The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-23
CONFERENCE WILL
MEET AT STAUNTON
Bishop Kilgo to Preside at SEES
sions Which Begin Next
"Wednesday.
INTERESTING STATISTICS
Randolph Macon Matter May
Come Up for Further
Consideration.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l

Especial to The Times Dispatc h.]
Staunton, Va, March 22-The Bal
timore Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. is one of the
strongest of the more than two-score
conferences in that church. and the
fact that ii is the only conference
that holds it's annual session in the
spring of the year gives it distinct
position in the church calendar.
Wednesday, morning OF next week
the Baltimore conference will con-
vene i'll the Methodist Church OF
stanton, in its one hundred and TWEEN
ty-ninth annual session. Bishop John
{. Kilgo, of Durham. \. c., will be the
presiding ocffier an dthi swill be the
first time that he has held this con-
ference. This will be the fifth time
this conference has been held in
Staunton, the other years when that
city was it's meeting place having
been 1874. 1856. 1897 and 1907. When
this conference adjourned its session
in. Roanoke year ago. the place OF
meeting for this year had not been
named, but the choice was left in the
hands OF special committee and 4
few weeks later Staunton was named
Rev d. IL. Kern is pastor OF the
church In which the sessions Of the
conference viii lbe held. and for sew
eral weeks past he, as the host OF
gagged with the work of securing en-
tertainmcnt for the preachers and lay
men who constitute this body, and he
has been ably assisted In this work
by special committees. The homes of
Methodist people in Staunton ana
those OF other denominations as we'll,
will be open TO the conference dele
gates, and most hospitable entertain
ment will be provided for oil who are
present.
The Baltimore conference Is divided
into seven districts, and its territory
extends into parts Of Virginia. West
Virginia. Maryland and the District
Of Columbia. The membership of the
annual sessions consists of all of the
preachers connected with the confer
encc and four lay delegates from each
of the seven districts
Interesting Statistics.
In connection with the coming ses-
sion OF the conference the following
statistics are OF int6rest. The num-
Der OF local preachers in the Balti-
more conference is cighty-siX; the
total number OF members OF the
church is 6l.li1; the number Of in
tants baptized last year was 1.Sl4; the
number OF adults baptized, 2,09G; num-
her OF Epworth Leagues reported last
Year, 23S, with q membership Of TO-
SSS number OF sunday schools, 6l2:
officers and teachers in the sunday
schools $3.50; scholars in the sunday
schools 55,30l The amount OF the as
sessmcnt on this confercnc cfor super
annuate preachers and widows Gnd or
phans Of preachers was $4,000 last
year aud the amount paid on this as
scssmcn, was sls.4I5; the amount
paid for foreign missions. sl6525;
amount paid for domestic missions,
sll,Si2; amount paid for church extern
sion. s9.55I; amount paid 10 tho Amer
lean Bible Society, $ll06; amount
paid FOR the support OF presiding cl-
dcrs. s13.i96: amount paid for the
support Of preachers in charge. $lo2,-
76. amount paid for the support OF
bishops, s3.lJ1. The probability is
that the reports that will he sub
miticd during the conference session
In Staunton will show encouraging
growth in the church membership and
organizations and decided increase in
the contributions 10 a number OF the
claims OF the conference.
The different correctional interests
Of the church Will he represented by
the secretaries OF those interests who
will attend the session as visitors,
1t is probable that two bishops will
be present AT this session Of the con-
ference. and IL may lie three in adj
dition TO Bishop Kilgo the presiding
officer Of the body, il Is not unlikely
that Bishop .Nlcphus w Wiis"a. OF
Baltimore, and Bishop ColIus Denny.
OF Richmond. Will be present, both OF
! whom were members OF The Baltimore
conference when elected 10 the cpis-
copscy No other conference in the
/ connection numbers two Of the bishops
I Of the church no wlivinE as former
members.
twenty Eight Necessary Changes.
There are 49, pastoral charges in the
who sustain tho relation Of pastor TO these
I charges twenty eight will he appointed
10 Other charges during the coming session
years time limit OF the economy Of
/ southern Mcthodism.
conference. which is rarely lacking in in
,cres, i, is not unlikely that other matter.
/ also Among the latter there may he fur
doph Macon matter" which he has been a
special feature OF the sessions OF the Raj
,i'nore aud virginia Conferences for several
years. II viii bc remembered that one year
ago protest against tho action OF the
conference in tho Randoiph Macon matter
| was presented 10 the conference the pro
/ test being signed by eight OF the trustees
81 the college. This protest was agai MS.
that OF the trustee Ghe conference hav-
Ing approved the action OF the trustees
taken by the latter body at the meeting
tor Tho appoval "f the conferencc the
names ~ the persons selected hy the tru..
toes 4" Gii vacancies ia their own body
The substance Of tho protest filed during
. tho conference session at Eoanokc last year
Is follows: We believe the trustees
havo no right TO share with amy Tho
authority and responsibility Of clcctinr
members OF their hosrd. ami 81 is not
proper for the conference TO enter into an
agreement which cont"mplates - breach
OF duty ~ trustees
IL may I've that the repor, OF The commit
tee on Temperance also oN provoke dis
cnssion % more than usual interest TO the
conference this ynsr aEHiU. the case
during the session in Roanoke = year ago.
Tie discussion az that report AT that timc
causcd ono o' The most heated discussions
thai mas taken place on the conference
FLOR Ia recent Years The recommendation
OF tn. report which provoked tho ''Nght''
vas that which pledged the confidence OF
the conference IN the leaders OF tho anti
saloon moycmcnt in virginia aud while
the recommendation WAS adopted finally
the vote IN favor OF the same was NOT
unanimous II the recommendation
is included in the report OF the commit
tee on temperance his year. n ia not IN
likely another animated discussion MAJ
take place
Elected Same Day.
lt Is probable that Bishop KIigo " IN con.
duct the devotional hour with which tho
morning session OF tho conference each dsy