The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-08-02
DISTRICT CONFERENCE.

last, and adjourned late Saturday after
noon.
The presiding elder, Rev. W. H.
FLEMING, occupied the chair until
Saturday morning.
Thirteen circuits and stations were
represented, and the attendance of
Delegates unusually large for this Sec
tion Of the South Carolina Conference
bounds. This was especially SO in re-
gard to the laity-the clerical members
being generally at their posts. And
this presented gratifying and more
hopeful indication ia view of future
improvement in the financial as we'll as
spiritual condition of the church.
The examination of the separate
charges for the purpose Of discovering
the situation in regard to these great
interests, occupied the sessions, mostly,
of Thursday and Friday, aud presented
an encouraging prospect.
The presence of the beloved and dis
tinguished Bishop WIcurMAN iu the
chair, on Saturday morning, was CRATE
full and cheering and enliveniug to the
whole conference and the large number
of visitors. Fears had been seriously en-.
tertained that the interesting occasion
would pass away aud the great privilege
Of seeing and hearing the Bishop would
not be enjoyed. His coming was like
unto the grateful shower-gladdening
and refreshing to the spirits Of all in
terested.
He preached with great power Satur-
day morning, at II o'clock, to larger
congregation than We ever before saw
assembled at that church, in the day
time, during the week. His subject
was conscience" in its component
parts, in relation to God and man, and
its effects upon human life and character.
1t was one of his master pieces oflogical
structure aud soul-stirriug appeal-oue
Of his great sermons, which have given
him world wide fame and constituted
him so grand and beautiful an ornament
efthc Southern Episcopacy. When fred
by his theme, his flushing eyes and
quickly succeeding pcals of eloquent
enuuciation Of eternal truth, afford the
simile of heavens electric flashes and
bursting thunders.
His sermon at ii o'clock on Sunday
was equal unto it-before still nore
densely crowded house.
Sabbath afternoon Sunday School
Mass Meeting was held and addresses
we're delivered by Bishop WlGHTMAN
aud Revs. A. j. STOKES, of Camden,
aud J. L. LITTLE, of Lancaster. The
music of the children, lead by the 6ne
choir of the Church, was charming
And We could but feel the silent in
terrogatiou When the children Of the
Temple thus break The silence, and with
the rapturous voices Of angels, sing
anthems of praise to Him that overules
the destinies of men, who that could 81;
unmoved by their youthful hosanuas or
fail to catch the inspiration of the youth
ful throng?
During the session, paper Of unusual
merit was submitted by Rev. S. A.
WEBER, Of Bishopville, on the Educa-
tioDal and Literary Interests Of the
Church, which was ordered for publica-
ton III the Christian Admcatc.
Interesting and well-written papers,
on other leading interests of the Church,
were also submitted by Revs. A. j.
STOKES and S. j. HILL.
The report Of the Committee on the
inan cial interest, Of the Church, by Capt
W. L. DEPAss, of Camden, was an
earnest and searching discussion, in
cndeavor to induce more general and
liberal support of the miaistry. A. A.
GILBERT addressed the Conference at
length. After some discussion the report
was adopted.
The word of saving truth, from time
to time, was faithfully and zsalously
proclaimed by Revs. w. II. Fleming, s.
A. Weber, P. G. Bowman, A. j. Stafford.
the two Littles, S. j. Hill, Siney, Platt,
Stokes, Sanford, England, and A. Coke
Smith, the pulpits of the Presbyterian,
Baptist and African churches being
filled on Sunday.
The meeting, throughout, was more
largely attended than any similar occa.
sion, ofthe Methodist Church, at Sumter,
Sunday night the scene was deeply i'm
pressive. A number approached the