The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-07
WHAT METHODISTS
 DID AT HUNTSVILLE Interesting Review of North
 Alabama Conference HAVE 84,589 MEMBERS Birmingham College Is Valued al $170,- OOO-yaIue of 74o Churches Be-
 longing to Conference Is $1 ,4S4,449
HAVE 84,589 MEMBERS

Huntsville. December 6.-(Special.1 1.-The North Alabama Methodist Episcopal con- last night after the reading of the ap- pointments by Bishop Kilgo. The confer ence adopted a resolution favorable to the prohibition law now in effect, but not un- iii the original resolution directing pre- siding elders and pastors to bring the matter up in their quarterly conferences and congregations had been amended so as to make it a request instead of an order. The question was discussed with some heat and one layman said he hoped the whole thing would be allowed to pass without notice, because he believes dab- bling in politics was doing the church no good. However a resolution with the objectionable features eliminated, was adopted It favors the retention of the prohibition laws new in force, which have shown their good features in spite of the evident lax enforcement The Methodists are pledged to fight all efforts designed to repeal the law and establish saloons or dispensaries. Presiding elders are asked to suggest that quarterly con ferences pass resolutions asking the leg lslature not to repeal the laws and pas tors are requested to take the same ac- tion as to their congregations. The work of the Anti Saloon league was indorsed. J. ". Norton, agent of superanuate homes, reported that the movement con tnues to grow The conference now has 2S homes, 24 are occupied. The value of all homes is $5S,5Oo. which must be added the gifts of the last year, which increase the total value to S63,500.
 w. E, Stripling of Gadsden was elected leader of the conference.
 K. M. Glenn, statistical secretary, an- swered questions 23 to 45, inclusive, and conveyed information of general interest to the public as well as all members of the conference. The North Alabama con ference has 2S1 local preachers and S4,5S9 church members Infants baptized during the year number 909 and adults number 3517 There are D senior leagues and 40 junior leagues with 2T34 senior members and HIS juniors. There are 690 Sunday schools who have 1882 officers and teach CTS and 5S,92l children. During the year the assessments of the conference for widows and orphans of preachers was SIP OO0 of which $1352 was paid out. The contributions for missions were S21SG, and of this amount l7.251 was for for eign and $10575 for domestic missions Tor church extension worK S5343 was eX- pended during the year. for the American Bible society $56L19, for presiding elders S25 191, for preachers in their charges s15s. 800. for the support of the bishop S2426 The number of societies is S46 and they own 745l5 houses of worship valued at S1, ASA. 449. on which there are debts ag- gregating S72219. The pastoral charges number 255 and there are 185 parsonages valued at $3646T, on which there are debts aggregating $38,347 There are l2 districts in the conferences and F dis trict parsonages valued at $65,00O. Six were damaged by fire or storm during the year to the extent of S277i. Insurance on churches and other properties amounts to $544S25, on which premiums of $4OSl are paid and the losses paid last year total $2775.
 Educational statistics show that Blr- mingham college is valued al S17O,0o0, has 10 professors and 130 pupils. Athens college is valued at $150,000, has 26 mem- hers in it's faculty and 1S7 students. The conference also owns half interest in the Women's college at Montgomery, valued at s1Sa. GOO. having IA members in it's faculty and Sl pupils.
 After hearing this report Bishop Kilgo smoke of the fine investments of the church and fine business system that the church maintains so that a balance can be struck at any time and anyone can know just what condition the property is in eve have Si,000 of the best people in Alabama" he said. My, what a power for God You are history makers. You are doing a great thing for Cod
 A collection was taken for Flat Rock college and s465 was secured within a few minutes.
 The committee on church extension re- norted delay in building the Montevallo church and recommended that enough money be borrowed to build it at ones. The sum of S15525 was given for church extension by the conference last year. The committee recommended the creation of a local board of church extension for the Birmingham district and one for the Bessener district also.
 The board of missions made a re- port showing that appropriations last year amounted to $S000. The board created for the next quadrennial is headed by Dr. J. D. Simpson. who has had years oe experience in this work, and R. NJ. Archibald Is secretary.
 T C. Banks was reelected confer cnce teller with John R. Waters as as sistant
 The committee on Sabbath observ- ance reported In favor of all movc- ments that have for their purpose the restoration of the Sabbath of olden on Sabbath observance on the third Sunday in February. All character of Sa abbath desecration is q, plored.
 The comin:ttee on conference records rep ported that those from all 12 dis tricts had been examined. Most of thero are well kept and the commit tee requests that presiding elders keep their recoros neat and clean.
 The subcommittee of the Sabbath observance committee reported resolu- tions reciting that tie American Sab bath is imperiied by great hordes of foreigners who are coming among the people as well as by the indifference of thousaIGs of Americans. T Aner. lean government, the resolutions say. Is imperiled by dissertation of Sun 4ay. are ieq .oste to preach sunday observance at least two or three times q year and teacn that Sun day is d day for rest and religious N or ship, not for revel and recreation.
 The Roanoke district conference sent
 fi12 that memorial fund in honor of the memory of Dr. I. G. Slaughter be started for the pur- pose of aiding young men to go 10 rcllegc. Roanoke district starts the fund with contribute S1se
 Re esolltions were adopted thanking the people of Huntsvl.e -or t ( nifcent hospitality extended tie cor ference mesnbers while here. Rev D.
 aduced an "appre- ciationn of Bishop Kilgo. but the hisnrn