Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-11-19
GREAT INTEREST
in CONFERENCE
Rev. Wheeler, of Arkadel-
phia Preached Strong
Sermon.
SESSION TODAY
Bishop kilgo Arrives and Will Pre-
side Over Conference This
Week.
FIRST SESSION TODAY

Formal opening of the annual Meth
odist Conference took place at Lake
side Methodist Church last night
when a sermon to under-g graduates was
delivered by Rev. H. E. Wheeler. of
Arkadelphia. 1t is an annual custom
to deliver such sermon to the mem
bers of the first, second and third
ear of classes of men who are enter
ing upon the ministry and who have
yet to reach the fourth year before
they have obtained full membership
into the conference.
Rev. Wheelers delivered powerful
sermon, one that will be remembered
and one which was intended to be of
guidance to those who heard him, and
of interest as we'll to those who came
not as members Of these classes.
Previous to the sermon, a solo was
rendered by j. A. Sage Jr. The open
ing prayer was delivered by Rev.
Stonewall Anderson, of Nashville,
Tenn, Secretary of the General Blu
reau of Education and benediction
was pronounced by Rev. Marion
Monk, member of the conference.
The regular business session OF the
conference will commence at 9 o'clock
this morning. AS is the habit of the
sessions generally, the routine bust
mes will be taken up in calling list
of questions pertaining to the con-
ference work. The minutes will be
read after Bishop J. C. Kilgo has rap
ped the gavel, and this will include
those who are active menisters OF the
conference and those who are lay del
egates and visitors in correctional
work of the church. AS a general
matter, the passing of the characters
of the various ministers is taken up
up during the first portion of the SEES
sion so that there may be full under
standing. This is a yearly proceeding.
If there is any charge of whatsoever
kind against a pastor, such is brought
to light, but it is rare that such is
the case.
Bishop Kilgo arrived yesterday aft
ernuoon and while in Pine Bluff will
be the guest of Mr.. and Mrs. A. Brew
ster of West Seventeenth avenue.
Many notables of the Methodist
church will attend this conference.
Lakeside church is commodious
edifice, capable of holding large aud
fence, as was evidenced last night,
and it is expected that there will be
large attendance. Bishop kllgo.
who is to preside over the sessions
is one of the best liked Of the bishops
and has a habit Of presiding in a gen
ial manner that wins commentator.
Whether there will be any drastic
measures taken or not is uncertain.
as there has been nothing done along
that line as yet. 1t may be that there
may be an effort made along the
temperance line owing to the fight
which is on in Pine Bluff, but it is
not certain that the conference will
take this up.
Among those who will attend the
conference and who will speak is DR..
John r. Stewart, secretary and treas
urer Of the Board of Trust who has
direct charge of the Endowment Fund,
and who will tell of this work. He
has lust made the round of several
conferences on his present swing
around the southwest and reports
that he has met with much success
so far.
While the conference sessions hold
the center Of interest, it cannot be
denied that among the ministers es-
pecially there is a great deal OF In
terest in regard to the future ap-
Monuments. This matter is in the
hands of Bishop Kilgo and his cab
met, which is composed of the pre-
siding elders of this conference. 1t is
nm to them to decide where ministers
will be sent or whether they will re-
main at their present stations, with
Of course the final deciding power In
the hands Of the bishop. The bishop
and his cabinet will not get down to
the actual work Of framing the ap-
pointments, however, until about Fri
day or Saturday.
The Joint board Of finance OF the