The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-27
MANY CHURCHES
ARE 0VERCR0WDED.
Not Enough Pews to Accommo-
date Members Of Methodist
Congregations.
FACT is SIGNIFICANT
Characters of All Preachers in
Conference Passed on
Opening Day.
tBY MAMIE BAYs.)


stanton. Va, March 26.-Among the
most interesting facts OF which men
uon was made to-day in the opening
session OF the Baltimore Conference
or the Methodist Episcopal Church.
south, was that in a number of the
churches OF the conference there are
not pcws enough to seat the large con-
SreRations that from Sunday to Sunday
attend the services. Bishop Kilgo
stated that this fact is Significant
one. and is worthy of special notice.
particularly at this time. when so much
Is being said and written upon the
subject of the empty pews in the
churches"
f. j. Prettyman. presiding elder of
the Washington District. called atten-
non In his report to the crowded con-
uition or the churches of Southern
Methodism in the capital. and this
elected the remarks Of Bishop Kilgo.
All Held RIameicss
he call OF the twenty-second nues-
ton. Are all the preachers blameless
IN their life and official administra-
ton was begun. and was concluded
probabl that this is the first time In
the history Of this conference that the
call or this question has been com
pleted on the FIRST day OF the session
The names Of the presiding elders were
called first and when their characters
been submitted. the names OF the
preachers In each district were called
rapidly. and each presiding elder an
swered for all of the preachers in his
district The preachers made no re-
ports
IT is a source of qualification to the
baltimore Conference that the aflrma-
tive answer was given to this question
with reference to every member of the
conference. AS is the case with every
conference when this is tn case
During the call OF this question with
reference 10 the members OF the con-
ference who sustain the supernunrer-
airy and the superannuate relation
Bishop Kilgo called attention to the
value OF older preachers to the church.
and said that the church does not an
prcciate them as II should. that neither
younger preachers nor laymen place
sufficient value upon the experience
and spiritual leadership OF preachers
who have grown old in the ministry,
and that the church is loser as the
result OF this lack of appreciation Of
older preachers
This afternoon. Rev. Julius Magath.
missionary to the Hebrews, addressed
tn" conference In the interest OF his
work.
Bishop Wilson breaches.
Bishop Wilson preached In the con
ference church this evening. using as
his text the first verse of the fifty-
eighth chapter of Isaiah. He en- :
phas1cd especially the duty OF the
ministry,
1t IL probable that Bishop Wilson
has the honor of being tho oldest
preacher engaged in the active work
OF the ministry OF tho Methodist Epis-
copal Church. South. He Is seventy
nine year old. ana is yet In active
work, whereas most preachers in the
conference are superannuated at a
much younger age. During the course
Of his sermon this evening he said he
was growing less inclined all the time
TO supcrannuate men so long as they
are able to preach. even II they are
old. He said in this connections Men
of age from whom the spirit OF God
radiates. are worth more to the
church than when younger. What II
they can't speak as well and get
around rapidly as younger men,
their experience and spirituality count
for more than do speech and haste"
He said also that without any spirit
of liberalization he believed that his
preaching now, with his experience Of
nearly eighty years. is worth more
than are the fancies OF younger
preachers.
II. Roth Session.
The conference convened in it's one
hundred and twenty-ninth annual ses-
sion in the Methodist church this morn
ing at o'clock
Bishop John c. Kilgo, Of Durham.
y g. who is to preside over the con-
ference session was in the chair and
conducted the devotional service He
read the second chapter of the Acts
of the Apostles the scripture lesson
upon which he based his remarks.
Speaking OF the Office of the HOLY
Spirit, he said first that II had always
been His Office tn make enectual the
MIL OF the Godhead. and ciicd a number
of instances recorded in scripture in
suOstantiation of this statement The
power of the church, he said always
has been and always will he mea sured
by the presence of the Holy Spirit. and
that the church can have no success or
power except as it is given by the
Holy Spirit.
The trouble is lie said, I'VE are
trying to run the Church to-day on a
schedule which inr tudcs methods that