Page 151 - United Brethren Virginia Conferences 1800-1946
P. 151
Volume 7 History of Virginia Conferences of United Brethren December 26, 2024
General Meetings. A Bible Conference was held in Dayton, Va., May 20 to 25, 1907. Rev. Dr.
G. A. Funkhouser, of Union Biblical Seminary, was the instructor. Some 15 or 18 of the ministers
attended. The Young Peoples’ Christian Union held its annual convention in the J. D. Donovan
Memorial church at Singers Glen, July 18 to 21, 1907. This was the most largely attended and most
enthusiastic convention the branch has ever had. The branch pledged $175 to our Cumberland mission,
the most of which has been paid. A number of pastors attended a Soul Winner’s Conference held in
Westernport, Md., June 19 to 20, 1907, under the direction of the pastor, Miss Ida M. Judy. This was a
meeting of great inspiration and profit. Five of the ministers attended the East District convention at
Annville, Pa., July 23 to 25, 1907. All of these meetings were exceedingly helpful and will bear much
good fruit. We also had our representatives at the great missionary meeting held recently in Pittsburg,
Pa. We shall hear of that work through them. At the Annville meeting it was decided to have a central
Bible school for at least five of the eastern conferences. This Conference should heartily cooperate in
this proposed school. The Virginia Conference Branch of the Woman’s Missionary Association held its
first annual meeting in Martinsburg, W.Va., April 10 to 11, 1907, and was well attended by both
delegates and ministers. These meetings were characterized by intelligence, devotion, and progress
toward larger things. The next convention will be held in Winchester, Va., April 15 and 16, 1908.
Schools and Education. Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of Music at Dayton, Va., is
having the best year in its history. The enrollment is larger than ever, and the work being done by both
the faculty and students is up to a high standard. The intellectual, social, moral and religious atmosphere
of the School is ideal. A gracious revival of religion obtained in the Church at Dayton, Va., in which
nearly all the students, who were not Christians, professed saving faith in Christ. The claims of this
institution should be pressed home upon all our people. The effort to cancel the debt has not been as
successful as was planned and hoped, yet it has not been a failure. At least two of the charges will
report in full the 50 cents per member, while some will report half, some one-fourth, and others nothing.
This campaign will be kept up.
Literature. The church periodicals sent out by our publishing house are the best. Best in their
subject matter, and also in their mechanical makeup. The superiority of our publications is not
emphasized as it should be; hence, there are some of our people who think that other literature is just as
good. I think the reports will show that the circulation of the literature is as good as last year, some of
the periodicals better. The Virginia Conference News is very popular with all who see it. It should be
continued. There should be a vigorous campaign started at once in the interest of the Telescope,
Watchword and Virginia Conference News.
Finance. The financial interests of the Church have had more attention than usual. There will be
a handsome increase in some departments. Pastors’ salaries were increased on a number of the charges.
Some of the pastors now receive their salaries in full every 30 days. This is as it should be. More
charges will adopt this system, and better results will follow. Some sort of discrimination should be
made against a charge that can but will not pay a decent salary. The Sustentation Fund is a God send to
some pastors and some works, but this, like every other good thing, is likely to be abused. The
constitution of this board is good and should be applied mildly but honestly.
Some Statistics. The following figures will be found approximately correct: Members received
into the Church, 1,100; number of Telescopes taken, 489; number of Watchwords taken, 471; Pastors’
[total annual] salary, $14,575; Home missions, $950; Foreign missions, $650; Church erection, $375;
Sustentation, $1,350; Shenandoah Institute and School of Music, $270.50; number of Young Peoples’
1908 Reports 141
General Meetings. A Bible Conference was held in Dayton, Va., May 20 to 25, 1907. Rev. Dr.
G. A. Funkhouser, of Union Biblical Seminary, was the instructor. Some 15 or 18 of the ministers
attended. The Young Peoples’ Christian Union held its annual convention in the J. D. Donovan
Memorial church at Singers Glen, July 18 to 21, 1907. This was the most largely attended and most
enthusiastic convention the branch has ever had. The branch pledged $175 to our Cumberland mission,
the most of which has been paid. A number of pastors attended a Soul Winner’s Conference held in
Westernport, Md., June 19 to 20, 1907, under the direction of the pastor, Miss Ida M. Judy. This was a
meeting of great inspiration and profit. Five of the ministers attended the East District convention at
Annville, Pa., July 23 to 25, 1907. All of these meetings were exceedingly helpful and will bear much
good fruit. We also had our representatives at the great missionary meeting held recently in Pittsburg,
Pa. We shall hear of that work through them. At the Annville meeting it was decided to have a central
Bible school for at least five of the eastern conferences. This Conference should heartily cooperate in
this proposed school. The Virginia Conference Branch of the Woman’s Missionary Association held its
first annual meeting in Martinsburg, W.Va., April 10 to 11, 1907, and was well attended by both
delegates and ministers. These meetings were characterized by intelligence, devotion, and progress
toward larger things. The next convention will be held in Winchester, Va., April 15 and 16, 1908.
Schools and Education. Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of Music at Dayton, Va., is
having the best year in its history. The enrollment is larger than ever, and the work being done by both
the faculty and students is up to a high standard. The intellectual, social, moral and religious atmosphere
of the School is ideal. A gracious revival of religion obtained in the Church at Dayton, Va., in which
nearly all the students, who were not Christians, professed saving faith in Christ. The claims of this
institution should be pressed home upon all our people. The effort to cancel the debt has not been as
successful as was planned and hoped, yet it has not been a failure. At least two of the charges will
report in full the 50 cents per member, while some will report half, some one-fourth, and others nothing.
This campaign will be kept up.
Literature. The church periodicals sent out by our publishing house are the best. Best in their
subject matter, and also in their mechanical makeup. The superiority of our publications is not
emphasized as it should be; hence, there are some of our people who think that other literature is just as
good. I think the reports will show that the circulation of the literature is as good as last year, some of
the periodicals better. The Virginia Conference News is very popular with all who see it. It should be
continued. There should be a vigorous campaign started at once in the interest of the Telescope,
Watchword and Virginia Conference News.
Finance. The financial interests of the Church have had more attention than usual. There will be
a handsome increase in some departments. Pastors’ salaries were increased on a number of the charges.
Some of the pastors now receive their salaries in full every 30 days. This is as it should be. More
charges will adopt this system, and better results will follow. Some sort of discrimination should be
made against a charge that can but will not pay a decent salary. The Sustentation Fund is a God send to
some pastors and some works, but this, like every other good thing, is likely to be abused. The
constitution of this board is good and should be applied mildly but honestly.
Some Statistics. The following figures will be found approximately correct: Members received
into the Church, 1,100; number of Telescopes taken, 489; number of Watchwords taken, 471; Pastors’
[total annual] salary, $14,575; Home missions, $950; Foreign missions, $650; Church erection, $375;
Sustentation, $1,350; Shenandoah Institute and School of Music, $270.50; number of Young Peoples’
1908 Reports 141
