The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-11-09
RISHOP KILGO WILL PRESIDE
OVER CONFERENCE FOR FIRST
TINE. \ PROSPEROUS YEAR.

November is conference month
for Georgia MethOdists.
According to statistics in the 1914
year book there were 213,930 men,
beers of the Methodist Episcopal
church in the state This is the total
membership, including itinerant and
local preachers.
There are 1,649 congregations in
the state. The value of their houses
of worship is $4,611,595.
For all purposes these churches
raised last year 81, 424,501.
The reports for the current year
will show an increase in membership
and progress along many lines.
The North Georgia Conference will
meet at Rome November 10. Bishop
Collins Denny will preside for the
fourth consecutive time.
The North Georgia body is one of
the largest conferences in Method
ism. 1t has over 10000 members.
The South Georgia Conference num-
bers between $500 and $4,000.
Bishop KiIgo Will Preside.
The South Georgia Conference will
meet at Cordele November "a. Bish-
op John c. Kilgo will preside. This
will be Bishop Kilgo's first visit to
Georgia as a presiding officer, al
though he is well known in the state.
He is one of the captains and leaders
of Methodism, an eloquent preacher
with evangelistic gifts.
Bishops Kilgo and Gambler have
been campaigning recently in Georgia
for the new Emory University, Of
which the latter is chancellor. For
years Bishop Kilgo was president of
Trinity college in North Carolina. His
Episcopal residence is in Charlotte,
n. C.
Cordele Prepared.
COrdele. where the conference will
meet, has a strong Methodist congre-
CATION. Rev. Walter Anthony is the
pastor. He is very popular in Cor
dele, where he has done splendid
work for two years. The Cordele
Methodists have just completed a
handsome church building, one of
the best in the conference.
Rev. j. P Wardlaw is presiding
elder of the Cordele district. He and
Mr. Anthony, with a committee Of
laymen, will have charge of the con-
ference entertainment
The Cordele people express them
selves as well pleased at having the
conference, and the preachers and
laymen are real glad to spend a
week in this growing South Georgia
city.
Three Hundred Ministers.
There are about 900 preachers in
the body, and perhaps half that num-
Der of laymen There are four lay
delegates from each of the ten pre-
siding elders districts, and a number
of others who serve on boards and
committees.
Rev. w. F. Smith, who was for four
years a resident of Dawson as presid-
ing elder Of this district, will be re-
elected to the office of conference sec
rotary, which he has held for several
years. Rev. T. II. Thomson is his
first assistant. Rev. 0. F. Cook, a
former Dawson pastor, is chief of the
statistical force. Rev. J. A. Smith is
editor of the conference year book.
The business sessions will be held
in the mornings. In the afternoons
the bishop and presiding elders Will
confer about the appointments for
1916. Making all these assignments
is no small task for those men who
are charged with the responsibility
of providing for so many churches
and pastors.
A large part OF the conference
work is done by boards and commit
tees. These meet in the afternoons
and evenings.
There will also be preaching each
afternoon and each evening by some
member of the conference or visiting
minister.
The Presiding Elders.
The ten presiding elders who will
assist Bishop Kilgo are Rev. J. NJ.
Glenn, Macon; Rev J. B. tombstone,
Savannah; Rev J. P. Chatfield, Co
lumbus; Rev. w. H. Budd, ValdOsta;
Rev E. F. Morgan, Thomasville; Rev.
T. D. Ellis, d. D., Dawson; Rev. J. P.
Wardlaw, Cordele; Rev. I. P. Tison,
Waycross; Rev L. A. Hill, McRae;
Rev. B. Anthony, d. D., Dublin.
Rev. j. P Chatfeld is a new man
in the cabinet of elders. He was ap-
pointed to fill the place of Rev. A. NJ.
Williams, who died while serving the
Columbus district.
Rev. B. Anthony, Rev. w. H. Budd
and Rev. L. A Hill are serving their
fourth year in the eldership, which
means that they will not be reap
pointed. In all likelihood they will
go into the pastorate and three now
serving as pastors will be sent to
these districts.
1t is probable that Rev ]. NJ. Out