Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-02
MEMPHIS CONFERENCE.

Specially Reported for the Union and American
The Twenty eighth session of the Mem
pbis Annual Conference il now being held
in this beautiful town.
There is very full attendance, both Of
ministers and Iaymep, and all being enter
tanned with the most bounteous hospitality.
Bishop McTyeire waJ present at the
opening of the session and presiding with
the greatest ease and dignity. He constantly
reminds one of bishop SOule ia his palmiest
DAYS. Indeed, for administrative ability he
cannot be surpassed, and when he rises to
speak on any subject he is 50 exact aud
deliberate that, as an old Scotchman once
said of his preacher leach word be utters
seems 70 weigh pound" He is already
deeply entrenched in the confidence aud
love Of all.
There is quite a number of distinguished
visitors in attendance. Among the minis
terra we notice Rev. Drs Green, Meier
rim, Redford and Summers, of your city,
also Rev. Drs West and Ransom, Of
GAINESVILLE. Among the lsymen we note
| DR.. Garland, of the Univsrsity Of Missia-
| sippi, oae of the most distinguished edu-
Gators in the South also DR.. A. Jackson
and Hon. Milton Brown, of Jackson, Ten
nessee; Hon. /. R. Boon, Of Kentucky ;
Messrg. Morgan & Eldridge, of Memphis,
and others, Who are adding much interest
| 10 the deliberations of the body.
The frat days Of the session were en-
| ployed in the usual routine business of the
| Conference, such as the appointment Of
committees on all the various interests OF
the Church and the examination Of the
| character of the preachers. On this last
point, the Bishop was very scrutiniZing
| holding those who had official charge, to
| the strictest accountability.
On Thursday, in accordance with res
| olution Of Conference, all business was
suspended at ii o'clock, for the observance
of the day of National Thanksgiving
/ Divine service was held in the Conference
room The Bishop in his sententious
manner, briefly, referred to the occasion.
He said we should be especially grateful
! to the Almighty, that He bad put into the
heart of the President of the United States
| to summon the Nation TO this devOut re-
cognition Of God. The Rev. w. II. Leigh,
made the ouening prayer in the spirit of
| true devotion. The Rev. DR.. Moore, then
| followed 10 4 sermon that was full Of
thanksgiving and empty Of politics. There
was no evoking Of unjust spirits from the
"yasty deep" The spirit of religion was
glorifed in this Conferences service.
On Friday night special session Of Con-
ference was held on the subject of chris
tan education. The large court room, IN
which the Conferences sits, was filed slmost
TO suffocation. After prayer by DIR. Red
ford. the Bishop said that the object of the
mestipg was to consider the subject both
of Christian and ministerial education,
and held that it was the duty of the church
10 Law her hand upon the College, the
Academy and the common school, and
ancti(y them to God. He then introduced
Dr. Moore, of Andrew College, as the FIRST
sneaker for the occasion. He made very
powerful appeal in behalf of the institu
ton over which he presideF, and spoke with
telling force on the main question. DIR
Moore was followed By Dr.. Garland, who
in his quiet manner, said that though h'
, had long been an educator, he had neve
aspired to be speaker, that persuasion
had never sat upon his tongue. His voic
was very feeble, vet his refined manne
and pertinent observations coon enchaineu
his auditory.
He demonstrated with signal ability tina
the Methodist ministry should strive Z
: keep in advance of the age, cotrolling ii
social as we'll as its religious life. Blythe
, way. there is something in the Doctors al
e nesrapce which reminds one Of the Il
II mented sage Of Ashland. Then ID
g Green. who in the heated atmosPhsl
looked as cool as a cucumber in Augui
oi was brought forward. In short an
IN characteristic speech he explained the sy
tenn of ministerial education adopted
theTennessee Conference, which will Ike
u become the policy of this.
II A few remarks were made by others, ar
70 the meeting adjourned.
IL The probability is that the Coniefen
ID will conclude its business on Tuesday.