The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-29

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sonaries and native preachers, with a
membership of 1911, and 5000 scholars
and teachers in Sunday schools In the
foreign fields.
The conference will be entertained by
Rev. James a. Duncan, d. D.. pastor Of
the First Methodist Church of Birming-
ham. DR.. Duncan was n member of the
Virginia Conference for number OF
years, and is the son of DR., James A.
Duncan, founder Of Broad Street Meth
odist Church. Richmond.
Two bishops have died since the last
General Conference, namely: Bishops
Hargrove and 1<eener. Bishops Wilson,
Key. Duncan. Morrison Hendrix, Gallo
way, Hoss, Smith, Gambler are all active
and will be at Birmingham bishops
CRANBERRY and Fitzgerald are supcran-
nuated.
The conference will very likely super
annuate at least two of the active bishops
and elect three, probably four, new
bishops. The men most prominently mem
toned for this office are Rev. John J.
Tigert, D. D.. LII. d., Of Nashville. Tenn,
who Is now book editor Of the church;
Rev. Seth Ward, y. D. Of Texas the
present missionary secretary; Rev. w.
NJ. McMurray, d. D., of st. Louis; Rev.
j. c. Kigo, ID. D., Of Durham, n. c.,
president Of Trinity College; Rev James
A. Atkins, d. d., of Georgia, the present
Sunday school editor, and Rev. II. NJ.
DuBose, d. D.. Of Mississippi, Epworth
League secretary.
There is no all-absorbing question be-
fore the church. like the war claim ut
the last conference; nevertheless, many
large and important questions relating to
the church will be up for discussion
Time Limit Question.
The greatest question before the con-
ference will be the removal OF the time
limit. Now the Methodist preacher can
remain at one charge only four years,
and at the expiration OF that period he
must be moved A large and growing
number of ministers and laymen are for
the removal Of the limit, as they believe
It contributes to weakness and shiftless-
ness, and Is In the interest of inerl-
cheney.
Another great question will be the
church press. There are now seventeen
annual conference organs" and tho
Nashville Christian Advocate. Two or
three OF these papers have large con-
stituency but tho rest have small con-
stituency and limited circulation. II
vested personal interests and local pride
can be gotten out Of the way, many of
these papers will be consolidated. Tho
editors will meet In Birmingham Wcdncs-
day to discuss the situation.
The ever-present presiding elder qucs-
ton will be before tho body, but not
much is expected from It, as many pre-
siding elders are members Of the con-
ference.
The closer federation Of church, South
ana North, Is looked for. Lately the
new hymn book and catechism. issued by
the Joint commission of the two churches,
has come from the press, and tho COM
mssioners of the church, South, Will
make their report.
The members of the conference from
Virginia are Drs. Whitehead, Llpscomb,
Cannon. Read, Wilson Young and Ben
nett; and Alessrs John p. Branch, j. w.
Grady, T.. G.. Mosely, w. w. Smith, J.. T..
Hines, II. e, Blackwell and y. j. Bar
ham. The altcrnntes are Drs. w. G.
Starr j. ". Mnstin and j. r. Whitley,
and Mcssrs. Frank Talbot, Augustus
Wright and G.. J. Hunt.
Many other ministers will attend the
conference from Virginia, among whom
are Revs, w. A. Christian, w. Il. Beau
champ, W A. Cooper, j, 49, Vim and
y, &, c. Butts
The Virginia delegation goes with tho
determination to bring the next session
OF the conference to Richmond In 1910,
the conference having not met here since
1856.