The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-29
CONFERENCE END
IS NEAR AT HAND.
Question of Granting Rights Of
Laity to Women of Church
Deferred for One Year.
THREE BISHOPS
Reports on Randolph Macon
Matter and Temperance Not
Yet Submitted.
nv MAMIE RAYS

BY MAMIE BAYS.
Staunton, Va, March 3S.-rhe busi-
ness of the Baltimore Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Chsrch, South, is
moving forward rapidly, and unless
some unexpected discussion Is sprung
that will delay the CLOSE. 1t s likely
the appointments will be lead some
time Monday. aud the conference win
adjourn.
a large part Of the minute business
was disposed of to-day. and the re-
nainder probably will be transacted
tomorrow, thus leaving little on the
conference calendar to be considered
except the reports Of the conference
boards and committees. the selection
of the place for holding the next ses-
sion OF the conference and the recciv-
ing of the appointments.
The fact that the report of the COM
mittee on Sabbath observance was pre-
scented and adopted to- day as was re-
port No. OF the committee on pub
fishing interests. and the further fact
that the matter of the granting OF the
rights of the laity to the women of the
church has been disposed OF, so far
as this session OF the conference Is
concerned, reduces considerably the
work OF tho remaining days OF the
session.
The anticipated discussion OF the
question OF granting to the women OF
the church equal rights with the laity
was prevented by the decision to de-
fer the matter until the session OF the
conference. ono year hence. and then
TO bring Ii up as a memorial to the
general conference.
]. B. Henry presented the paper to day
which favored granting tho rights of
the laity to the women, and which
requested that the matter be referred
to committee composed of three MEM
members of tho conference, this COM
mittee to report during this session.
f. j. Prettyman presented sub
stitute to the paper, I'm which the wom-
en- of the church were assured Of the
appreciation OF the church of their
work and interest, but which recon-
mended that the relation they now
sustain to the church Is more salts
factory than would be that recon-
mended in tho original paper.
Before action was taken on the sub
stitute. II. NJ. Hamill requested that
the substitute be withdrawn and that
the original paper be not considered
during this session of the conference,
but that during the session OF next
year II hc presented in the form of a
memorial TO the general conference
and be placed in the hands OF the COM
mittee on memorials to the general
conference, which this conference will
appoint next year.
Goes Over for One Eear.
DR.. Prettyman acceded to this re-
quest and withdrew his substitute, and
the motion of DIR. HamIll, with refer
cnce to the paper. prevailed.
Bishop John q. kilSo, Bishop Alpheus
w. Wilson and Bishop Collins Denny
were present during the session of the
conference to-day, and it is proba BILE
- IL
tor of the Baltimore conference
when three bishops were present dur
ing one session. At the request OF
Bishop Kilgo, Bishop Denny presided
during part of the session to-day.
If delay in the adjournment Of the
conference is occasoned by the report
to be submitted by any of the boards
and committees. it is likely that 1t
Will be the report OF the board of edu-
cation. to which the paper regarding
the Randolph Macon matter was sub
United on the first day of the session,
and the report OF the committee on
temperance.
The conference convened mt o'clock.
Bishop kilgo conducted the opening
devotional service. After the singing
of the opening hymn, he called upon
Bishop Collins Denny,to lead the prayer
and he did SO.
The scripture lesson. which Bishop
chapter of the Epistle TO the Romans
The first thought in the lesson which
he emphasized was that sonship does
not exist outside Of Jesus Christ, and
there is no sonship in nature. He
showed that the relation of Jesus
Christ to God establishes the father
hood OF God and the sonship of Jesus
Christ and of all Who come TO God
through Him. He called attention next
TO the sovereignty of Gods freedom
and showed that freedom asserts itself
not only in religious form, but In DO
litical form also.
hevivals without Method.
Speaking of REVEALS of religion,
Bishop KilSo said that 10 amount of
method can bring revival. and that
when revival comes il runs without
method.
emphasizing the Importance OF the
recognition of the sovereignty of tile
will OF God, Bishop Kilgo called at
tention to an expression OF Bishop
wilson TO him He designated Bishop
Wilson as the greatest preacher he
knew. The following is the expression
to which he called attention: II am
not so much interested as to what was
in Paufs mind when he was writing
his letter to the Romans, but 1 am
concerned about what was in the mind
of God when He was writing through
Taurs pen"
Bishop Silgo then made reference to
what is known as liberal theology"
and said: Liberal theology is no rec
ognition of Gods liberty, but is lust
the opposite"
Speaking further Of the freedom OF
the Holy Spirit Bishop ISilgo said
Some men in our church are afraid
TO have the Holy Spirit come along for
fear He VIII make them do something
the Presbyterians will not like and that
the papers will write about I want
the Holy SPIRIT to come among us as
often az He will and with His own ad-
ministration. | have no criticism of
Fills administration in the life of others
and resent any criticism OF His ad-
ministration in my life.
Let US take off the hands from the
hands Of the Holy Spirit and let Him
have free course In our church and
In our lives"
Roll of Members Called.
The roll OF the members OF the con-
TO-