Sharp County record., 1880-01-15
THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
EDITOR RECORD: In your issue Of
Dec. 18th is a communication from
Bro. Garrison, of Helena, relative
to the appointment by the con-
ference of that place for its next
convention. That letter and its sub
iect matter demand attention. While
its style indicates happy mind and
much good humor on the part Of the
writer, the reading thereof occa,
stoned unpleasant if not painful re-
Aections. Its tone and general ex
preston is apologetic, little boast
tul, and is suggestive that, perhaps,
the Helena pastor does not compre-
hend the situation. The writer Of
that letter has many friends in this
direction, and, if he had foes about,
| would say he had placed himself
in an attitude Of being, as Hector
said Of his brother Paris, in the old
Trojan tragedy, ga grief to his
friends and a joy to his enemies"
That Bro. Garrison talked, worked
and voted" for Helena and against
an invitation to the right place, and
possibly against bis conscience,
needed no apology. He was dele
gate from the Helena church, was
by authority the representative of
the voice and preference Of her
members, and simply obeyed an
unavoidable behest. In this, if he
did nothing more, he did his duty,
and for which | accord him my ap-
plause. Had he acted otherwise he
would have been reprehensible, and
rendered himself as subject to criti-
cism as the Batesvllle pastor did in
dlSregarding the manifest choice Of
his charge, No, | assure the Helena
pastor that "the gem of the hills"
(score one for Garrison has no
complaint against him for his actions
III the promises. But the Helena
pastor, with unfortunate taste, in
duIges in felicitous expressions of
his successful accomplishments over
Bros. UmSted and Boswell. To this
make no reply, except to say that
III his elation he manitests little
Of that quality which is common to
all humanity, and which love for an
Old friend, good humor, and perhaps
good manners, forbid me 70 call
vanity, | do rot visit him with
censure for that--only note the fact.
Then the Helena correspondent
writes as if Evening Shade had been
candidate and contestant for the
honor of being elected as the place
Tor the next sitting of the confer
ence. In this he is in error. Helena
may have been a candidate and con-
testant for that honor, but "the gem
OF the hills" never was, and, | pre-
sumo, never Will be. The church at
Evening Shade, being great in nu-
merlcal strength and solid in moral
and material powers, sent up to the
late annual conference an earnest
and cordial invitation for the con-
terence to assemble in its next an
nual convention within her borders.
Ah's invitation was declined "with-
cut thanks" and the conference, in
the exercise of its right and sup
posed wisdom, ordered otherwise.
Had the conference accepted the
invitation, and come along, its dele
gates, attendants and even the
bishop would have found the gates
of the little city wids open, and
would have been received into homes
and families as welcome and hon
ored guests, and cared for with a
hospitality and liberahty unsur-
passed, If not uncqualed, in the an
nails of the White River Conference
AS 1t is, however, "the gem Of the
hills" and all around can we'll afford
to tslicitate "the city by the inland
sea-" and Bro. Garrison, upon the
honor of the coming occasion. |
tell him there is no dissatisfaction
IN these precincts at the action of
the conference in fixing Helena for
It's next convOcatlon. 1t is doctrine
which propriety accords on sill occa,
sions, that an invitation to home
and hospitality may be accepted or
declined, but the generous oferer
should always bo Indifferent and
rest upon the dignity and calm phi
IoSophy expressed by Addison
Suit yourselves and we are suited"
No dOubt tba HaleDs nostor oidod