The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-10
DENNY TO PRESIDE
AT CONF ERENCE
Mcthodists OF Virginia Meet in
Annual Session in Danvillc
on Tuesday.
IMPORTANCE OF EVANGELISM
Special Emphasis Probably Will
BE Laid on This Subject
by Bishop.
IMPORTANCE OF EVANGELISM
ny MAMIE HAYS.

DaEvi!le Va. November o.--rhe Viz
ginia Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. south, which viii
convene IN its l5lst. annual session on
Tuesday morning, in Main street
Church. this city. will have for it's
presiding officer Bishop Collins Denny.
Of Richmond. This Will be the first
time that Bishop Denny hag come to
the Virginia conference. as its preSid
ing officer by order OF the plan OF Epis-
copnl visitation. rs outlined by the col
leBc of bishops. lie is, however. not
a stranger to this conference. as no
assisted Bishop Alphcus w. Wilson in
presiding over the session OF the CON
ference held at Lynchburg one year
ago In addition to his duties as the
president OF the conference, II IS prob
able that Bishop Denny will conduct
the devotional service with which tho
morning session will begin each day.
lie is recognized To be one or the most
thorough students and ono or the
ablcst preachers Of tile Methodist E.pis-
copal Church, South. and presiding
officer OF marked executive ability
Ii is probable that special emphasis
VIII be placed upon the Importance OF
evangelism during this session Of tho
conference In the other conferences
over which Bishop Denny has presided
THIS year ho has called attention to
tho Importance OF Il great awakening
, Of tho cvangelistic spirit throughout
thc church. and has Expressed the opin-
ion that "one of tho outstanding foa-
lures Of Drcsent-day Southern Meth
odism is q pronounced and emphatic
stress on real. sane and saving evan
Gellsnl lie says that this return to
tho enthusiastic evangelism that seeks
ana saves is more marked To be sure.
IN some sections of the church than
! In others. hut it is spreading all over
! the church, and that preachers ana
people arc realizing that the first work
OF the church Is to 70 after sinners. .
| Personal piety." he says "in the man
who goes and a fiery zeal to search and
/ iind tho man who needs Christ, and is
lost TIL he finds Him. is now realized
| by ministers as OF ilrst importancc
and this seeking to have the altar fircs
/ OF evangelism kirGlcd Is more ferveut
| heat and farther shining glow, II, af-
| Ter all, the one great need OF the
/ church to-day. Social services arc in
their places good and right, but tho
lost world needs far more salvation
| from sin than II does elevation from,
| undesirable surroundings The latter
! Will follow when tho former is oh
| tanned"
During recent years, there has beer
but small number OF additions to III,
( church on profession or faith In man,
or the conferences, especially whcr
tho number OF pastoral charges nno
pastors are taken into consideration
! and the bishops of tho church have
/ been urging pastors and members &c
/ iabor especially for great awaken
ing OF the evaneelistlc spirit. The re.
! n
| conferences this year with reference
TO the addition OF members on nrofes.
sion OF faith, and the average net In
/ crease TO each pastoral charge, will be
I neard with interest. interest that will
! ne moro marked on account OF the
/ 1act that this is the last year OF tho
| quadrennium previous to the general
conference Of 1914. Last year the nc,
| increase OF members In the Virginia
conference. from additions on profes-
sion or faith and by certificate and
otherwise, was 2.077. which was about
/ eight and one-siXth members as tho
net Increase of each pastoral charge
IN tho conference. there being in thi,
conference 25S pastoral charges. |,
may DO that. owing to evanrelistic OF.
tort IN special meetings and In tho
| regular services Of the church during
me past year. the net increase OF mem.
oers as submitted in tho reports 10 m,
conferences this year. will be much
larger than those OF last year.
II Is expected that the business &c
ne transacted by the Virginia Confer.
chce this year Will require M entire
meeh' anu II was In order that Rishor
Denny might be ablo TO remain tho mi
week that tho opening of tho confcr.
| cnce was advanced one dnv
!