The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-30
CONFERENCE WILL
CONVENE TO-DAY
North Carolina Methodists to
Meet at Elizabeth
City.
-------------
BISHOP HENDRIX TO PRESIDE
Indications Point to Unusually
Large Attendance OF
Members.
BISHOP HENDRIX TO PRESIDE
lsnneial y rhe rlmes.pispatch.l

ESPECIAL TO Inc potNi'I
Elizabeth City, n. c., November p
The seventy-fourth session of the
North Carolina Annual Conference OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church. South
which will convene in the First Meth
odist Church of this city tomorrow
morning, promises to be one of the
most largely attended sessions in the
history of the conference. Seldom
does the conference hold its annual
session in the extreme Eastern part OIL
its territory, and when 1t does the
hospitality of the Eastern part OF the
state, which is so widely and so favor
ably known, is taxed. Only twice be-
fore has the conference been held in
Elizabeth Cfty--in 1895 and in 1898.
Bishop A. w Wilson presided over the
conference in 1895, and Bishop o. p.
Fitzgerald in 1898. This year Bishop
Eugene r. Hendrix Is to preside and
this fact gives additional interest to
the conference. Bishop Hendrix has
held this conference only once, that
having been in 1899, when the annual
session was held in Washington, but
his presidency at that time gave such
decided satisfaction TO the conference
that he will receive a very cordial vel
come upon his return.
That which adds still more to the
welcome Bishop Hendrix will receive is
the fact that two weeks ago he pre-
sided over the Western North Caro-
lima Conference, IN winston Salem. and
1T is conceded that never has more
satisfactory session OF that conference
been held.
Organized In 1887.
The history of the North Carolina
Conference dates from the year 1887,
when 1t was organized. and embracing
territory set off from the Virginia
Conference. The first annual session
was held in Greensboro in January,
1898 Additional territory from the
Virginia Conference was added to this
conference in 1850, and in 1870 North
Carolina territory embraced in the
South Carolina Conference was trans
ferred to the North Carolina Confer
ence. In 1890 North Carolina territory
in the IIolston Conference and in the
Virginia Conference. except that be-
yond the Chowan River. was trans
ferred to the North Carolina Confer
ence. Then in the same year the con-
ference was divided and the Western
North Carolina Confer/nce was or
ganized, the remaining North Carolina
TERRITORY belonging to the Virginia
Conference was transferred to this
conference in 1891, and now the whole
of North Carolina is embraced in the
TN .1dlbllllH anu Tue w tSNtIll .Nbi III
Carolina Conferences.
The North Carolina Conference is
divided into nine districts. and of the
nine presiding elders who superintend
the work of these districts, five will
be moved to other appointments at this
session of the conference, in keeping
with the four-year time limit" Only
twelve other members of the confer
ence will receive new pastorates for
the next year on account of the same
cause.
The latest available figures show
that the conference includes 200 pas
toral charges. 1877 members in the
active work of the conference, and a
number of others who sustain the SUI
pernumerary and superannuated rela-
lion, while local preachers supply the
remaining thirteen pastoral charges
There are ninety-four local preachers
in the conference, and the total church
membership last reported was 76,479.
Last year there were 1861 members
added on profession of faith and s.o52
Were added on certificate.
Gifts for All Causes
The total amount of money contribu-
ted TO all causes in the conference last
year was s4S3.142.8S. The salaries ut
the presiding 4Mers amounted to Sl7.-
$50. and the ss.a.ies of the preachers
in charge to s143.l32.60 The other in
terests of the conference received
amounts as follows: Bishops fund. So
sel.11, conference claimants, s6.3S7.34.
foreign missions, s16,6Gl.27; domestic