the Congress of the United States.
 The message is usually written by one of the bishops who has been previously designated for the work and at the meet ing it is considered carefully and such corrections, alterations or additions made as suggest themselves. The epicopal doc ument is read to the general conference only after 1t has been formally organized and it is thought that it may not be read to the present general conference before Friday.
 The bishops, at their meeting, will also consider various matters in connection with their work. In the Methodist church there is no such thing as episcopal dio- ceses Each bishop has assigned to him certain number of annual conferences of the church whose interests he is expected to look after. The bishops will discuss their work and needs at this meeting and will decide on the matters they think should be brought before the general con ference for action
 Final Meeting This Afternoon.
 The final meeting of the central commit tee will be held this afternoon at the Birmingham Trust and Savings company's bank and reports from the various com- mttees will be heard.
 The central committee is the local organ ization made up of the various commit tees which have charge of the details of the arrangements for the meetings of the general conference and the entertainment of the delegates and visi- tors. J. D. Moore is chairman of the com mittee, George B. Tarrant is secretary and Ferd Putnam assistant secretary
 Canadian Delegate Is Coming.
 A letter was received yesterday by the entertainment committee from the Rev J. W. Sparling of winnepeg, Manitoba, saving that he will arrive in Birmingham Friday Rev. Sparling Is coming to the general conference as the fraternaI dele gate from Canada and some doubt has heretofore been expressed of his ability to attend. The letter received yesterday sets at rest these doubts.
 Church Ready for Visitors.
 Everything at the First M. E. church is now practically in readiness for the opening of the conference Thursday morn- ing. Tn the main auditorium where the sessions are to be held tables have been arranged for the eight secretaries of the conference who will sit on the rostrum. The church will be divided off into sec tions and each delegation will have an ap- pointed place in the room and placards will mark the locations of these delega- tions
 The press galleries have been fitted up with desks and they are located on each side of the auditorium nearest the rost- rum. ] In the basement of the building Con ference Station has been built. It is a sub-station of the Birmingham postofhce and clerk will be in charge during the conference. In this room there will be telegraph lines of both the Western Union and the Postal companies and Bell and Peoples telephone booths, will be installed Desks and tables have been arranged in abundance for the use of the delegates and visitors and everything is being done to facilitate their work and add to their convenience. library has also been placed in this large room which will be at the disposal of visitors.