The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-06

l.. H. Holsey, D. D., Atlanta; R. s. Will Hams, D. D., Augusta; Elias Cottrell, Holly Springs, Miss; Isaac Lane, D. D., Jackson, Tenn; and c. II. Phillips, D. D., M. D., Nashville. The general of ficers of the church now in Birmingham are the Rev. W. B. West, Dallas, Tex; 1; general secretary of missions; the Rev. Rufus s. Stout D. D., secretary of church extension, Little Rock the Rev H. Bullock, Jackson. Tenn, agent of the publishing house. Jackson, Tenn; the Rev. R. T. Brown, M. D., editor of the Christian Index, the official organ of the church, Jackson, Tenn; the Rev. G. w. Stewart, Selma, secretary of Epworth league; Prof. G. w. GilbertN. Augusta, commissioner of education.
 The general board is an annual board. composed of delegates from each annual i, conference that attends to the business of the connection in the absence of the gen. era1 conference, which meets only once every quadrennium.
 The reports of the bishops and various general officers are submitted for the years work, and any other business that may come before the body is transacted The most important matter for considera- tion at this session of the general board is the selection of a place for the meeting of the next general conference in May, 1910. Birmingham, Shreveport and Louis- vile are bidding for the conference, which Is a large body of the most representa- tive negroes from the south.
 The fact that at least one bishop is to be e}ected at the next general confer ence lends interest to the meeting. and al- ready there are several aspirants in the field, with various other candidates for the general offices.
 The perfection of the organization by the election of the Rev.'Dr. F. M. Ham ilton of Georgia and the Rev. Dr. J. w. Mckinney of Texas, secretary, and the report of the Rev. H. Bullock, agent of the publishing house, were the most i'm portant events of the initialy session
 Each of the five bishops made verbal report of the work in their districts for the year, laying particular stress upon the amount of work done for education mis- sions and the collection of general church funds.
 The publishing board, of which Bishop R. s. Williams is chairman made it's re- port through the Rev. H. Bullock agent Dr. Bullocks report in detail showed the publishing house to have net assets of 
 tricts to aggregate $35, ,83O, with the pub fishing business alone amounting to near ly $l6.OOO for the past year. The receipts by districts were. First district, Bishop L. H. Holsey presiding, $5162 .9O second district, Bishop Isaac Lane, $7062. .33 third district Bishop R. s. Williams. s7O36 or; fourth district, Bishop Elias Cottrell, $11,- 36254; fifth district, Bishop C. H. Phillips, $47O616. The Christian Index, the official organ of the church, reports a total circu- lation of 5052. The publishing house owns property, including two substantial brick buildings in Jackson, Tenn, of more than $100,000 value.
 Prof William A. Bell of Miles Memorial college delivered a strong and impressive address welcoming the delegates of the general board to the city last night, in which he pointed out the great work the colored Methodist church was doing for the education of the young people of the negro race, and spoke feelingly of the intentions of the young people to be worthy of all the sacrifices the older peo- pie of the race were making for them. The music of the occasion was furnished by a choir of well trained voices under the direction of Director of Music Lew of Miles Memorial college.
 Rev. J. c. Philips. presiding elder of the Crowley district. the New Orleans con- ference, preached the introductory ser mon on the theme, "The Sheltering Rock" His text was "When my heart is over whelmed lead me to the Rock that is higher than I,' Psalms 61, ii.
 The general conference commission, of which the Rev. H. Seb Doyle of Kerrville, Tex, is chairman, organized yesterday afternoon This body ilas to do with all the arrangements for the forthcoming gen. eral conference, and will decide where the next conference is to be held. The meeting will continue throughout the week