The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-01
METHOD|STS OPEN
 THEIR CONFERENCE Educational Rally Was Last
 Nights Feature SAY OUTLOOK IS GLOOMY Dr. Mccoy and pr. Martin Defend De- nomiuational College and Maintain That such Institutions Are Not
 Being Properly Supported
SAY OUTLOOK IS GLOOMY

The annual conference of the Bir- mingham district, Methodist Episco- pal church, south, opened yesterday morning at g o'clock in the Sunday school room of the First Methodist church. The Rev. pr. F. r. Culver presiding elder of the Birmingham dis trict. called the conference to order and will act as chairman throughout, its sessions Delegates of majority oi the Methodist churches In the Birming- ham district answered to roll call
 short business session was held at the opening, S T. Slaton being elect ed secretary of the conference. The hour for opening of the morning ses- sions was set at g o'clock, adjournment to be had at II o'clock for the con ference sermon, while 2 p. m. was se- lected as the opening hour for the aft ernoon sessions. Committees were ap- pointed on public worship, consisting of pr. Culver, presiding elder, and pr. L. C.. Branscomb and on the district conference record, composed of F. B. Yielding, George B. Tarrant, W. E. Urquhart, J. B. Dryer, M. A. Myatt, J. E. Ellis and E. L. Colebrook.
 1 The morning session was consumed chiefly with reports from the various Sunday schools of the churches repre- sented. Each of the delegates heard from reported a thriving condition of the Sabbath schools. The report from the Sunday school of the First Meth odist church showed the enrolment Of the school 1919, to be considerably in advance of the church enrolment which is 125o. In the general discus sion on Sunday school work which fol- lowed the reports R. F. Lovelady, Rev. George T. Harris, Rev. John W. Whar- ton, W. E. Wier, Fred M Jackson, G. T. Marsh, pr. J. H. Finch, Capt. A. J. Tarrant, s. T.. Slaton, w. ". Gar rett and pr. L. c. Branscomb were heard in interesting talks bearing on the subject.
 The session was adjourned at II o'clock, when the conference sermon was preached by Dr. J. NJ. Dannelly, presiding elder of the Montgomery dis trict. The theme of Dr. Dannelly's ser mon was ''The Primacy of the King dom of God"
 Afternoon Session
 At the afternoon session, which con vened at o'clock, reports were heard from some 24 pastors of Meth odist churches in the district on the gen eral spiritual and financial welfare of the churches. All reports were most encouraging and optimistic, the finances of the various institutions being de- | clared in excellent condition. Plans for revival meetings were advanced by number of the delegates heard from. In the general discussion on matters of interest to the welfare of the church several short addresses were made. among those speaking being Dr. L. c. Branscomb, pr. J. II. Finch of East Lake, R. F. Lovelady, W. E. Urquhart, P. B. Thomas and a number of others. An interesting feature of the ses- sion was an address by Dr. W J. Reid, superintendent of the Methodist orphanage at Summerfield, near Selma. Dr. Reid told of great prosperity at the orphanage, reporting that some 90 homeless children are being well cared for at the institution. Dr. Reid's speech was followed by short talks from A. w. Smith and F. M. Jackson who urged hearty cooperation on the part of the church and laymen with the work being done at the orphana ges.
 Seven Licenses to Preach
 1 Several candidates for the ministry were granted licenses to preach after examination held yesterday afternoon at 4:15 by the district conference exam ination committee. The candidates, all of whom were alumni or students of Bir- mingham college at Owenton. are: s. M. Mims, J. H. Hewlett, A. J. Draper. L. c. Sturdivant. John F. Sturdivant. E. M. Barnes and John F. Brown. Several of the candidates admitted have not as vet completed their courses in theology at Birmingham college.
 Educational Rally Last Night
 most successful educational rally was held at last nights session, good at tendance of laymen and pastors being on hand. Dr. Culver presided and introduced the speakers of the evening, pr. J. II. Mccoy, president of Birmingham col lege and Dr. W. F. Martin, president of the Methodist Women's college at Mont gomery.
 Dr. McCoy's address was an earnest plea for the denominational college as was that of Dr. Martin. Both speakers stated that the cause of denominational education in Alabama was sadly on the decline, and called for renewed activity on the part of Methodists in keeping alive the church institutions Dr. Me
 Coy's report as president of Birming-
 ham college was far from optimistic
 He declared that for four years he had
 tried as president of the college to make
 of it an institution commensurate with the needs of Greater Birmingham, bu, ,, that the results were far below his as
 plrations. In outlining the great oppor-
 tunities for the college he stated that it is situated geographically almost al , the very center of the district included , in Greater Birmingham.
 In arguing the advantages of the de. } nominational college, Dr. Mccoy em-
 ployed a sylogism: Education is ac
 knowledged to be a means of develop ing every element of a mans nature r the lack of development of the mora , and spiritual element is an abnorma condition and denotes lack of education
 therefore, education should include tn, ldevelonment of the spiritual and .,oora