Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-11
TENNESSEE CONFERENCE.
Fourth Day-Statistics of Church Pro-
Perty-ImPressiVe Memorial Seryi-

perty-AmPressANe hehhOEAh SeEth
ces.
Specially Reported for the Union and American.
GALLATIN, Oct. 10.-The Conference
was opened this morning, Bishop Marvin in
the chair, with religious services conducted
by Rev. r. II. Rivers, d. D., and the min
utes ofyesterday's session were read and ap-
proved. The attendance was quite large,
many members having come in since the
day previous.
On motion Of W. NJ. Mccarthy, a COM
mittee of three-R. 4. Young ID. G. Kelly
and VIM. NJ McCarthy-were appointed to
prepare and have printed the proper blanks
for the use of the Conference.
The Committee on Church Property pre-
scented their report, from which We make
the following summary:
Churches 4g5
Parsonaoas %
Value of Churches. S69O,0e0 w
Value Of PaTsOnages. $1,000. 9o,55O OO
Value Of other church property. 65,4OO 90
The Conference adjourned at a quarter
to 10 o'clock TO meet at the Presbyterian
Church to attend 90 the memorial services
of deceased brethren. The members of the
Conference then proceeded in a body to tire
Presbyterian Church, where large audi
ence had assembled. The interest mani
tested was very great, all seeming to recOg-
nize the Importance Of the occasion which
called them together.
Bishop Marvin called the Conference 10
order, and announced that it was memo
rial session held in honor Of Brothers Pitts,
Maddin and Green, who had died during
tee last year.
Rev. W. r. Warren opened the exercises
by reading the Goth Psalm. Rev. 5. NJ.
Merrill, d. D., then read Hymn 49,
WHAT THOUGH THE, ARM OF CONQUER
ING DEATH"
which was sang with great spirit by the Ell
tire congregation, the minister adopting the
old Methodist custom of reciting Two lines
at a time, and such singing is refreshing IN
these DAYS when q few persons generally do
the praising of an entire audience.
Rev. X. II. Rivers, ID. D., who has just
transferred to this Conference, then offered
a most fervent and appropriate prayer,
touching the hearts of all present
Rev. John L. Hughes then read the 18th
| c. apter 1st Corinthians, after which Bishop
Marvin read Hymn 706.
| There IS a land of pure delight"
After the singing of the hymn, Rev. d..
| G. Kelley, d. D., arose and presented re-
| port No. / of the Committee on Memoir.
/ DR.. Kelley stated that the work of preparing
| the memoir Of Rev. L. Z Pitts has been
assigned MIN, and that be had prepared
one, but had afterwards concluded to sub
stitute for his, one prepared by DR.. Green
and published in the AdCOcGte, and which
was the last article DR.. Green ever wrote
for the press.
/ d n n n
| tribute to the memory Of Mr.. Pitts, stating
that his first recollection Of Dir. Pitts was
the opening sermon preached by Mr.. p. at
Gallatin, in 1914, and which he had read
when a young man, before he had made
his acquaintance. In 1876, the speaker
came to Nashville, an entire stranger, 10
Join the Conference, and was met at the
| Sewanee Hotel by Bro. Pitts, who took
him to the parsonage and gave him home,
At that time Mr.. Pitts bad just closed a re-
vival meeting which had continued fol
| about three months, and during that time
had received over 500 persons into McKen-
dree Church. In his early days Mr.. Pitts
was a sweet singer, and many attended his
ministry TO listen to his singing. He was
peculiarly gifted in prayer and was a born
orator. In Athens. Ala, in 1850, when al
his zenith, he heard Mr.. Pitts preach TO az
| immense audience, and so great was his
power over them that the congregation
swayed from side to side like the pendulum
of clock. He died az the right time, was
a delegate to the General Conference and
actively engaged in the discharge of duty
when the summons came.
Rev. Joel W. Written read report No.
of the Committee on MemOirs-Rev. Thos
Maddin, ID. D.
Rev. Joseph B. West, D. D., said that il
was with reluctance that he had consented
to occupy the placed assigned him; that DR.
Maddin was the friend of his bOyhood day:
and his spiritual father. DR.. Maddin was
the purest man he had ever known. He
never was guilty of a discOerteOus action.
He was as modest and gentle as woman
vet firm as a rock in maintaining what was
night. When mere lad, DR.. Maddin was
a Catholic, and when he became a PrOstes
tant in faith, helhad to abandon his Method
ism or leave his paternal roof. He chose the
latter and walked from Philadelphia, L
Pittsburg, because he thought he was right
InjAlabama. where his earlier DAYS had beer
s ,ent, his name was household word, anC
nis memory is sacredly cherished. lie ha
gone TO his reWaad-let US go and NEE
him.
Rev. James r. Plummer then read re.
port No. of of the Committee on Memo
EirS.
REV. A. l.. p. GREEN, d. d.
Rev. d. Z. Kelley,;D. d., was the speake
assigned to take the place Of DR.. Summers
who failed to get to Gallatin to take hi
pace On the programme DR.. Kelley wa
fortunate in being able to present, in suci
a happy manner, the main points in tn
life of DR.. Green. He said that DIR. Greer
was a tower of strength in the church; tina
his reputation was national: that he was
wise counsellor, and an able preacher. III
related with peculiar pOwera number OF IN
cidents in the life of DR.. Green. Durin
his remarks the entire audience was move
, TO tears, and deep-drawn signs were hear
in every direction. Amid this state Of feel
: ing and interest. DR.. Rivers arose, and pal
an eloquent, heart-touching tribute TO ia
> | memory of the three eminent men VIII
| had ceased to laboT-tO live. Rev. W. {
: Johnson, of The Memphis Conference, wa
the next speaker, and related, with niue
feeling, incidents in the life of these breth
rem.
l Afr the singing of several appropriat
hymns the Conference adjourned afte
prayer and the benediction.
This occasion was a memorable one, ant
as Bishop Marvin remarked, one which tn
4 Tennessee Conference would not be likel
1 to ever witness again. He had neye
, known three such great men to die in OH
u Conference in a single wear and lac hope
their mantelS had fallen on worthy ShOul
ders
Z, NONE but those who keep up appearance
S against heavy odds can understand wha
ssryitude pretence imposes upon the sens
S tive soul. The sting Of confessed povert
: is not nearly so burning rs is the reality f,
}, ] being poor while seeming 10 he rich.