The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-01
METHODISTS OF ALABAMA GATHER
Continued From Page One)

progress in their districts during the
 year. They followed one after the other in order and from each elder, who is in charge of certain churches in given territory, told of the progress made and the discourage ment met during the twelve months past. It was gratifying for Ensley Methodists to hear that the report of
 Rev. Keener N. Matthews. presiding elder of the Bessemer district was
 excellent. The report indicated that this district has added to Its mem- bership and that financially the work
 of all the Methodist churches meas ured up to the fondest hopes of it's members This characterized the re- port of the remaining twelve elders. The statements were made by vari- ous clergymen present that the re- port of the elders were perhaps the
 most gratifying that have been made at any recent conference. There was
 marked absence of financial diff
 culties while the rolls have been
 materially strengthened during the past 12 months.
 The afternoon session of the con- ference was devoted to an address by pastor of the First Methodist church. He has recently returned from a trip to the Holy Land. pr. Freeman was able to paint picture of great beauty and ended by indicating that God had
 6 purpose Of selecting a barren coun-
 try to communicate with his proph- cts and in which to have His Son
 born. He said that religion was the
 only course of lasting peace for which all hungered and that he be- lieved in giving militant religion to this country and the world.
 Committees To Report.
 The afternoon session of various standing committee were not com pleted but 1t is expected that sev- eral interesting committee and board reports will be ready for the con- ference Thursday. It was indicated
 Wednesday that all of the commit tees were engaged in threshing out problems before them and that all of
 the meetings were being fully at tended. By arrangements with vari- ous denominations here the commit tees have been assigned rooms at the
 various churches and at the Bank of Ensley. The Baptist church, the Christian church and the Sunday l school annex are being utilized for | committee meeting.
 Cabinet Session Held.
 The first session of the bishop and his cabinet was held Wednesday aft ernoon st the home of Mrs. D. F.
 Faircloth with Bishop Candler pre-
 siding. He was not present at the initial meeting of the cabinet held Tuesday as a preliminarykto the con-
 ference. The cabinet was engaged
 in going over the names of the vari-
 ous ministers with the object in view
 of assigning them for the new year.
 No announcements will be made ss
 to where the ministers are to be sent until Monday afternoon. However
 there has been several instances where boards of stewards have taken advantage of the new ruling that
 where a petition Is offered by such a
 board the minister will be returned.
 This step will be taken in the case of
 Rev. George Stuart of Birmingham,
 who has been at the First Methodist church in Birmingham for several years. He will be returned to the
 First church in Birmingham, accord l ing to all indications.
 Other than to discuss assignments the cabinet was not troubled with any further work, it was stated. However the cabinet will. it is stated,
 meet every day until the conference
 Is over, discussing and determining
 those problems which come within
 the province of their activities.