The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-10-21

Those who are informed know that
the Memphis Conference was the first
to agitate for first-class school. 1t
was in Memphis that the Conference
was held which resulted in several
Conferences (eighD projecting a
school which grew so rapidly that,
following Chancellor Kirklands re-
quest in 1897, it was turned over by
these Conferences to the General
Conference in 1898. When this great
school, under the skilled hand of the
Chancellor, slipped from the Church
in 1914, the Memphis Conference
was the first of the above Conferences
to secure money to build memorial
building at Emory University. At
ter helping to establish Vanderbilt
University, the Conference began to
establish training schools. We point
to them with this comment: they
rank with the best. The reason, you
can see, why we have no great school
in our bounds is that we struck a
sacrificial blow in order to advance
the cause of educatioa.
In a few weeks we will open in
Memphis, Tenn, on eight and one
half acres of ground, the best
equipped hospital in the South, to
date, most of the money coming from
the Memphis Conference, Mississippi
and Arkansas aiding grsStly in this
great work.
Memphis, Tenn, in 1889 had five
charges, with 1900 members. Now
in the same territory, twenty
charges, with 1885 members; popu-
lation, 162,251. Birmingham had
in 1889 ten charges; in 1920, thirty
five charges: population, 1920.
Louisville had in 1889 IL charges;
now %, with SAP members; popu-
lation, 234,891. Nashville had in
1889 Is charges, with 5,742 mem
bers; now % charges, with 1906
members; population, 118,342 Chat
tanooga, charges, now 10; popula-
ton, 1888.
Many towns have church buildings
that would grace any city.
We have had some fine help from
without. We welcome such. We
have been equally generous to other
Conferences, but the major part of
the above has been done by those
who were reared in the territory.
Candor compels us to say that some
weak and even wicked men have
been thrust upon the Conference. If
interpret the Conference spirit it
is: when the principal places are
filled, for Church to call for or the
bishop to transfer man to leading
place without transferring some one
out of a similar place, not only dis
turbs the morale of the Conference
but is contrary to the genius of our
Methodism."
At the last session of the Confer
ence, held in Mayfield, KY, Bishop
Atkins said: mo wiser o. saner plan
has or can be inaugurated than the
Memphis Conference has TO secure
homes for the superannuated preach
ers and the widows and orphans of
deceased preachers"
The Memphis Conference is the
only Conference in the above list
that has never furnished bishop or
co1 ectional officer. She has moved
On the principle Gin honor preferring
one another" But she has worked
The territory
This year at Junaluska there were
four persons who completed the full
course. Mr.. Pepper from the stand
said: II am proud of the fact that
half of the highest honors go to the
Memphis Conference Bishop At
xins, taking Brother and Sister WV.
Adams by the hand, said: Il want to
the Memphis Confer
snce." These two held the whole
Church on $3.50 basis for the hon
,rs bestowed. What more shall say?
II no man can paint a picture
anger than himself, then the Mem
,his Conference must have wisdom,
and grace. Is she ex-
Nay! With undimmed
yes and undated strength, she
tands at attention and at the bid
ling of the Master will let down
he net.-Midland Methodist.