Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-11-19
District Conferences,

1t is with no small degree or pleasure thai
we notice, briefly, the meeting of the Winches-
ter District Conference of the Methodist Epis
copal Church, South, at this place. It's session
commenced on the 18th and closed on the l4th
instant 1t was composed of Ministers and
lay delegates of the stations and circuits of the
district named, presided over by the distin-
guikhed Bishop N. NJ Wightman, of Charles
ton, S. c. These Conferences are new fea-
ture in the economy of Methodism, and are
now held annually in all The Presiding Elders
districts within the bounds of the several An
nual Conferences of the Methodist Church,
South. They contemplate the presentation,
consideration and discussion Of all subjects
and matters pertaining to the interest and
welfare of the Church, as well as the further
ance of the various enterprises of the same.
The Bishop represented the interests of the
whole Church, Che being one of the general
superint endents of the same, and the Presid-
ing Elder the interests of the District over
which he presides, and the Ministers and Lay
delegates the interests Of the several stations
and circuits of which they have charge and
where they reside. Thus the precise status
of the Church is reached, her wants discover
ed. and, if possible. met and her material and
spiritual interests canvassed, and The best
ways and means devised to promote them.
Business was brought to the consideration
of the body through committees, in the form
l., II
cd thoroughly and with marked ability, before
any final disposition was made of them. There
were reports of committees as to the state of
the Church, Church property, Finances, Sab
bath Schools, Education, etc. Public religious
worship was had daily. during the entire ses-
sion OF Conference. The opening sermon was
preached by Rev. DR.. l. K. Finley, D. D., of
Winchester, Va, aud Was an admirable dis
course.
Passing over the pulpit efforts Of other Min
listers, which deserve honorable mention, for
the research and ability which they display
ed, we must be permitted 10 notice the efforts
of Bishop Wightman These were grand
specimens Of oratory and eloquence. 1t would
be futile to attempt to describe or even give
an outline ofthem. They were at the same
time simple and conspicuous, logical and pro-
found, inpassioned AMI eloquent, holding the
large audiences spell bound. Rarely if ever,
have the people Of this community had the
privilege of listening to such mastery pulpit
efforts The impression made was deep and
will be lasting. The corrodingytooth-- ,of time
will not soon erase from the tablets OF memory
the District Conference at Woodstock and its
pleasing and halowed associations.
This community has indeed been highly IA
vored during the course Of the present season
of Autumn, in point Of religious conventions
and meetings, of unwonied interest in all the
churches, commencing with the session Of Pres
with the District Conference just closed. at all
of which Ministers of the highest order Of tai
ents we're present and preached with rare abil-
ity and power No one who attended the re-
hgious exercises in the several churches, could
resist the conviction, that the church is fully
alive TO the highest interests Of the Redeemer's
Kingdom, and that outstanding all the
adverse influences, which have prevailed, sc
well calculated TO dampen her energies and
retard her progress, she has been marching
right onward with firm and unfaltering step
towards the fulfllment of her great and glori-
GUS mission on earth.