The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-19
Church GROWTH
SEEN IN REPORTS
BY METHOD|STS
conference Has Increased in
Numbers, Property and Zeal
Tor Work as Reflected by
Presiding Elders Accounts.


sCapt. G, T. Fitzhugh welcomed the
Matss MNeltessa5es 10 the annual gathering of the
eelouist 1n,'in, conference at O'Clock We'd
Ssssuay Ss morning in ringing address at
ot; johns church. Following the roll
cali OF delegates and response TO the
welcome address by Bishop James At
hns, president Of the conference, the
actual business began. Reports of pre-
s.,os s eluers Followed and adjournment
remarkable growth in the numbers as
Wen as In acquisition of physical prop
erty and increase in zeal of the laitv as
Wen as the clergy was shown in the
reports Of the elders. Similar optimistic
accounts are anticipated at the Sunday
day evening.
sermon by the Rev. A. P. Water
nefd, OF Union City, was on the pro-
gram Tor the opening Of the afternoon
session, and committee work will con-
sumo the remainder OF the afternoon.
celebration of the anniversary of the
rounding of the Sunday school board
viii feature the Wednesday evening
meeting of the conference John r.
Pepper will have charge of the meeting.
More than 400 delegates, laymen and
enarcShmen, representing the $4,000
South, In West Tennessee and West
Kentucky are attending the conference.
Intense interest is being maintained in
the proceedings by the membership of
the church throughout the eight dis
trlcts that make up the body,
Officers Re- Elected.
The conference was quickly organ
lied following the formal opening OF
the session by Bishop Atkins. All the
present officers were unanimously re-
elected for the ensuing year. The Of
President--Bishop James Atkins,
Waynesville, N. q.
Secretary--Rey. Ludwell H. Estes,
1905 Euclid avenue, Memphis
AssistaltsRevs. Howell R. Taylor
and Francis B. Jones.
statistical secretary--Rev. w. r.
Pricfard, Sharon, Tenn.
Assistants Revs, John MI Jenkins and
Charles b. clayton.
Historian--Rev. LudwelI Fl. Estes,
l705 Euclid avenue, Memphis.
~ Conterenee 1I,tsE Teiler--Harry ]. Wright.
The ron call showed that nearly all
of the members of the conference were
present
Following the address of well
come by Capt. Fitzhugh. Bishop Atkins
responded in gracious manner, In
which he reviewed the record that the
Methodists Of the South had made,
showing that throughout the nation
Southern Methodism has always been
at the forefront, having to its credit
the building Of the first Methodist
church erected in America; the estab-
lishment of seven OF the eight early
schools Of the church. and the leader
ship IN many OF the other activities of
the church.
Bishop W. B. Murrah of Memphis,
who is attending the conference, made
a short talk Wednesday
The two retiring presiding elders, the
Rev. w G. Waters, of Dyersburg dis
trict, and the Rev. w. w. Armstrong,
Of Union City, who have each served
the limit Of time allowed by the church
on their districts, were each given a
splendid token Of love and esteem in
which they are held by the pastors
Of their respective districts.
When the report OF Dr. Waters was
called for, the Rev. r, A. Clark, pastor
Of First church, Covington, Tenn, asked
to be heard, and on behalf of the
preachers Of the Dyersburg district pre-
scented DR.. Waters with leather hand
bag
Likewise the Rev. H. G. Ryan, of
Fulton, Ky, responded when the name
OF DIR. Armstrong was called and pre-
sented him with handsome umbrella,
and for Mrs. Armstrong he presented
set OF silver tableware.
Reports from the districts and pas
torates indicated that the past year
itdS uCVh Oile Oh the most prosperous
that the church conference had had
in the 30 years Of Its organization.
In the Union City district, the Rev.
w. w. Armstrong reported that dur
ing the four years that he has been the
presiding elder, the salaries of the pas
tors have been doubled Four years
ago the average salary Of the ministers
OF that district was 500, he said The
average is now approximately Sl,400.
The district has made decided net in
crease In church membership and Sun
day school work, and the entire indebt-
edness on the church property Is less
than $1,000, a part Of which has been
subscribed.
Commenting on the splendid showing,
Bishop Atkins stated that there never
was better time in the world for paw
ing off church Indebtedness than the
present.
Every preacher in the Memphis dis
trict is to be paid living salary" de-
clared Dr. Sharp, in making his report,
which showed generous increases in
salary for every charge. Every charge
had met'its payments in full, he said,
and there have been between 1900 and
1G1a accessions to the church.
DefiniteN reports were not available
for all of the districts, but the presid-
ing elders assured the conference that
great gains had been made in all de-
partments,