Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-11-27
and were addressed by the Bishop upon the e.
sential qualifications belonging to the Minister'S

When the third CLASS was calleu, tne ilesiuih6
Elder of the Georgetown District reported the
death of Bev. E. D. Boyden, one of the members;
gave touching account of his last illness, and
pronounced kindly eulogy upon his Christian
and ministerial character. Rev. Messrs. ). D.
Connor, ]. T. DuBose, R. w. Burgess, Lewis NJ
Hamer, D. A. Agburn, and Basil G. jones were
examined, advanced to the fourth class, AMI Soon
tinued as Deacons.'
To-day, the session of Conference, continuing
until the hour for public worship, was wholly ia
ken up with the reading of Reports of the Trus-
tees of Columbia Female College, Spartanburg
Female College, Wofford College, at Spartanburg,
Carolina Female College, the Publishing Commit
tee of the Southern Christian Advocate, and the
Agent of the Southern Book Publishing Commit
tee. The affairs of the Columbia College were re-
ported in anguishing condition, requiring more
determined effort in procuring subscriptions. AS
the resources of the Board were too limited to
permit the payment of large salary to the Agent,
the Trustees recommended the appointment of
another in place of Rev. Mr.. Murchison. The
two Colleges at Spartanburg were represented
with fattering prospects. The President OF the
Carolina College, in Auson country, N. G., stated
that the institution is very greatly embarrassed,
and unless aid be afforded the Board will be for
ced to modify essentially the plan fits operations
According to the report Of Rev. Mr.. Myers, Edl-
tor, the Adpocate has been favored with extraor-
dinary success; the list has received fifteen hun
dred acccssions during the year, and the amount
of 81, 900, the surplus above expenses, has been
paid into the general fund The Agent OF the
Book concern communicated the gratifying fact,
in which every friend of Southern literature will
find reason for rejoicing, that the profits of the
current year amounted to about twenty thousand
dollars. If this be the result of well-directed ef-
fort at Nashville, why may not other publishing
houses at the South succeed? These Reports were
referred to the proper committees, and when re-
turned may servo us for several additional para
graphs
At eleven o'clock, the Conference adjourned to
the Hall of the Female College, where large
congregation had assembled to attend the services
by DR.. Wightman. This distinguished and very
able preacher selected text from II. Chronicles,
18th Charter, 9th vcrse-"For the eyes Of the
Lord run to and fro Throughout the whole earth, to
shew himself strong in behalf Of them whose
heart is perfect toward Him." and for an hour in
tcrcsted and delighted the auditory with one Of
the finest sermons we have ever heard. Taking
the theme cminently suggested by the occasion,
he entered into tcrse and logical argument in
support of the doctrine of s'the Special Proyi-
dence of God" and, in style displaying at once
the scholar, the rheorican and the divine, he il
lustrated the truth of this essential doctrine by
adducing many of the most striking examples OF
both sacred and profane history. 1t was truly
mastery effort; always beautiful and happy, at
times it was marked by those nervous, thrilling
soul inspiritng passages which answer to our tru-
est and highest conceptions Of an orators power
As rhetorician; as an everyday preacher, DR..
Wightman may possibly be e1celled but in the
| scope of his attainmcnts, in depth of thought, in
his powers of close, logical, metaphysical rea-
soning he is undoubtedly entitled to his position
rs the leading member Of the South Carolina Con-
ference 1t evidently required all the influence Of
our almost puritancal habit of church-behaVior,
aided by the deep solemnity of the preachers man.
ner his subject and the occasion, to suppress the
we'll nigh out-bursting demonstration of applause
with which the delighted auditory wero prompted
at times to greet this magniicently eloquent per-
formance. This of itself, is IN ample, and should
not be deemed questionable, enconium
On these, as well as other days of the sessions,
the afternoon was occupied with the deliberations
of the several Committees.
SATURDAY, November ed
The Conference resumed its sessions, yesterday
morning, with the usual exercises of singing and
prayer.
We find but few points in the proceedings upon
which to make up our Journal. The Ecclesiasti-
cal Conference does not present the complexion of
legislative body; practically it is to great e1-
tent administrative-takingc cognizance of ndivid-
uals rather than of laws, rules and regulations.
1t is an assembly to which the preachers resort for
mutual examination and trial. Many members
are men of decided ability, and display much
speaking talent. They are, as whole, Jealous,
efficient, working men, actuated by an honest
and earnest desire to promote each others success
in the labors of the ministry, and with an eye sim
gulary single to the advancement of the interests
of the Church. TO the results Of their Conference
sessions, we are ready to ascribe many Of these
peculiar characteristics which mark, and render
so efficient the abors of the Methodist itinerancy.
A peculiarly happy feature in the economy Of
the Methodist Church. and one which does it in6n-
te honor, provides for the adequate support Of
superannuated ministers, their widows and or
phans. Friday morning, the call was made and
each preacher responded by giving in their "Con-
ference collections" in amounts varying from SIS
to $50, which were referred to the stewards and
apportioned to meet the several claims. In addi-
ton, the members of the Conference contribute
annually each o fixed amount, which is disbursed
for the education of the children of their more
cessitous brethren. In this connection, a resolu-
ton was adopted directing the Board of Stewards
after paying off the funds for necessitous cases to
divide the remainder of the Conference collection,
if any, among effective claimants; and the resolu-
ton passed at the last session, that-"an effect
i've preacher shall not be allowed claim on the
Conference collections, if he fail to collect the
! i u. ftoo bac