The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-09-12
Are Interesting and Helpful
Contributions in Convention
With. State Meeting.
contributed. !

ssl1lA otah0 WieetillY.
(Cpntributed.)
The following relates to the West
'ern Virginia Conference Of the Meth
odtst Episcopal church, South, which
1SHhplding its annual session in st
Pauls1 church here: M
There Is q shade Of significance in
Inc term conference as used by Meth
odtsts which is entirely. distinctive.
q NO other organization has 30 stand
1rdized the word. It is as much q par.
~ alcoholism idom as the; WORD
preacher or bishop. We. all know
what 1t means.
% the i've conferences" known
TO us. no one is more significant in
The sense Of Its personal and intimate
relation than the annual conference
because 1t fixes the stations OF the
preachers. and furnishes the charges
with pastors, It has an almost cur
aous and surely. a very personal mean
Ing to all within its bounds.
The emphasis however is some-
times misplaced. In the itinerary
the theory is that other things are
gilmore moment than the mere maxi
Ing q appointments. That is to say,
that the man is placed with reference
TO the needs Of the work. and from
no other object whatever.
Important Items Overlooked.
1t then is clear than when most Of
the interest attaching to the session
or an annual conference is to SUR
mise who win be our preacher" or
where will go. |" we have overlook
ed items OF importance which because
OF their more personal relation es-
cape our attention.
While there are serious. and even
pathetic features to the matter Of ap-
polntments. and 1t means much to the
people and preachers, as well as the
families OF the preachers, yet we
should not forget the we'll KNOW
theory Of Afethodism that all this
planning is for the good Of the great
work OF the kingdom or our Lord
Jesus Christ.
The annual conference, therefore,
deals with many other matters which
can in no sense be credited with sec
ondary Importance. For IN the work
OF the committees and the actions Of
the conference lie the foundations for
1.-THE progressive prosperity produc-
ing activity OF the year. Here It Is
that the outlines Of the conference
work are traced, and the annual sur
yey OF the field protracted.
We may with profit consider some
OF these questions, not comprehen-
stvely, but with the intention of re-
freshing our minds as to the various
interests to be considered in the an
uual gathering.
Missionary Work Leads.
The missionary work easily leads
all others in interest, for 1t is the
basis Of all growth. and contains
within Its own amplitude almost the
entire list OF activities.
II is the business Of the confer
Fence to lay out this work upon the
most liberal grounds. 1T must pro-
vide for the education Of the church.
the emphasis Of the commission, and
+ the collection of the funds Upon the
suficiency OF this provision depends
THE success Of this greatest Of all the
demands upon US. Itwonld be a great
day for our conference when one Of
its most successful and religious men
began to devote his entire time to the
SuAt1NdklOu VI lUlS uelQ. I.ls-st q
In close relation to the above stands
the educational work. The proper
training Of our youth Is the future
hope Of the church. Left entirely to
secular Influences. our young people
Will come 10 maturity without thosa,
mad and steadfast conceptions of Goa
and His relation to human interests
Wnlcn alone can stem the foods OF
modern thought.
the discussion by great men of the
failure OF the religious institutions
OF learning to emphasize essential
sthlngs does not touch our own mod
est schools as 1t does the more pre-
tentious ones We are proud of the
record and products of our schools.
But 1t is needful that we put more
real energy into our cooperation
with them. -
Silly Mistake.
The silly mistake made in miny
states OF placing the Bible In the class
of sectarian books, which "a the ef-.
1ect OF the law and practice. makes
u more imperative that we plan
careIully Tor the maintenance OF the
institutions under our care.
Our general board of education
VIII make some radical recommends
tons to us. all Of which merit our
careful attention. and hearty APPROX
al as a conference.
The Sunday school work has per-
maps shown more visible progress
within the last decade than any other
department. 1t Is worth nothing that
IN the per cent OF Sunday school
scholars to church members, our con-
ference is leading the church. I not
absolutely the highest, it is among
those standing at the head. This con
ference will no doubt give to this
cause such encouragement and help
as may appear to be needed, and will