Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-12-10

this to say that had nothing to do, by |
request, suggestion or other wise. with
any of these. I have never desired
any action to be taken by the Annual
or General Conference exceptionally in
my favor.
notwithstanding all this, there are
members of the North Carolina Con-
ference who seems to believe that L
ought to abandon the Church of the
Strangers, or withdraw from the Con-
ference. Their agitation of the case
subjects me to constant annoyance OF
being misapprehsnded bycothers. L
believe I am as much called of God to
the Office of Pastor of the Church OF
the Strangers as yon can believe you
IRE called to the Office of Bishop IN
the Southern Methodist church. 1t
seems to me that [ should as much be
leaving the work of The Master IN
quitting my present work as you could
think that you would be abandoning
your line of duty by returning to your
Annual Conference.
| So long as l felt that the North Car
DINA Conference desired to retain me,
| ] made no motion to withdraw. In the
membership of that Conference I ex-
| pacted to close at once my ministry
{ &
| The Master desires me to stand in
position in which am made by others
an occasion of concern to the authorl-
| ties of the church and of trouble to
the brethren who love me, simply that
[ may indulge one of my sentiments,
| however excellent that sentiment may
be. La view of ali til csc things through
yuu l respectfully ask the Conference
to grant me location. l should have
done this in person if the session OF
the Conference had net fallen at time
when tie temporal and spiritual int r
ests Of the church render my presence
here more than usually needed.
This motion on my part IS made
without consultation with any member
of the North Carolina Conference or
any officer of the Church of the
Strangers. It is done in the fear OF
God and III chart towards all my
brethren of tie North Carolina Con-
| ference. love North Carolina. The
most of my public mi listry was in that
state All my children were born
t;-ere. My two dead sons lie IN its
soil; my frst-born, my young hero
maftyr, sleeps IL the cemetery IN VIII
/ mington God has given me many
spiritual children out of the popuia-
ton of North Carolina. They will
! bear me witness that in the space OF
twenty-four years / preached the Cos
| pei from town to town and from house
to ho Sc, cCveting no mans silver or
gold, but generally. partly and some
| times wholly maintaining myst If, that
I might serve tue people iii the minis
try of the Word. l LETT the State no
richer than was wh-n 1 entered it,
except in mt mories and IN friends.
My clerical brethren will bear me wit
| ness that have belonged to no Clique,
have opposed no measure cautiously
and set myself against no good man
for his injary. At the same time l
have not, through se'f-se eking, failed
TO oppose promptly every measure
which believ to be hurtful to the
church and every man whom Regarded
as an ecle.iast cal deDago2ue. 1t is a
comfort to know thai [ have enjoyed
the affection and confidence of the
most able and beloved of the ministers
the Brooks, tEe Crs igs, the Doubs,
the Nlchol>ns, he Pells, the BarriI-
gers and others ROW in glory, as well
as those living, WHO deserve to be
namsd in ,ie same category. Ii,
through wan ! +hOdght on my part,
{
ter, | have e. q moments pain to
any brother, must humbly beg that
h. viii treat it rs we all pray tine Lord
Jesus TO treat ali our sins.
| And now, desiring this letter to be
reed In open Conference, | pray that
the Head of the Church may pour
upon you, and ali other officers, ministers
and members of the Southern Metho-
dist church the abundant blessing of
His heavenly grace. Pray for me that
[ may finish my course with joy and
this ministry which [ have received of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
AffectionateIy aud faithfully your
brother,
CHARLES F. DEEMS.
The Bishop made some few remarks
expressing regret that DR.. D. had
found it necessary to take the step
above written. The work in which
DR.. Deems was engaged was the grand
est charity that was to be found in
New York, that city of great charities.
The Southern people were peculiarly
at home in the CT urch of Strangers.
They have fine preaching aud prayer
meetings, Sunday school and Aid So
ciety, and the work goes SIN oothly on.
Rev. E. A. Yates expressed his sen
timents in regard to the position of
DIR. Deems and moved that commit
tee be appointed to re pond to his
communication, which was carried, aud
Revs. W. H. Bobb,tt, Ira T. Wyche,
and J. III. Wheeler, appointed sai1i com
mittee.
Paul j. Carraway, Passed.
". S Ha' tom, was passed AMI super
anuated
". ID Lee, T. Fl. Edwards, c. NJ,
Pepper, o, >. Brent, NJ. C. Thomas,
NJ. Y. Sheriff., I. P. Ricaud, A. D.
Belts, B. 3, Culbrath, NJ. II. Eoyle-
these ali pissed III ex animation Of
character and n5,ie Fieir reports.
I'll Bishop submitted 2 communi
eaton i,cn Ia, --s@j,rs of the First
Pre-iy;-ila. Church, tna1t riug the
rs q thetr chu:cr, and requesting
tbs Confer nee :" have the pulpit
| d.'cd -" 9m:d4y next.
12.e ;aPe' was referred to tie Com
'n'ttee - lah' Worship.
RI +. : .,,e< :ul.!4 eome re-
marks IL reS.ri o the case of Rev.
Mc Bib, stn 8 how ardnopsly ard
'.oy. long H. haI i;.o"r-d, yu3 solicit
q the Conf, renee. to give him super
aeu:1ated relation. Which was grant
d H. also took up a collection in
his aid.
The Bishop explained to the Con
t.renc, how TIE 4 ttisuj'E in sustaining
tie anPeral mated Hr.Se Also, The
cnstool Of the VI thoi,at Church in
Engia 4 il tie matter. He urged the
Conference 70 quad the superannated
list wei. ana rot t" b. hasty in grant-
ing thn5 relation 'xcept for long ser