The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-19
METHOD|STS WILL
MEET At ROANOKE
ls8th Annual Session of Balti-
more Conference Opens on
March 26.
Especial 10 The Times-DIspatch. I

Especial to Tho Times DIspatchl
Charlotte, y. c.. March IA reli-
Sious gathering that will interest
especially the members of the Metho-
. dist Episcopal Church. South. In
Maryland. the District OF Columbia and
part OF Virginia and west virginia
VIII be the. 12Sth annual session OF
the Baltimore Conference. which will
convene In koanuke on Tuesday OF
next week. March 20 The Baltimore
Conference is ono of the oldest con-
ferences i'll the church. and It has a
history that Is filed with interest and
the record of accomplishment.
The Baltimore conference is COM !
posed Of seven Observation-Disclosures.
Washington. Winchester, Rockingham.
Roanoke, LewsburS and MoorcilcId
districts. The number of travelling
preachers In the conference Is 225: the
number OF local preachers Is IL and
the total number OF members In the
conference, according To the last re-
port, Is $4,000. 1t IL probable that the
report to be submitted by the pastors
during the session OF the conference
this year will show an Increase in
membership during the year just clos
Ing.
During last year the rite of bap-
tisn was administered to 1910 infants
within the bounds of the Baltimore
Conference, and the same rite was ad
Ininistered TO 1864 adults. Other IN
terestins figures connected with the
conference arc the following; The
number OF Senior Epworth Leagues is
ia. with u membership OF 7,76b; mum
Der of Junior Epworth Leagues, 90.
with q membership OF 1851. giving IL
total membership OF 1896; number
or sunday schools. e07; number of
officers and teachers. 5,e7I: number OF
sunday school scholars. 55,e32.
The last report submitted shows that
last year tho Baltimore Conference
was assessed $4,000 for the support
OF superannuated preachers and the
widows and orphans of preachers. and
that tho conference paid on this as
sessment 1l7os7: Invested funds
amounting 10 1856 were report
cd for this cause also, giving a
total amount contributed for confer
cace claimants OF $1,000. The coz.
terence contributed for foreign mis-
tions s1T.0s7: for domestic missions.
sl3.5o2: special fund 10 the western
Virginia Conference OF s5i5; TO church
extension. sS.isG 10 the American
Bibio Society. 1906. Tho total amount
contributed for tho support Of the
seven presiding elders was si2.u3S;
TO tho support of preachers In Charge,
yl47,e3s. and TO the support OF
bishops. t2.66s.
Contributions for Educntion.
The educational statistics show tina:
the conference contributed for cduca-
tional extension sl.3i9; for Randolph
Macon College. se,1IJ; special amoun,
contributed on Children's Day. sI,2o5
making total for educational ext.u-
sion OF $3.50 Under the toint patron.
age OF the baltimore Conference ana
the Virginia Conference are Tho edu-
cat!onal institutions known Us Tie
"Eandoiph- Macon system" composed
Of randolph Macon College. at Ash
land; Randolph Macon Woman's Col
cgc. LyDchhurg: Randolph Macon
Academy. at Front Royal: Randolph
Macon Academy. at Bedford City. and
Randolph Macon Institute, at Danviile,
the total value of the property OF these
institutions being ss92.33i. and. add
tional 30 this, an endowment OF $3.50,
3ii on Randoip PHI Macon College, aid
S2ll.500 on Randolph Macon Woman's
college. Additional TO tNeEe. .nc
baltimore Conference has under its
patronage the Southern Seminary
system" including the Southern Sem!
nary. at Buena Vista. ami the Allie
ghany Collegiate Institute. at Alder
SON W. Va. with a total property
value OF sl22,OOo
The presiding officer OF the session
OF the conference which begins next
week Will be Bishop w. Il Murrah OF
jackson. Miss This will be tho first
time that Bishop Murrah has held the
Baltimore conference, ana his prcsl
dcncy will be anticipated with interest.
He was elected TO the episcopacy at
the session OF the General Conference
OF the Methodist Episcopal Church.
South, which was held IL Ashcville in
1910, and while he is known to be a |
man of exceedingly modest personality,
he is known also TO be Inc OF the
ablest men in the college OF bishops o:
his church. Before his election to the
eriscoRacy, Bishop Murrah was pres-
dent Of A1illsaps College. at Jackson.
Miss. and his years OF work there were
marked by distinct success.
Fourth Time IN Itoanoke.
The first session OF the Baltimore
Conference held in Roanoke was in
1896; ii was held there again in 1901
and again in 1905; hence this year will
be tho fourth time Roanoke has been
the seat of the conference. The ses-
sion this year Will be held in the Bel
mont Church, which ranks third In
strength of the seven Methodist
churches in Roanoke. This church is
composed of an active membership
under the leadership OF Rev. j. II. Bean.
who is the present pastor. The mem
bership of this church will be assist
cd by the membership of ether churches
In extending most cordial welcome and
hospitable entertainmcnt to the con
ference.