Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-06-04
Knoxville, Saturday, June d, 1864.
Holding Of a "Gray.back" Conference

holding OF q "Gray.back" Conference.
1t seems that sensible remnant Of the
Tennessee Annual Conference, OF the blus
ering methodist Church South" recently
,eld n session, in an old diapidatcd frame
house, few miles North of Nashville, at
which Bishop Soulc, now in his cighty-third
year, presided, and thirteen preachers, cut OF
conference numbering t,ro huadred, sur.
Founded him. What fallmy countrymcn
lone South after their rights Better come
pack and get them in the Penitcntiary OF
Tennessee.
A correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette
attended this gray-back conference, wit
lessed the bcggarIy show Of empty boxes,
Ind made this report
NASHVILLE May 2O,-Early yesterday
morning your correspondent, in plain citi-
tcns' dress, rode out to City Road Chapel
even miles North of Nashville, to attend
he tennessee Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South.
CITY ROAD CHAPEL.
This ia \ diapidatcd old frame church,
standing in q pleasant grove opposite the
'esdsncc of the venerable Bishop Soule.---
Nround the church, on the morning of the
9th, few lean horses and mean looking
carriages were collected.
THE CONFERENCE
entered the Conference room. Behold,
here sat Joshua Souc and thirteen preach
rs' And this was the wealthy, proud,
iomineering Tennessee Annual Conference.
Three years ago it mustered near two hun
lred ministers, and every man Of them was
rebel. 10 here are thirteen, and where
IRE the others? Nearly all the Conference
Ere in the South-many Of them in the
|ebel army. Well | sat there all day and
stened to the graybaclis, for noarl Y all the
ministers were dressed in grayback cloth
literally
The names Of the presiding elders were
JAILED. and it seemed that, with one or two
Exceptions, they had been South for nearly
wo years. But one presiding elder was
present. Presiding elder Ransom Of Colum-
ia district, was reported to be laboring in
he Confederate army He is good man,
omo one remarked "Yes, yes, was re
ponded and this was the response gener-
lily, to the names OF absent members The
great and fiery PITS WAS mentioned in terms
# affection.
LlSlIop sOUIE
The bishop is sighty-three years old, and
eeble, yet he spoke often and with clear
lcss. lie inherited from his New England
bother good mind and body. He has
been for many years one of the lords of
Eiethodism; but sitting as | saw him yes
erday, among a little squad of grayback
preachers, he looked like an imprisoned
on. Referring to the order of the Secre-
AIRY OF War respecting rebel churches, he
aid sit seems that the Secretary of War
t Washington has become an archbishop
nd has been appointing preachers to
hurches in the Methodist Episcopal Church
outh,' He said the Methodist preachers
Tennessee were never before 50 poor, and
hat they now can see the force Of the in
nnction Lay not up for yourselves treas
res upon earth, where moth and rust doth
orrupt, and thieves break through and
lcal. As he said thieccS break HrOugh,"
koagM he looked North with an expressive
lance "But my brethren, he added, 'thc
Prophets and Apostles suffered before us.
10 seemed not to have the slightest convic-
ons that the Tennessee preachers were
itfering the penalty Of treason He spoke
bis colleagues, with deep emotion. Il
ave not had word or line from my re-
pected colleagues for eighteen months. |
on know whether they are dead or alive
As the presiding elders had all gone South,
b aged minister asked the bishop whether
Q could not appoint elders to fill the dis
tets until the others should resign or re-
irn. No he could not. They had been
uly appointed to their work at the last
OCULAR conference, and he did not wish to
tmove them. Our Nashville. McMinnvile,
lebanon Z. Els. went away with Bragg,
hd yet the Bishops hold them to tIcir work
nd will give the people no one to take their
laces. Ho regards their absence as excu-
pbe The Bishop made hard hit at the
hiitary authorities in Nashville Il have
zen in Nashville, said he, 'and have seen
hurches turned into hospitals and barracks,
ut not single theatre"
Two men were ordained The stations
tue pTvacncr5, rs lnaue NJ llarnersVllle
30 years ago, with changes since made by
Es, were confirmed by the Bishop, and
ben the conference adjourned to meet
ear hence, at Pulaski
WHIT THINK TIE CONFERENCE REBEL.
/. Not word of prayer was offered for
10. Government, not a syllable was uttered
its favor, and no Sign Of loyalty appear
2. The rebel resolutions passed. at theses.
on of the Conference, two years ago, were
bt revoked. They are therefore, virtually
lopted.
3. Rev. ". Abbey, the book agent of their
ripting house in this city and publisher Of
worry nasty rebel Almanac, andmuch other
nd staff, was at the Conference, and lead. |
e member. He did not say he was sorry
the Almanac, With its wishy -washy sc.
sh songs.
1. Not word Of csnsure was uttered
)acefuing the stsent brethren, who are /
u Ill IL - ~~SA