Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-11
M. q. Church, South, District CON
ference.
lReporled for the Alexandria Gazette.

Reported for the AieXaoofla uaZel'e.
FAIRFAX 9. H., Sept. C.-The minutes OF
b.. morning session were read aud approved
The Coufereree then proceeded to select the
nlaca Of meeting uexG year. Hamilton, Lou.
doun county, and Salem and Warrenton, Eau,
c1ier county, were put in nomination, and an
amusing and lively contest amongst the friends
Of each eusued. Warrenton, soon getting the
worst of it, was Withdrawn. Messrs. DulaDey
and rs. Wcolr commended most earnestly for
Salem, urging, amongst other reasons, the we'll
known hospitality of the people. and the prox'
unity Of the Free State, which stood so much
in need Of religious influences, but MIR. Cren.
shaw held on perlinaoiously tor Hamilton, and
the vote showed the following result: Salem ~
Hamilton 20, and 90 motion the nomination Of
Hamilton was made unanimous.
Loudoun Circuit-Rev. ii. +. hami'l gave
al Interesting account OF the work there. The
ATTENDANCE on preaching was very fine indeed,
and the membership wac $40. TIE recent camp
meeting had 90 doubt resulted 10 some good /;
from twenty. five to thirty had been converted,
bu. he did not think SO much had been done as
might DC eXpecteu lfutl tue s'h7 Va 'ho uieo''oS
and the effort made.
MIR. ". ". Smith remarked that at frsst
The order was not what it should have been. 1t
was very important that people 80 to these
meetings in proper religious spirit, and speak
Jog Of camp meetings generally, he, as Iayman'
respeettuy suggested to his brethren OF inc
ministry that sometimes 10 the preachers sem
there was split eff leVity not desirable. True
that was the preachers place for relazat!oo.
Rev. w. X. Boyle said one or two things at
the Louaoua camp had grieVed him. The scca'
enjoyment feature bad been 100 prominent:
DR.. Regestcr. P. g., said the congregations
there were the largest he had ever seen. NC
doubt great good had been done, much that
could not be seen. At camp meetings the
preachers were perhapsa little merry sometimes
10 their tent when their friends, the toymen,
came 10 to sec them. ri;
MIR. Smith said he made 90 personal refer
ence to Leudoun camp. 1.a..,
Piedmont Circuit-Rev. j. II. Dulaney said
many bad reported neglect of family religioa
Re had many families who strictly practiced
family nrsyer. At Rec;ortowo there was az eg
cel|ent Sunday School, kept up all the year, bu
those at Cool Spring add the Plains were only
nominal ones There were good people there
70 conduct school, Attendance on public WOE
shin was excellent at all the appointments. Al
Rectortown a class meeting met regularly. The
psrscpage was roomy, ADD good summer but
door winter one. He had never been among
people whom be liked better.
1"Dr. eeester-Are your people orderly
Rev. Mr.. Dulaney-Very so. When. Johr
Robinson's circus came round few members
went. but be had preached about il, and nc
doubt they had heartily repented. :,
Warrentcn Circuit-Rev. L. r. Green said
tho circuit contained four appointments /; 25(
members spiritual condition would compare
lavorab!y with Others. ., -. -
Mr., j. H. Nelson said be regretted that the
class meelicg had gone into asuse, but there
was very large attendance at the weekly
meetiog.
Nj. ". W. Smith spoke 10 praise OF The
ministers OF the circuit and drew attention t
the fact that some appointments were more
tsrdy than others 10 paying up. ..
The houc having arrived for divine service.
Rev. Fl. II. Kennedy, Of Leesburg. preached
from Matt. xiv, verses 10 to 81 Christ feed
inc the five thousand. lie noted, first, The
look of COMPASSION With which the Saviour re
gardcd the multitude. Coming from Him wht
Represented God in human flesh it gave US s
glance into the great secret Of human redemp
top. Second, the desolatlon and need OF The
neonle. This was o symbol Of the condition o
tho world. Every man bad felt at some time
his utter helplessness. Tho new born babe hat
beon described as an incarnate cry Tor food
Third, the bene(icence of Christ; how sublimely
simple and true Observe the resources o
Christ ard his peculiar way OF making use o
them. They were always ample. The creates
! man amongst US has once, at least, been com
pcllcd to bow down to utter failure Chris
never did so. His mode of using resources va
strange and unique. All through his life vi
find him surprising us. The preconceiVed opin
ions of his disciples had always to be set aside
vet he was simple and consistent 10 all he did
See this illustrated in the incident unde
consideration. There was an apparent tardl
aess the day was far spent tho people were
10 need. Their hunger was intended to be :
teacher. So it was with the friends of Lazarus
90 with the SyroPtoa 1ician woman so witt
bis disciples when he slept 10 the boat, and 81
it is now. Christ will act when the time comes
Even his delays arc working. 10 few year!
he did more than the people of the world had
douc inthousands. Again. there was an ap
parent siiDtedness. The meal vas plain one
and, strange 10 say, the fragments were to be
gathered up. Are we surprised at this frugaity
on the part of Him who owned the universe
Yet it was adequate. Here was tho COLDER
thought. There was no more need then than
now for teacher to teach the world extrava
gance. We often try to advise God, but Jesu!
knows how to act. 1t was Enough. So 1t is
with the evidence of Christianity. We some
times ask, why did not God make the proofs sc
plain that DO one could mistake them ? It waI
not his way There is only enough, and the
ditch of unbcief is at the feet of any one who
desires to fsll into it. Many wonder why God
has told US 20 more of heaven. If that were the
case it might be matter Of gain With US and
gain is not Goodness. Some would have an
earth quake of conviction; some want everything
to be supernatural, and despise reason aud
science, but God requires US to use the resources
age haze Then the great question comes 70 Us
ALL What have ye ? Truly may We apply to
Christ the name "WoDderful. 81
An experience meeting was then held, which
was an occasion of great religious interest. The
writer would not Withdraw the veil from scene
80 solemn. ..
EvENIN1 SESSION