Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-12-23
miscellaneous &eadimq.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE.


This body is now in session at Orangeburg,
and the Charleston News and Courier seizes the
opportunity to print short pen sketches of a
number of the more prominent members. We
extract the following:
REV L. A. JOHNSON
was born in Edge6eld county, South Carolina,
April 7, 1922. He joined the Methodist
Church at the age of fourteen, and was con.
verted the following year while at prayer in the
woods. He was received on trial in the South
Carolina Conference in 1548. On account OF
a throat affection he was compelled to resign
the pastorate in 1861. The following year
he entered the Confederate States army as
captain, and continued to serve both as officer
and preacher, until the close Of the war.
Since then he has been serving the church as
far as his physical disabilities have allowed.
Much of his effort has been directed towards
the material improvement Of the work com.
mitted to him. In building new churches,
improving old ones, and educating the people
up to the Bible standard of benevolence, he
has been specially successful.
REV. O. A. DARBY
is native of Charleston, S. c., and a gradu-
ate of the State Military Academy. After
his graduation he taught for one year in the
academy of B. R. Carroll, Esq, of Charleston.
He was admitted on trial in the South Caro-
lima Conference December, 1851, and has
served thirteen years on stations, nine on cir.
cults and two on districts. He is now presi-
ding elder of the Greenville District. Mr..
Darby is cultivated, genial Christian gentle
man. His pastoral qualifications are of su.
perior order, and win for him the love and es-
TEEN of all with whom he is associated. His
pulpit performances are usually above the
average and when he discards the use of the
manuscript, (Which he is more inclined to do
of late years. his sermons are very effective,
and of.entimes powerful. He looks we'll to
all the details of his work, and generally
leaves charge in an improved condition, f.
nancially and spiritually.
REV. JOHN W. KELLY
was born January 20, 1925, in Union county,
sc. His earl y educational advantages were
partial and irregular. He was converted at
Cave creek camp-meeting in September, 1841,
and admitted on trial in the South Carolina
Conference February 1S, 1874. In 1851 he
was sent as missionary to California, where
he labored with zeal and success until his re-
turn to South Carolina in December, 1853.
Since then he has filled efficiently some of the
most important appointments in the South
Carolina Conference, and has been honored
on several occasions with seat in the Gener-
al Conference. Mr.. Kelly is strong man,
physically and intellectually. He is an in
defatigable worker. He has a luxuriant mind,
which, by extensive reading and the careful
study of men and things, he has stored with a
vast deal of general information. Had he
enjoyed the advantages of severe mental dis
cipline early in life, he would no doubt have
ranked among the foremost divines of the
country. HI is ready debater on the con-
ference floor, and his pulpit performances fire.
quently give evidence of more than ordinary
intellectual and spiritual power.
REV. VIM. A. CLARKE
was born in York county, S. G., August 3,
1927. He enjoyed only the usual educational
advantages afforded by country schools, with
the exception of short time spent under the
tutelage of Rev. R. L. Alternately in North
Carolina. He was converted and joined the
Methodist Church in 1916, under the minis
try of Rev. John A. Porter. Soon after he
was appointed class leader He was licensed
to preach in 1859, and admitted into the South
Carolina Conference in January, 1851. Since
then he has been an effective itinerant preach
er. Mr.. Clarke is a clear, logical and forcible
preacher. Mis- manner in the pulpit is earn
est, positive and dogmatic He breaches as
one who firmly believes the truth of what he
utters Mr.. Clarke looks well to all the in
terests of the church committed to him. He
is more particular to develop and improve
than to spread out and enlarge.