The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-15
NOTES GREAT
IMPROVEMENT
IN PENSACOLA
REV. J. q. CUMMING, EDITOR OF
ALABAMA CHRISTIAN ApVo-
GATE, REFERS TO CITY'S
CENT SESSION OF ALABAMA
CONFERENCE.

Writing of the recent session of the
Alabama conference, which came to a
close in this city on last Monday
morning. Rev. J. B. Cumming, editor
of the Alabama Christian Advocate,
and former pastor of the First
latest issue of the Advocate, describes
the conference, the entertainment of
the visitors and the city of Pensacola
as follows:
The Alabama Conferences.
Gradually sloping up from the beau
tiful bay whose name it bears, the
city of Pensacola covers the sur
rounding hills, and presents to the
view of the visitor whether on land or
sea a panorama of rare loneliness and
charm. The improvements during the
last four years have been very great,
surprising to one who had not visited
the city in that time. With its natural
advantages, the new railroads now be-
ing enterprised, the opening of the
Panama canal, and the splendid spirit
of its citizenship. Pensacola is des-
tined to soon become one of the lead
ing cities of the south.
New Methodist Church.
The conference sessions were held In
the new stone Methodist church. This
building, recently erected at the cost
of nearly 100000 and most desirably
located, is one of the most imposing
and substantial in the south. In ad-
dition to a large and handsome audi
torium, it has a convenient and up-to-
date Sunday school room with class
rooms attached, all opening together,
with a total seating capacity of some
1900. Then there is in the basement
a large assembly room that can &C
commodate 1000. Altogether there
must be some thirty rooms in the
f1lo mi oil he
the great institutional church which 1T
is destined to become. Our people
there and their pastors deserve much
credit for planning and bringing to
completion this magnificent enter
prise.
Entertaining the Conference.
Perfect arrangements had been made
by Rev. H. c. Threadgill and his corps
of assistants, and the entertainment of
the conference both at the church and
in the homes of the people was all that
could be desired. No effort or expense
was spared to add to the comfort and
enjoyment Of guests and visitors.
The editor was the guest of Mrs.
Thos. V. Hannah, and her son and
daughter, Mr.. and Mrs. Daniel McKin-
non, at the old family home of the
former, and where he had been enter
tanned at two previous sessions of the
conference held in that city.
Thirty years ago when as a boy
preacher he went to the Freeport
charge, the home of Brother and Sis
ter Hannah, then residing at Point
Washington, Fla, was always open to
him, and every kindness shown the
young itinerant. The sacred friend
ships and associations there begun
have continued through all the chang
ing years. So being in the home of
Sister Hannah was something akin
to being in the home with mother.
She is nearly eighty and feeble and in
firm, but her faith and hope and love
are all undimmed, and she is looking
fondly forward to the day, not far
distant, when the journey shall end
and the gates shall open.
Having once been pastor in Pensa-
cola, meeting again the many friends
among this noble people made the
conference season one of the most
delightful personally that we ever at
tended. There are no earthly treas
ures, other than those of home and
family, so valuable as are friends and
friendships; and the Methodist preach
er is rich in these.
Yes, the visit to Pensacola was a
delightful experience to all, and that
city will always have a warm place
in the hearts of the itinerants Of the
Alabama conference, because of the
ITCH treasures u hOSplldilLy .dIlu
ness she has so recently lavised upon
them.
A feeling of sadness and regret was
manifest throughout the conference,
because of the illness of Bishop Will
son. He was able to attend but two
sessions, and then only for brief
while. During the balance of the time
he was confined to his room at the
residence of Bro. F. E. Brawner be-
cause of threatened attack of pneu-
monia. We are glad to note, however,
that he was, at the time of adjourn