Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-11-27
SOUTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE.
EDITORS JOURNAL.

THURSDAY, November 20, 1856.
Tho Animal Session of the South Carolina Con-
ference, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
convened in the Court House, yesterday morning,
and was opened with prayer by Bishop ). U. An
drew, presiding. Rev. Paul A. NJ. Williams was
elected Secretary, with Rev. Messrs. John ).
Wichtman, A. G. Stacy and F. NJ. Kennedy AS
sistant Secretaries The roll was called, anu near
one hundred ministers answered to their names
Several special Committees having been appoin-
ted, on motion by Rev. J. W. Kelly it was resolved
that, inasmuch as his Excellency, the Governor Of
the State, had set apart Thursday as day OF
Thanksgiving, Humiliation and Prayer, the Con-
ference would adjourn on the morrow and observe
the day by appropriate religious services conduc-
ted by the Rev. DR.. Wightman, in the College
Hall.
Rev ". A. Gamewell stated that, although
several wears had elapsed since the death OF bishop
Capers, no effort had been made to provide q sui
table mark of the esteem and affection with which
the memory of the distinguished preacher Is regar-
ded nv the Church, save an humble tablet erected
bv private liberality in the Washington Street
Church. Columbia and in accordanc with his prop
ersiton, it was resolved that Committee, consis-
ting of the Presiding Elder and Station Preacher in
Columbia, and R. Bryce and ]. D. Tradewell, "be
appoiuted to erect monument on the grave OF the
late Bishop Capers."
Before proceeding to the regular order OF busl-
ness, the Bishop made an earnest and feeling ad-
dress to the members of the Conference, congrat-
ulating them upon their pleasant reunion; urging
it upon them that, although they may have look
ed forward to this period as temporary release
from their pastoral trusts and as the occasion to
he marked by the pleasurable incidents of social
and friendly communion, they had assembled not
merely to transact the business of the Conference,
hut to continue with the harness on and they
should so demean themselves rs to sustain the
character of the Methodist preacher, and by ex-
hortation, prayer, preaching, and conversation III
the domestic circles to which they might be at
tacbed to make full return for the hospitalitles
extended to thcm by enlivening the spirit Of rel-
eion. and building-up the church in lorkyiie.-
He thought that their aim should be to make the
Conference sessions instrumental in arousing their
spiritual fervour, in supplying them with addi-
tonal stores of grace, and in the cultivation of the
essential virtues of patience, mutual forhearance
and Christian charity. His charge, characterized
less by a reaching after brilliancy than by an
humble and devout piety, was becomingly recelT-
ed, and evidently made the wished-for impression
upon his auditors
We NAV here remark that the ministers of the
Methodist Church are classed into three orders
Licentiates Deacons and Elders. On being re-
ceiyed. Young men are admitted in the first class,
where they are required to remain two years and
undergo annual examinations upon the several
theological and literary studies assigned, when
they are advanced to Deacons orders. At this
period, they are invested with the authority to
solemnize marriage, administer baptism and assist
in dispensing the elements of sacrament, and re-
quired to pass through two years additional pro-
baton. and study and at the end of four years,
they are ordained as Elders, empowered to conse-
crate the elements, and invested with the full
dignity of their calling. Committees are appoin-
ted annually to attend the examinations of these
under graduates, on the two days preceding the
meeting of the Conference.
I At tho close of the Bishops address, the Com
mittee on the first lin College parlance, the Fresh
man) class made their report, and after severe
of ~, aol,oro oofa and
bilities of the several members, they were advan-
ced to the second class-in other words, ordered
to remain on trial Their names are as follows:
John W. Murray, Randolph R. Pegues, Andrew
J. Evans, Samuel J. Hill, William S. Black, John
". Puett, George K. Andrews At their own re-
quest Hilliard ]. Glenn was discontinued; and
James M. Cline continued in the first class. In
discussing the standing of this class, it appeared
that one of the young ministers had "married
wife" during the first year Of his probation, and
without consultation wthof any of his breth-
rem, which was pronounced direct violation of
one of the most important rules of discipline, the
observance of which has heretofore been insisted
upon as indispensable. This rule, it was obser-
we'd, is not to be taken as discouraging ministers
from entering into the marriage relation; but to
deter them until the completion of their studies
and a more mature judgment can enable them to
contract nm alliance with entire propriety, and
without detriment to their own progress or the in
terests of the Church. In view of several mitiga-
ting circumstances, the young gentleman, who
had in this instance taken too much license, was
graciously permitted, with the benefit of repri-
mand, to 60 on his way rejoicing.
The Committee on the second class reported
the names of F. NJ. Kennedy, Alexander B. Ste
phens, Casper E. Virgins, John W. Crider, Eu-
gene W. Thompson, Vim. A. Hemingway, j. S.
Nelson, Sam'l B. Jones, Landy Wood, and Minten
A. Connolly, and their characters having been in
vestigated, they were elected to DeacOn's orders,
advanced to the third class, and entered into sfull
connection" as members of Conference. This class
was examined in relation to their conversion and
their motives and aims in entering the ministry,