The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-07
Semi Centennial Of North
 Alabama Conference Is to
 ConUene In GadsdenNoU. 70
Dr. E. M. Glenn Gives Resume of the Conference His tory-Fifty Years of Growth and Development From a Start in What Was Almost Pure
 ly Mission Territory When Opened

The conveninG of the North Alabama conference, M. E. Church. South, at Gadsden this week, is claiming the at- tention of the methodists of the state.
 As the coming session marks the semi-centennial date in the history of the conference, the meeting promises to be a historic one that will be largely attended
 In view of the wonderful progress made by north Alabama Methodism within the last half century, the sketch given herewith, written by pr. E. M. Glenn a prominent member of the con ference, will be read with interest by those who rejoice in the accomplish ments of the past. and who look for ward with faith to the progress of the future. The account, as given by Dr. Glenn himself, follows:
 RETROSPECT
 'The fifty first session of the North Alabama conference, M. E. Church, South, convenes at Gadsoen, a. m. Wednesday, November 10, under the presidency of Bishop James Cannon, Jr.. Rev. W. k. Morris, secretary.
 'On November 16, 1870, at Gadsden, this conference was organized, with Bishop Robert Paine presiding, and J. c. Wilson, secretary The territory embraced had previously been in the Tennessee, the Montgomery and the Mobile conferences. It was a hard field. The larger towns were few, great stretches of country were sparse- ly populated, mission territory abound ed, support was meagfr. But the men who manned the field were of the stuff whereof heroes, saints and martyrs are made-a company worthy succession Of the fishermen of GalileS- and a people sturdy of stock, of mettle fine, of pur- pose true--fit foundation for the church to build upon. And present day conditions are heir to their splendid heroism.
 Tt is fit, that after 50 years. the conference should come again to Gads- den; there to take stock of thS half century of history sf1d achievement and there gird anew for going into the next period. The work will be proper ly reviewed by proper men.
 Tn these 50 years, five sessions have been held at Gads1en, and the same number at Tuscaloosa and at Hunts- vile; four times sessions have been held at Florence, at Talladega and Athens; three at Lafayette, three at Anniston; seven at First church. Bir- mingham, and one each at Oxford, Tuscumbia, Albany, Roanoke, Sylacau- ga, Bessemer, Woodlawn. These IT places which for 50 years have played host for the conference number within their confines more Methodist mem, bers than the whole conference had aN the organization.
 DEVELOPMENT
 The north Alabama conference, in it's nalr century of existence, shows inter- esting development, indicative of fine achievement. Some comparative statis- tics may be illuminating, therefore worth while-as between the growth of the pop ulation in the state and in the confer encc.
 The state, 1870 to 1920, population in- crease was for the fifty years a little under 1S51a per cent-nearly two and three-quarters per cent average per an mum; for the decade, 191o-20. the increase was about nine and three quarters per cent. or little less than one per cent per annum. Birmingham, for 1g10-2O shows increase of 3434 per cent for the period, or not quite three and half per cent per annum.
 North Alabama conference-Members in 1870 about 23,000; at end of 1919, 11O, AS rate of increase for the period, 3S0 per cent, equal to an average annual n- crease of seven and three-fifth per cent If the conference maintains for 1920 the annual average for 1909-19 the increase for the decade will be s448 per cent; in- dicating that the growth of the confer ence has kept pace with the population growth of the city of Birmingham
 Methoaism in Birmingham, for the ten years, 19o9-19, rose 6.1SS per cent, or nearly six and one-fifth per cent per annum-almost double the rate of pop- ulation increase for the city. That looks like Methodism is doing business in the city as well as in the country.
 THE MINISTER'S
 "The Methodist system of ministerial supply is militaristic--not in that sense which makes Prussian militarism a term of menace and reproach, but in that sense which puts the units of an army subject to placement of wise commander in chief. It therefore stands for the highest measure of ef- ficiency possible to a given body The presiding bishop is the commander presiding elders are his counsellers, in command of subdivisions; pastors the shuskies' to hit the line to, execute orders.
 Tn theory, the choice of a pastors place is religiously left to the bishop and his aides de camp (elders), pre- Cisely as the matter goes in a well ordered military establishment: that's the theory. And it is fairly well lived ap to--with exceptions here and there for ends of convenience and else In exceptional instances, scattered along, a little individual dickering may be dcne--religiously done-by pastor with board of stewards. or board of stewards with bishop or elder, to meet particular conditions But, as rule, Methodist preachers do not poster greatly where they go-but go where tkey are sent, assuming that the or ders have been conceived in wisdom, framed in fairness. always backed by proper authority. And so do Methodist people receive pastors sent--as a rule not pestering much as to who is sent, if he's fairly good preacher and knows how to know people and mix with them. Methodist congregations are usually wondrously kind.
 ~For many years from the organiza- tion of American Methodism the prac- tlce was a short-time pastorate--say six months. In those days. the ques- ten was, "Can he go? Eventually the pastoral limit was fixed at four years; then the question was, Can lie stay?'' Some years ago. Northern Methodism removed the time-limit en- tirely Some pastoral terms were thereby smartly lengthened-but not all of them. Tn 1918, the Southern Methodists set up provisional time limit in effect, saying that the request of a quarterly conference. backed by q majority of the presiding elders, war rants the bishop in appointing pas tor beyond four years to the same church. That law is now in operation; that is. 1t is on the statute book; and ia 1.atn a6 a