The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-20
Bishop E. R. Hendrix of Kansas City Will Preside
 Over the Sessions
YOUNG MINISTER'S
 TAKE EXAMINATIONS
Bishop and Presiding Elders Met Yesterday-About Three Hundred Delegates Have Arrived and
 More Are Expected

The nrSl SesSlon or lne INortn Alabahin conference will open this morning at g clock in the First Methodist church, Nineteenth street and Sixth avenue, north. with the celebration of the holy communion. Bishop F. R. Hendrix of Kansas City presiding. After the admin lstering of the sacrament the congrega- ton will be called together and the real work of the convention begun.
 The sessions of the conference will con tinue until the noon hour when adjourn ment will be taken until the following morning. However, in the afternoon and evening there will be meetings of the va ricus committees and boards who will keep their findings secret until the proper conference. Tonight at o'clock there will be a sermon preached by some min ister to be assigned by the conference to- day. The public is cordially invited to at tend the sessions of the conference re- gardless of whether they are members of the Methodist church.
 Examinations Over
 The young ministers who are required to stand a four years course of study took the examinations yesterday in the Sunday school room of the First Metho- dist church. The examinations were con- cuded late in the afternoon and over 100 took the tests. The examinations were both oral and written, and the findings will be announced at the sessions of the conference.
 At the residence of W. S. Brown on Highland avenue yesterday afternoon was held the initial meeting of the 12 presid- Ing elders with the bishop. These 12 gentlemen compose the members of the bishops cabinet, which includes the Rev J. w. Johnson of Birmingham, the Rev. Frank W. Brandon of Bessemer, the Rev. W. b. Morris of Huntsville. the Rev. s. R. Lester of Jasper, the Rev. R. T. Hyler of Gadsden, the Rev. A. B. Glasgow of Albertville, the Rev. D. M. Glenn of Decatur, the Rev. H. c. Davis of Tusca- loosa, the Rev. Robert Echols of Haley ville the Rev. G. L. Jenkins of Talladega and Ira Hawkins of the Florence district. Six of these gentlemen will be subject to changes as their terms have expired
 To Be Busy Session
 This session of the conference which is being attended by ministers from all over the northern section of the state will be one of the busiest ever held as there are quite a number of lm- portant matters to come before the body for consideration.
 Thus far about 300 delegates and ministers have arrived though at least 200 or more are expected to reach the city today as quite a number will be unable to reach the city in time for the opening session, An entertainment committee Is at the church to render whatever assistance possible to the visitors The bishop will make a short talk before the conference this morn ing, after which the regular work will begin
 Last night Rev. c. M. Read of Gads- den presided over the meeting of the conference brotherhood, an insurance association. Rev. J. &. Johnson, chair man of the board of trustees, presided over a meeting of the trustees of the superannuated homes, which was held last evening at the church
 756 Churches
 Some figures regarding the churches throughout the conference might be of interest. The total membership of the churches of the conference last year was S9,396, there being 756 churches which had a total valuation of nearly million and half dollars, the par sonages beikg valued at something like $400,000. The other church property Is vlued at $S1,000. Last years report shows that the total amount of money subscribed by the churches of the con- ference during the last year amount ed to s510,040.17.
 In addition to the sermons which will be delivered every evening during the conference, next Sunday both morn ing and evening the various pulpits in Birmingham will be filled by visiting Methodist ministers The conference will adjourn Monday. ATTN nIn nEAT 1H1AlI1