The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-07
CITY NEWS.
Tennessee Conference.

OCTOBER 6, 1865.
Opened with Divine services, BY A.
Dnsbill.
The committee appointed for that purpos
presented the following Pastoral Address
which was adopted;
PASTORAL ADDEEss.
To the members Of the Methodist Episcopa
Church, South, within the bounds Of III,
Tennessee Annual Conference:
DEAR BRrrHREN:-We send YOU this lette
greeting. We have passed through great
tribulation The cloud Of war has been up.
on o.; the horizon has been dark in ever
direct on, and our land has been full Of sor
row. Poverty has usurped the place Of
wealth misfortune has spread her darl
wings over hearts and homes once smiling
and 6lled with JOY.
The church OF God has shared IN the
common desolation; the walls Of Zion hay,
been broken down, her beautiful palaces
hRve been LAID Ia the dust, her fields have
run TO waste, and Gods people have hung
their harps upon the willows and asked how
can we sing the Lords song in a strange
laud? But, thanks be 10 God, light begins
60 break. The war is over, peace again
stretches her balmy wing over us, and we
are hoping 10 see bright end beautiful days
as once they shone upon as, when we Hour
hhed as d people blessed OF the Lord. It
becomes as as christians 10 humble our
elves; 20 submit cheerfully 10 the chasten-
ing hand Of the Almighty; 10 kiss the rod
that has been lad upon as in mercy and
grow wiser and better, by this heavy dispen-
sation of a gracious Providence.
We should ever bear in mind that call
things work together for good, 10 them that
love God :" and that these light Affections,
which are but for a moment, work for us
far more, exceeding and eternal weight OF
glory" The question has been often asked,
why has the Lord SO afflicted His people 2
Wherein are we sinners above all others,
that We should be caused thus 20 suffer ?
We answer, Whom the Lord loyeth He
chasteneth. and if ye be without chastise-
ment, then are ye baslards and not sons"
And vet brethren, upon q careful examina-
tiOn. perhaps we may find that we hGd gone
natray. How much of pride, Of worldly
minl edness, Of self indulgence, Of conform
ity 10 the world how htile Of humility, Of
seif-denial, Of leryent pisty, Of faith OF holy
living. Truly may we say, that We have
not come up 20 the measure of our privi-
iegeS aud have fallen far below the Gospel
STANDARD of holiness.
God has taken us through the furnace thst
ne NAV be as gold purified. He has caused
us 10 pass through the FIRE that He may test
Us. Blessed is be whose faith faileth not :
We have nov fairly adi usted ourselves,
and are going afresh into the field Of labor.
We anticipate trials and conflicts. We shall
not only meet the common enemies iniest-
ing the path Of every christian and chris
tian minister, but We shall perhaps meet
new and willy foes those who will misrep
resent Us and attempt 70 prejudice the pub
lie mind against US 10 ALLEVIATE the alice
tons Of our people from us and render our
work arduous and nhauccessful The enc
Iny viii doubtless attempt 70 SOW tares in
our fields. And then many Of us have been
reduced pa our finances, our wives and chill
dren have been brought b poverty, and the
prospect is hat in fulfilling the holy voca-
lion 20 which God has called, like Sc. Paul,
we may suffer hunger aud nakedness. Once
we could look 70 you with confidence; once
your hearts and hands aud purses were all
open 70 as and in your generosity you met
al our necessities and ministered 70 our
comfort. But circumstances with you have
changed you, too, have been straitenad,
aud though your hearts are full Of kindness
and charity, your means are limited and
what yog find Ina your hearts 60 do you have
not the ability 20 perform. Yet we are per
suaded that you will not fotsake as in the
hour OF trial. While we are willing 70 20
forward trusting in God and coutdmg ID
vour hberahty, We believe you will meet us
"a the spirit Of hJotherly kindness and self
sacrifice and share with Us your temporal
thinFa," though they be meAgre, while We
minister b you in "spiritual things." The
spirit that wil actuRte ell viii make Us TO
say
% We ahsre cur mutual woes,
0nr mutual burdens besr
Where you cannot furnish you ministers
with money, give them shelter. send them
food, supply them with rsiment, give them
"a portion of the products o. your fields, your
chops. and your trade. By timely and uni
fcd efforts, the work Of ministerial support
may be made comparatively easy. Many
nf Your pastors are willing 60 labor with
thsir hands 60 sustain their families, bui
this viii IN a measure hinder their vocation
as shepherds OF the flock OF Christ To DO
their work we'd, 90 read, study, prepare for
abe pulpit. visit the members Of their con
gregaiion, comfort the SICK, and bury the
dead. will occupy an their time; and we be-
secch you, brethren, not 40 require them 20
pause IN their holy mission 'to serve tables"
10 an you can 90 give your brethren The
comforts of life. that they may 50 forward
with good hcaris preaching and ieading the
sheen of Christ which he has purchrsed
with His ovid precious blold.
