Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-20
THE mErnoDIsr OoNFERENOE.
Election of Omcsrs and Deacon
Fourth pays Proceedangs.

Fourth Days Proceedings.
Conference met at the usual hour, tn
Bishop in the chair. After the usual open
ing exercises, the minutes OF the previOu
day were read aud approved.
MISSIONARY MONEY.
The question of back dues OF missionary
money coming up, a number of Presiding
Elders reported that they found it an ute
impossibility to collect the amount assigned
their respective districts.
DR.. McFerrin was astonished to find tina
right here, near the heart of Southern
Methodism there were people who would
not pay their dues.
Elder Hughes was of the opinion that the
money could be raised without serious diff
ficulty if the preachers made proper efforts
to do so.
DR.. Green was very glad to see brother
Hughesa exhibit some degree of warmth
with regard to this matter; as for himself,
he could realize the difficulties and dis,
couragements attending it, for his exper-
ieDce had shown him that it was almost
impossible to collect miss .onary funds.
People generally did not look upon a col
lection for this purpose in the same light as
they did money collected for any other. A
preacher would urge the necessity of the
case upon congregation gathered togeth-
er in little old schoolhouse back of field.
and by dint of hard talking would make a
raise of, perhaps, five shillings. At the
close of the service an old brother would
get up and present the claims of brother
johnson, for instance, who had lived there
from the earliest settlement of the country.
had entertained at his house the hrst
preacher who held forth in that neighbour
hood, and had had them at his house on the
occasion of their visits, ever since. He not
only done this, but he had taken care of the
church building since it was put
up, through all kinds of weather, and
this brother, after representing the
claims brother johnson had upon the
church, would offer to be one of twenty
who would give q dollar each towards a
collection for the old man, and 10 five min
utes the sum of $40 would be raised for
this case of home charity, whereas the
preacher had talked for half an hour and
had succeeded in raising but nine shillines
for his missionary fund. The fact is, con-
tinued the speaker, people have become
worn out with appeals for help for the mis-
sionary cause. They do not have a very
high regard for the natives Of India, being of
the opinion that warming pans and extra
clothing are not needed there, and as for
sending religion to China, they have about
as much of it there now as there is in this
country, and there is an abundance of Door
people here at home whom it would be
more practical charity to assist. A preacher
would be invited TO go home with a family
who attend his church. The old man
don't belong to the church, bat the old lady
does. He is treated TO the best there is in
the house, and On the occasion of his first
visit, he gets a little money for a subscrip-
ton to the ADVOCATE. The next time be
goes, he raises little for Sunday-school
purpose, and the third time a small sum
for the preacher, all of which he asks the
old lady for and she gets it from the old
man. When he makes his fourth visit, he
says he must have little money for the
Missionary fund, which is getting low, aud
when the old folks retire to bed, he hears
the wife tell her husband that she is re-
quired to contribute to the Missionary
fund, and he hears the husband reply that
he has got no more money to give TO
preachers, and that he don't want her to
bring that man home with her again.
The Bishop thought that DR.. Green's re-
marks might be considered little discour-
aging. IL was undoubtedly the duty of
every preacher in the Conference TO make
an earnest attempt to secure all the money
he could for the missionary fund, as in
many places the preacher was supported
almost entirely by this fund.
DR.. McFerrin considered brother Green's
speech one of the most damaging ever made
before the Conference. He entertained the
highest regard for DR.. Green, and sincerely
hoped he would be forgiven for having
made it.
A SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
The Chairman of the Committee on
Education asked to have reconsideration
Of the vote by which the report of the agent
Of the Ministerial Educational Aid Society
was referred to that committee, as he con-
sidered it would embarrass the report of
the committee, requesting the appointment
Of special committee to consider the re-
port.
Upon vote being had, the request was
not granted.
CLASS IN FIRST YEAR.
The following named compose the class
now in their first year, all of whom passed
a satisfactory examination:
Henry j. Ivie, William &. Gill, William
B. Woodward, Thomas 81. Woodward,
William j. Wright, John NJ. Jordan, John
81. Chambliss, Benjamin F. jackson, Geo.
D. Byrne, John A. McFerrin, John o.
Blanton, A. A. Allison.
GETTING MARRIED NO FAULT.
at this point some allusiou being made
to young Mr.. McFerrin being married
man, DR.. MeFerrin said that it was a fault
of the McFerrins, generally, to get mar
RED, to which the Bishop responded that
be could hardly call it fault; it might be
a mistake sometimes, but not fault.
CANDIDATES FOR DEACoNs' ORDERS.
The following is list of preachers who
have Travelled for two years and are now
candidates for deacons' orders:
o. G. Halliburton, Lacy Boone, G. S.
Byron, P. A. Sowell, j. B. Ennis, j. w.
Hammer, jr., R. E. Travis, j. R. Reagan, B.
F. Stone, j. W. Rocker, E. W. White.
In the case of o. q. Halliburton, his
Pre- siding Elder reported that he had done
bis work faithfully during the past year,
and had got married besides, for all of
which Mr.. Halliburton was highly COM
as it was perfectly proper young
man, displaying such energy and prude nee,
should be.
In r. E. Travis case, be said the only
fear he had with regard to that gentleman
was tina: he would allow his zeal to carry
hin beyond his physical powers of endur-
ance, as he considered the engine, in this
as being too much for the craft.
A BELIEVER IN IMMERSION.
The name of John S. Mckee being called
n the above list, the Elder of his district
reported that he had suddenly left his work
without giving notice to any one, and had
Oined the Baptists.
All these candidates were passed, after
having been charged by the Bishop, in a
Tery solemn manner, as to the new duties
which would devolve upon them.
CANDIDATES FOR ELDERS ORDERS.
The following are those who have |
preached for three years, and are candi- |
lates for elders orders:
Sterling A. Ellis, William NJ. Doyle, |
John E. Jordan, d. B. Fisher, James w. |
Hill, r. T. Roland, Joseph II. Strayhorn,
D. @. Miles, A. j. Ford, II. S. Ledbetter, |
NJ. Ezel, James D. Hinson,
William Lowry.
THE DINNER QUESTION.
The hour for adjourning having arrived
Elder Hughes moved that the session be
continued until after the candidates for or
lers were disposed of, which motion at once
net with storm of disapproval, DR.. Kelley
aging that if the session were continued