Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-08-05
An Occasion of Unwonted Joy and
Edification in Edgefield.

Edifcatlon in Edgeheld.
OF course we allude to the Cokesbury District
Meeting which has just closed its session in our
town. On Wednesday night last, this Meeting
was inaugurated byIa sermon from the Rev.W.
P. MoUzoN, 9 clergymen who lived. and labored
here in years gone by, andswho left behind him
memory so cherished that his reappearance
among us was, to all, source of purestgratiGca-
tion. His sermon, from the POLITICALLY beautiful
text BLESSED are ye that SOW by all waters"
was very able and solemn warning against any,
thing like sluggshness, selfishness or inaction in
the great cause Of Christ; an extremely fitting
introduction to meeting so earnest in good
work, so noble in aim, and so happy in effect as
this has been.
These District Meetings arc new feature in
the Methodist Church, md beyond all doubt a
worry wise and catholic one. That they are pow
crfully calculated to produce unity, charity, and
unfeigned brotherly love in the Church of Christ,
we cannot doubt, after what we have seen and
heard during FIVE days past. And what so eleva-
ting to man, or so powerful in destroying the in
grained selfshncss which 80 clings to our fallen
nature, as unity, charity and love?
Here have been from seventy to seventy Eve
delegates, clerical and lay and our people, be
they Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal or Presbyte-
rinn, have opened wide to them their doors, their
arms, their hearts The citizens of Edgefeld
havo We'd gracefully with each other in hospi-
tality; and the strongest minds and most devo-
ted hearts of the Cokcsbury District have poured
forth daily and nightly tho word of God. AS
regards aliment for both body and soul, the past
FIVE days has been q season Of nbounding Corn
and Wine. All the elements of religious feeling
have been stirred up, and people have been made
to think. By pointed words, such as pinch the
conscience, by loving entreaties, by solemn war.
nings, by earnest invitations, people have been
made 10 think and to feel, and so to think; thai
they cannot put these things out Of their minds
The order ofthe exercises during this Meeting
has been rs follows. The forenoons, from nine
until one, have been devoted to business; the
public, however, attending upon the business con
feronccs in as large numbers as upon the regular
sermons. In the afternoonsand evening of eact
day there has been sermon. On Saturday eve
ming divine service was held in both the Metho
dist md Baptist Churches. And so again OF
Sunday.
On Friday, Bishop W1GHTMAN arrived in oul
midst from Charleston. Bishop WIGHTNAE is {
son of South Carolina; one, of whom she is, ant
has long been, duly proud. He had not visitet
Edgefeld for more than thirty years; and, though
he has been fighting the good fight for so many
long summers and winters, still he looks as if ht
had scarcely passed the midsummer of life. Du
ring his stay, which lasted until Monday morning
he preached on two occasions; in the Methods
Church on Friday night, and in the Baptis
Church on Sunday morning. At the conclusion
WIoHTMAN, assisted by the Presiding Elder ant
two or three Clergymen, ordained, as Elder il
the Methodist Episcopal Church, our esteemed
fellow w-citizen, Rev. ]. WESLEY BARR; solemn
rite, which was performed, we know, amid tn,
heart- -fel. prayers and hopes of our whole com
munity for him upon whom authority was being
conferred. On both occasions such crowds wer,
in attendance as failed to be seated in either
Church. Nor were these crowds of earnest ant
eager listeners disappointed. Bishop. WIdnruAN
with his learning, his piety, his earnestness, hi
force, his full and finely modulated voice ant
brilliant as well as solid eocutionary powers, ii
in his zenith. Who goes to hear him, will come
away delighted, edited, awakened. To hear hin
is one of those things Of beauty which shall be
JOY forever.
The Sabbath afternoon was devoted to thl
Sunday Schools, the celebration taking place il
the Baptist Church. The leading address on thi
OCCASION, an address solidly instructive, ye
beautifully and .tonderly adapted to the youthful
mind, was delivered by Prof. DuPRH ofWofort
College, gentleman equally distinguished in th'
high walks of science and in the narrow path.
that lead him--and the little children for whom
he loves to labor-to Heaven and to God. After
Prof DUPRE, shorter addresses were made by thu
Rev. ~. ca. sRs Of Cokesbury, and by the Rev
w. II. FLEMING, the able, much-admircd and
widely-beloved Presiding Elderof the Cokesbury
Circuit
And, although the Meeting proper is at an end
the preaching will still bc kept up for few days
three or four ministers remaining among US fol
this purpose. These will cooperate with tho Rev
P. L. HERMoN, the enthusiastic and incessantly.
laboring pastor of the Methodist Church here
and the result, we earnestly hope and pray, may
be that the good words which have already been
spoken will not be forgotten, and that the good
seeds which have already been sown will bear
fruit-all an hundred-fold
In this issue Of the Adccrtiser, we had hoped
to present to our renders, andtho public general
ly, q full account of the business proceedings,
deliberations, and acts, of this happy and long
to-be-remembered Meeting; but, on account OF
the Meeting coming to an end so close upon oul
day Of publication, the gentleman charged with
the duty of furnishing us such an account has
been unable to prepare it in time 1t shall be
laid before our readers next week.
Our Creed.