But more, we exhori you 70 cultivate per-
sOusl piety and % labor diligently for the
upbuiiding ofthe Church Of God as a spir-
itnni house. To do this, give attention 10
Iures, family PRAYER, public worship, the
prcachedlvord, ialprayer, Glass meeting
b an the Instituted and prudential means Of
grace. Engage ia the work Of revival. labor
and tell. being co-workers with your bTeth-
rcu In The ministry; strive 70 convert sin-
ners from the error Of their way; reclaim err
ring brethren; Instruct the ignorant, and
sustain the ieobie
Thus shall your labors be blessed, and
you show yourselves to be wise in winning
souls.
Nor would we forgot Sunday schools.
Ihcseuurseries OF piety have la many p aces
bcen neglected, and the children are run
ning az large without moral culture Take
rurg Of the rising generation. ''lf ye love
me feed my lambs, T" said the Savior 10 Peter
Oh, brethien, look sitter the children Of the
chnEch-they are The hope ot L.on in gen
cratiOns 20 come
keep the unity Of the Spirit in the
bonds II peace." Get Us endeayur 10 nut
away al strife and contention among The
people, AMI especially among those OF car
own household. Let us be auiet, peaceable /
aud orderly subjects. submitting ourselves
TO "thc powers that be" a. ordained of cod
Be kind, be courteous. tender hearted. for
giving ore another. aud above an have fer
vent charity smong yourselves
some anNietv has been felt In .e-fsfr
Church with which we are connected Il
has even been suggested that cur DAYS ar,
numbered To all such faint hearted ana
cmid brethren we would say, "Hsve faith
IN God" The race j. not % the swit. nor
she hatsle to the strong" Christ said SEQ. !
snd % ] AN with yea" 'Some trust In
chariots and some IN horses, hut we VIII
trust Ia Che LIKING God 4" "Not by might,
NO BY power. bui By nv Spirit, saith the
Ae'a Sustained by these promises and
trusting IN the strength OF Grace Divine, we
- i.e'eed IN Jesus woTk. We have the
$500 81 a glorious future. Going cut not
,Et-e.''e worldly inteucsis. nos o. accom-
k,,.--.....,...' end., but % p-oach Christ and
n.b'1,,...-.--,l 70 build up spiritual house,
e.rs.is i'..es'aeo4, ana % proclaim the &C
4, - "a el We Lord. We have nothing
- -tHe 70 tac doctrines Of fha Ribie
f,,-5i---.. -anereuce 30 The principles Of
,-'','s united In al cur ,,ii,,s "a -
le, eilh Holiness 20 M. -. -
's SINNERS, We cannot fs1 r-1,,-s----
Nv ~, prophet when be- thog,l,t -, ~
AZ w. 'eoP'e ne alaue was H., =. -.
resdy " despair, hut God ~. ~. -, ~
eyes sac We sec esar0is and horss-, - 80 I
NOV nan ssNea Thousand who 49, -.
Ns@ t-S Anee - haal. Already ~. 49,
ele soens 'n mo mulberry tree. m.
ne,se o. ne oaitle ~ heard from afs- a.
Lllis sh1 fslleys sre Nocal With praisr ~.
shouts 81 thousands Of new cor-,----' ne
-Ad naaTis and INSPIRE our hppes ana ~,
eAclalm amidst al our discnuss..,,---s
ne eesi q al God d still with Is > NJ
are tresh IRON The delds where the slsi. ~
e Lord have been many, sna uhere -
As's ssen living armies rise up ffon he