Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-16

AIO tFSfSOI HN
Of the first number thus marked their subscrip-
years 'oiH expire and unless renetced 'cithin
time, the paper ,oiU be discontinued. This rule
be inferibty adhered to.
North Carolina Conference.
The annual meeting of the North Carolina
Conference ofthc Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, commenced in tais city, on Wednes-
day, the 9th instant, the Rev. Bishop PAINE
presiding. We learn that upwards of 100
Ministers arc in attendance, belonging to the
Conference, beside several distinguished Wis
tiers from other Conferences. The meetings
of the body are held in the old Protestant E.
piscopal Church, that building having been
purchased by the NJ. E. Church of this City,
for the use Of its colored congregation.
The first days session of the Conference
was chiefly occupied in the preparation of bu-
siness for the session, examination of new
candidates for admission into the travelling
connection, &c.
On Thursday, after the transaction Of some
Conference business, Rev. DR.. Baird, of the
Congregational Church, New York, was In
trodueed. and delivered a highly interesting
address upon the subject of Missions, and
particularly dwelling upon the great need of
difusing gospel knowledge among the Papal
inhabitants of the earth; abiding to the i'm
mense flow Of Roman Catholics into this coun-
try, the vast amount Of Ignorance and super
stition among that class, and of the para
mount Importance of circulating the Bible
81 aa..oa1 ro1.so,, kn,4L 0oo~ 4bono H.
5 B. was listened to with great attention and
interest by the members of the Conference
. and the spectators in attendance.
$ At night DR.. Baird delivered a highly in
i t~eresting Sermon, or rather. Lecture, before
a crowded auditory in the Methodist Episco-
a pal Church in which he gave an extensive
t view and condition of the Christian Nations
o of the Earth, and also stated. that 4sths
Tar from $40 millions or sous. VI THESE, not
q more than IS millions are Professionals. Two
/ HUNDRED n FIFTY-FIvE millions, therefore,
a number exceeding one fourth part of the hui
man race, have but little Of Christianity, ex-
IL cept the name. If there is anything in num-
n bers then to enforce the claims of any people,
d the obligation in regard to these lat best but
Oh scmi-christians) is of the first magnitude
But their moral and religious condition gives
It, special weight to the obligation to seek to dc
ed them good. The masses are uneducated. A
t. great proportion of them can neither read mol
write. The standard of morality, among
w them, is extremely low-many of the mos
iy fragrant vices and crimes being openly en-
couraged. They have few evangelical teach
ers, and the distribution and reading of tn,
Scriptures is generally prohibited. The Sab
Mt bath is extensively profaned by military par
pit AIDES, political elections, theatrical amuse
re ments, and such like things and they ar
tau ht to rest their hopes for Eternity on tn
'es intercession of the VIRGIN MARY, or of som
TO of the Saints, or on some works, penances an
ed ceremonies which they have done, or obse,
OF we'd, not by the authority ofthe Bible, but b
Ias the direction of a profigate, unscrupulou
he and wicked Hierarchy"
DR.. Baird is Recording Secretary of IL
Ias American and Foreign Christian Union,
lot whose object is " to diffuse and promote tt
no principles of a religious liberty, and a pu1
MS, Christianity, wherever a corrupted Christian
I'm ity prevails" The Union is COMPOSED
the members frommost ofthe Evan ~ol;coiC burc,
the es, and through the labors of it's missionari
as at home and abroad much light has bee
shed upon the system of Romanism. Mar
of its benighted adherents have been conve
arm ted to Christ-and an Amount of rood hi
his been done which cannot be fully revealed
DO this life.
ace :,
No public collection was taken up, but "
to understand quite a handsome sum was mao
up by private contributions, in behalf of tn
ron cause-probably exceeding $3.50.
les. On Thursday afternoon the Missionary S
DAD ciety of the Conference held it's meeting, al
al we are pleased to learn that the funds broug
III up by the Ministers from their respect
h to fields of labor, will form an aggregate of mo
'avy than ten thousand dollars, collected in t
Acel- bounds of the North Carolina Conference
,om- ring the year 1853, being an increase of
mes tween four and five Thousand dollars on
IN the collections of the year previous.
IRON On Friday morning Rev. Mr.. Sehon,
Louisville KY, delivered a most excellent a
be is eloquent Address, before the Conference,
the great Missionary enterprise of the NJ.
load Church, South. He spoke like a man VIII
thls whole soul was in the work, and his enthu
vii. asm and energy seemed to infuse new z,
v a. into his clerical hearers. Mr.. S. stated tn
and previous to the separation of the North,
wiz and Southern branches of this Church, SO
thew eight or nine years ago, about $1,000
have annum, was the amount raised for the N
y-fve sionary work in the entire United Stat
; tue thatsince the separation, the Northern bran
Roi during the year 1852, raised upwards ofS2(
8 we 900, and the Southern branch some $85, O(
Tx Interesting facts and statistics were detail
con- and upon the whole, it was one of the m
ne IS 'n II SUBJECT we n
heard.