The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-10-15

Letter FROM F0yet1eVAAAes
Having occasion to visit and spend
few days in this town, l send you some
items that may be of interest to your
readers. In answer to numerous lnqui-
ries as to the best route from Columbia to
this place, the almos: universal response
amounted to the old saying, Take what
road you will-you will wish you had taken
some other" The route was closer by
Pulaski, than by or in sight of Elkten.
All the way from Pulaski by this route
we were passing through q splendid far
ming country. The soil productive, and
the crops, especially the corn, very
fine. There is room, however, for improve
ments in farm buildings, i'll fences and in
the modes of cultivation. Fayetteville,
the county seat of Lincoln, famous in old
times for its Democracy, and in all times
for its Lincoln County" staples, shows
indications of thrift and prosperity; has
a population of some two thousand, and
large amount ofwheat is sold and shipped
pie seems to be active. The Chancery
Court is in session, His Honor Judge
Marks presiding.
The town is full of visitors, the Ten
nessee Conference of Southern Meth
ONlSb OhuISh III SCo6iOH' A4oFAh6
some leisure your correspondent atten
ded few sittings of the Conference, and
took observations of the members and of
their proceedings. Bishop W. N. Wight
man was in the chair; R. A. Young, A.
T. Goodlow and J. P. AcFerrin Secreta-
ries. The Bishop is sixty-six years of
age; has been in the ministry forty-eight
years, is exceedingly pleasant, and pre-
sides comparatively well. DR.. Young is
a model Secretary. The Conference is
composed of men, who from their appear
ance have hardly reached their majority,
to men of gray hairs, venerable in their
appearance, and in many instances bent
in form. Prominent among these is Drs.
j. B. McFerrin, R. A. Young, R. K. Har>
grove, &C. Kelley, R. 81. Rivers and ReV's
J. F. Hughes, VIM. Burr, R. w. Ransom,
&c. notice from Msury Messrs. Moon>
ey, Linn, Hamilton, Irvine, Orman, Err
win, the Wilkes.
A lively debate sprung up on the first
day on the question of examining charac-
ter with open doors. It seems the rules
governing the body require this business
TO be done with closed doors unless by
vote of Conference it is expressly orders
ed otherwise. Dr's McFerrin, Hargrove,
and Rev. ]. F. Hughes took part in the
debate, and the Conference decided by
large vote in favor of the open doors.
This is peculiarly with the HethodistS
growing out Of their itinsrant ministry,
as stated by the Bishop, and constitutes an
interesting part of their proceedings.
The presence of a number of laymen was
noted among them: T. NJ. N. and ". K.
Jones and D. T. Reynolds, of Giles coun-
ty; W. 81. Morrow, of Nashville, and
others whose names are not recOlec-
ted, Various committees were appoin-
ted to whom sundry documents were re-
ferred. The pulpit has been occupied by
Rev's W. Mooney, W. Il. Hughes, J. G,
Ray, j. D. B1rbee and others, and the
congregations have been very large Sand
attentive The Conference sessions are
held in Bright Hail." and are attended
not only by the members of the Confer
ence, but also by large number OF .visi-
tors, ladies as well as gentlemen. The
character of four or FIVE of the members
have been arrested, and committees ap
pointed for the investigation of the com.
plants.
Several preachers have been transfer
red from other conferences to the Ten,
nessee, and the indications are that quite
a number will be transferred from this to
other conferences. This is summary way
of supplying the wants of the church With
ministerial aid. If there are too many
preachers in the conference, and their La
bors are needed elsewhere, without wait>
ing for calls, answers and contracts, they
are simply, and with but little ceremony,
sent from the places having full supplies
to those more destitute. Also quite
number have been admitted on trial most
ly young men, and from certain indIca>
lions it is thought the supply of preachers
will exceed the demand.
When the name of Dr. A. W. Smith
was called solemn silence prevailed III
the large hall, and brief statements we're
made as to his labors, usefulness, and his |
last hours, producing profound i'm pres |
sion. How and by whom his place is to |
be supplied are questions n ore easily ask |
ed than answered. Numbers of the min> |
listers sympathize with the people of Co.
lumbia in the heavy loss sustained in the |
death of this popular and useful divine. |
On Friday at eleven o clock, DR.. Nc
Ferrin preached his Eemi>centennial SER
monte e crowded house. 1t wac read an I'M
usual thing with the Doctor, and was large>
~ historical in its character.
The committees appointed to invests
gate the complaints against the preach>
ers referred to above have all reported
and the only investigation ordered was in
the case of Rev. J, W. Hammer, Sr. On
his case the Bishop appointed commits
tee of thirteen; consisting of Revs. G. I.
Henderson, R. G. Irvine, W. G. Dorriss,
John H. Nichols, Jordan Moore, B. NJ.
Stephens, J. B. Hamilton, John Sheriff.
S. p. Written, Alpheus Mizell, J. ]. Pits
man, R. K. Brown, J. c. Putnam. w. II.
Wilkes, oft the Columbia District, was app
pointed Chairman of the committee by the
Bishop. In this trial the chairman has
no vote, but acts rather as n judge. deci>
ding points oflaw, the adm stability of ev>
idence and such like things. Rev. J. P.
McFerrin is their Secretary. The church
is represented by Drs. R. X. HargrOve
and J. B. McFerrin, and the accused by
DR.. d. G. Kelley and Rev. J. d. Barbee. |
You will see Maury has her share of men
in this trial. 1t is thought the conference
will adjourn Tuesday morning or Wednes>
day. A LooKER OK.