Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-01
Ministerial Conference at Pleasant Grove
March 26-2Sth.

Ministerial Conference at Pleasant Grove,
March 26-2Sth.
Correspondence of the Register.
These notes are little tardy, but
may still prove interesting to some
whom the REGISTER seeks to interest,
and minor events should not lose their
light in the grander luster OF larger
bodies while your generous columns
propose to transmit them to eyes which
are disposed to see them and to minds
ready to consider and appreciate them.
To dwell upon rain and mud, though
still fresh in the memory might not be
relevant, though Swedenborg defines the
art of theologians to be the bemlrlng oil
one another. Ii so We succeeded won
derfullv before reaching Pleasant Grove
our Observation-Disclosures goodly num-
Der came together, despite the roads.
4 pious old lady asked young lawyer
If he thought Gen. Jackson went to
Heaven. al don't know" was the re-
ply, "but il he made up his mind TO so,
the devil couldn't stop him."
This. though roughly expressed, is
very expressive, and in these times
when backbone" is needed, some per-
sons are too easily diverted from their
purposes, and when much is staked,
too.
Sermons were preached by Rev. Bur
well. on Regeneration, and on
"Church Polity" by J. X. Foulkes.
PAPERS and exegeses on difficult pass
ages OF Scripture were presented by
Revs. l.. r. Steele and 7. +. Clancy,
and all were criticized Us far as time
would allow.
The Y. NJ. c.. Associations Of Clays'
vile and Prosperity were invited to
meet with us, and held two very inter
esting sessions. The first was spent IN
considering The best way to study and
understand the holy Scriptures" The
second was a service representing some
OF the lessons contained in the
parable of the Prodigal Son. Both were
well sustained by the various speakers
and awakened the inquiry, Why should
these villages lead Wheeling in this re-
spect?
J. Mckee, Esq, presided. Dr. Craig
of Jefferson College, and Rev. VIM
RYAN, of Waynesburg. were received as
visitors, and aided much by their adj,
counsel.
Rev. l.. Il. Steele, the young and ELI
Gent pastor at Pleasant Grove, has re
signed the charge, and will shortly re-
move To Front ROYAL, Va, that he may
br with his aged parents, OF whom he Is
an only child.
The Buffalo church at Taylorstown, Il
making an earnest effort to build house
of worship early in the summer.
am inclined to include my notes o
Rev. II. X. Craig, ID. DIS Task on
Preaching, though they come far shor
of the delivery. am requested to make
some remarks on preaching, and they
must he experimental mainly.
Much depends on the choice OF In,
| text. II should he selected with q con
sistent motive and weigh heavily on tn,
/ mind in waking and sleeping moments
| II should be chosen early in the weeE
that all our observations and reading
NAV furnish matter for illustration an'
| improvement. ltshould he legltlmatcl!
treated, not So much tn sustain pc
| theories" as to ascertain and present III
| truc meaning. There are three methods
OF which the theme has precedence
| rs il includes the tcXtual and eNposi
| tory. /. What is in the text? >. Wha
effect is designed on the people? !
food should Ice wholesome 80 shoul'
teaching variety in unity. Trutl
must be clearly and rcvcrcntly pre-
scntcd. not as though one was swearing
or myslilying. The language should be
plain, refined, animated, convincing
and yet tender.