Wilmington journal., 1873-08-08

: | SICSaUiOhO SOol III HOlutS SutIC
Conferences and prayer meetings hel
regularly three regular class meeting
and some occasional ones very fe'
have family prayers quite a numbe
pray in public but few advocate
taken owing to difficult mail facilities
Conference then adjourned.
SECOND DAY.
MORNING SESSION.
August 1-Conference opened witt
religious exercises by Rev. j. NJ. Sha
ver
President W. S. Black in The chair
Roll called, minutes read and ap
proved.
| ANSONVILLE CIRCUIT
called for report on the spiritua
condition of the church, and the pas
| tor, Rev. ]. Stanford, reported attend
ance good, particularly on week days
Plenty of praying members, young
and old at all the appointments. Spir.
ltual condition good and prospect
for a revival. No grog shops on the
circuit. One drinking member
has been turned out every year and
taken back, but this year he has been
let alone and kept sober nearly all the
time. Church Conference has not
been held regularly, nor the sacra-
ments. But the best has been done
that could be. A revival at Anson-
vile.
wADEsBoRO' CIRCUIT.
Rev. M. " Sheriff. called and re-
ported. Only one class meeting.
Few members hold family prayers
Quite a number pray in public. Some
conversions, and good feeling
at several places. Amusements
are well attended and frequent,
dancing practiced considerably, and
the Gospel makes little impression. ow-
ing to the carelessness and iightness
which dancing produces. The Raleigh
AdrOcatc is taken by all the families
who take religious papers. Regular
Church Conferences held.
wADEsBoRo STATION.
Rev. 0. j. Brent, pastor, report ii
the spiritual condition fair. The large
majority of the Church is in fine CON
dltion; membership about one hundred
and fifty; the ma jOrity commune; pray
er meetings good; several brethren
pray in public: most of The families
have PRAYER; not troubled with public
amusements, and the members have
not been decoyed much under the guise
of DlcnlcS some are tempted. One re-
vival, with fine results to the Church.
No class meetings.
The Secretary arose and made per-
sonai explanation, stating that in say
ing yesterday that there was no man,
woman or child on Pineville Circuit
that prayed Ill public, he did not in
tend to include three local preachers
who were faithful men.
Rev. B. 3. Culbreth made few re-
marks on the subject of revivals, which
were pointed and applicable.
The discussion was continued bv
Rev. j. p. Simpson and Rev. L. S.
L Eurkhead.
The Chair called the local preachers
ID give an account of their work.
Rev. j. M. Shaver, of Albemarle
Circuit, gave statement of his work.
Had held no class meetings; preached
wherever he could. Tries to support
the preacher in every way.
. Rev. = Irbey, of Monroe Circuit.
Has always had regular appointments,
until lately, when personal affliotion
jill.
Rev. J. S. Little, Monroe Circuit.
Has preached but little this year. but
worked inthe Sunday School regularly
Rev. Samuel Roam. Has just been
licensed; has not preached much; try
ing to get well educated; wanted a
good basis to build upon-to get thor
oughly prepared before fully entering
upon the work.
Rev. L. S. Burkhead, of Charlotte,
the Conference, on the spi-
ritnal condition of the Church as de-
III the reports of the Pastors.
His address was one of great power,
applicable to the condition of the Dis
trict and well received by the Confer
ence.
The Secretary followed him in a few
remarks. He stated that at Ruther-
ford College there were 81 young men
who prayed in public at any time when
called on. The fathers of the church
prayed and the age must have degen-
Grated when Methodists refused to
pray in public. 1t breaks upon us
new thing that men shall be in the
church and not be regenerated and
born of the Holy Ghost. We must
take the highest ground on the sub
iect and insist on conversion as an es-
sential to admission to the Church.
Rev. o. j. Brent continued the dis
cussion of the subject, and stated the
provisions of the Church:
that the defect was not in the plan but
in its administration, and there must
be change in this matter, and the
brethren must look to it that the dis
cipline be observed The Reverend
gentleman made a strong and telling
speech on the subject.
After some further remarks from
brethren the debate was closed by
Brother Ardrey, of Pineville Circuit,
who offered a resolution pledging the
laity to cooperate with the preachers
in trying to raise the spiritual cOndi-
ton of the District. Mr.. Ardrey made
a speech on the subject full of good
sense and very acceptable to the Con-
ference.
Without taking a vote the Confer
ence then adjourned until 4 o'clock
u. NJ.