The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-09-23
N. .E.GONFEIREI.INGIEII ] |. {
AT HUNTINGTON !
IN OCTOBER ! I.
Lay Conference
viii Meet Also

WHEELING, Sept. 2S.-The annual
west Virginia conference OF the Meth
odist Episcopal church will take place
at Huntington the early part of the
coming month and will begin on the
9th and continue throughout the week
The presiding officer will be Btshor
Henry spellmeyr, D. D. LII. D. This
VIII be- Bishop spellmeyr's first vlsi'
to the West Virginia conference, he
having been elected at the last genr
al conference. However, the bishop is
not unknown tothe west Virginia min.
lsters and he will receive royal wet
come.
This conference will probably be
somewhat more interesting than usual
from the fact that there are some
amendments to the constitution to be
voted upon. Under this head will
come up several matters, one Of them
being relative to the ratio Of the gen
eral conference which has been re
garded by some as too low, and there
will be an amendment submitted to
this conference to increase the ratio
SO as to decrease the membership Of
the general conference. The present
ratio Of annual ministerial representa-
tion is at least one delegate for an
annual conference and there may be
one additional delegate for every four
teen members Of an annual conference
and must not exceed one for every As
members for an equal representation
Of lay delegates.
The Annual Lay Conference.
will also meet at Huntington, but will
not open untll the 18th Of October,
This body meets quadrenially the year
preceding the general conference. The
questions submitted to this body on a
change in the constitution Of the
church will be new experience for it,
There will be an amendment to vote
upon at this meeting to make the pre-
eldershlp elective by the membership
of the annual conference. Under the
present laws they are appointed by
the bishop. This is not new question
for it has been discussed at various
times form. the early history Of the
church. But the most important ques'
ton to be submitted to the conference
will be one sent down from the last
general conference in favor Of elect
ing bishops for the various races and
languages. At present the church has
two classes OF bishops, they being the
general supertntendeats and the mis-
sionary bishops. The latter applies to
bishops An restricted territories in the
foreign countries. If the annual con
ference adopt this amendment the next
general conference will remove the
term missionary and ali local bishops
will be elected to places restricted by
language or races, and the general su
perintendency will remain unchanged
The West Virginia district Is grow
ing rapidly in membership and exten
sIve missionary work as well as car
ling for the regular work and 1t Is this
marked success that is expected U
make the conference at Huntington.
Extremely Interesting
An interesting part of the confer
ence will be the annual examinations
that the young ministers are required
to pass. FoA this purpose a board Of
examiners, composed Of sixteen mem
bers, whose duty 1t is to encourage
and stimulate the young men in the
mastery of the course prescribed BY
the church will be appointed by the
presiding officer,
Just here It might be said thai
Huntington will be tested as to her en-
tertalning ability, as there will be sew
eral secret societies and other organ
,zations who will convene there at the
same time Of the conference The
ministers from the wheeling district