The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-03-15
The M. E. Conference at wiohits.


The lsbers OF the Southern Kansas d. Z.
Conference were completed last Monday night
at IL O'Clock. The werk was OF legislative,
clerical and executive character In the main,
but was enliycned by daily and nightly rel-
cious exercises. The fact OF revival OF rsli-
rion being in progress lent greatly to the in
terest of the sessions, which were attended
regularly by large numbers of our citizens
Especially was this the case each night when
the hurch,-gallsry, ais!es, pulpit and sesti-
bule-was crowded. The proceedings in full
are published upon our second page, but the
great interests and exciting incidents, OF
course, do not appear in the minutes. There
we're exciting times; times Of unrestrained
Joy and happiness, and times of deep emotion,
randwiched with dry reports and hot ecclcsi-
aslical and business debates.
On last Thursday afternoon, in admitting
nine preachers 10 full connection. the venera-
bic Bishop Simpson, in bis charge, drew pie
ture Of the trials and triumphs, the tempts-
tions and ecstacies OF the itinerant life in COL
ors 80 radiant, and shades SO sympathetic, that
the veterans OF the Cross, as a corps, were
melted in tears. And again Sabbath morning
in his peroration describing the glorles Of
Heavens portals. thsre came, first from The
lips OF the Thousand intent listeners, low
murmur, like the distant breakin. surf OF the
sea, growing with each successive sentence
until ike TIE irrepressible storm, the cry
broke forth in shout that carried all feeling
before it.
Old Auniy Robinson, (coiored) whS il often
filed with the glory OF the genuine shouting
Methodist religion, while marching up and
down the aisle the other night, declared in
rapturous tones that, ISAIAH, de Lord i. in dis
very room, jes now when she was COM
pletey demoralized by declaration from the
gallery over head. "Yes, but if you 90 on in
that way, yon will scare him away" Rev. J.
=. Harscn presbyterian pastor on the same
occasion, in the plenitude of his fullness, arose
and remarked that everybody seemed to look
so good-eyen beautiful of feature, which
brought down hi. Methodist brethren.
Friday afternoon, to relieve the tsdium OF
routine work, Chaplain McCabe, the sweet
singer, in his lnimtable way, with instrument,
action and voice, blending the eloquence and
solennity OF the occasion with the eternal as
pirations OF his soul, sang the "Great Amen"
following 1t with that inexpressibly touching
song, the "Trundle Bedr As the f-iorgot-
ton scenes OF innocent chdhood---that moth
er's kind face. the prayer at her ee--and all
the tender associations OF boy-liie came
thronging and rurging back in memory upon
the hearts of the listeners, grave, stern men
broke completely down, giving vent to their
unutterabe feelings in uncomfortable emo
tions.
val enc night, while making one of his strong
imprisoned appeals which, in vehemenee
and feeling, must have been not unlike one OF
his old battle charges, and which absorbed all
else aud drowned all confusion, was suddenly
completely nonplussed and astonished by an
explosion OF voice which was onl, intended
to second his efforts. but which in compar-
isen with his own deep tones, was as 4 cannon
to a bunderbuss. The Coloners ineffable
look of astonishmcnt will not soon be forgot
ten by those who witnessed it, nor the revu-
sion of feeling which followed.
While awaiting the determination Of the
Bishop and his cabinet, with reference 10 the
appointments fer the ensuing year, on the
night OF the adjournment, the time from seven
TO eleven O'Clock was filed up with varied sx-
ercses, principally of seriou. character, un-
I'll some fun-ioyins spirit, knowing bis eceen-
tricites and humorous powers, called on old
Elder Rhodes for his early experience in the
Methodist werk in Illinois The old Elder is
Dutchman of the true type, in looks as SOL
emn Roman Senator and as dry as an
onion peel, but so fun OF fun that Mark Twain
is only secure in his reputation as long the
Elder can be held to the pulpit. As by magic
all seriousness went up the fines and out OF
the windows, and fun. good feeling and laugh
ter employed the time until the arrival Of the
Bishop was announced, when the appoint
ments were made in connection with solemn
earnest and touching address.
The members of the Conference were de-
lighted with Wichita and her people and in
their resolutions and talks they couldn't say
too much for US. Everything was so different
from what they expected, especially as to in
telligence, ciyility and hospitality, and many
of them desired TO override an established
rule and come back here next year.
At ten minute. past midnight on Monday,
the Bishop adjourned the body and each went
to his field of labor and Wichita and her peo-
pie back to the everyday concerns OF life.