West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-04-06

.' Niiia Peuieu listeners away with
him to the golden verge of the elvs-
ian fields beyond, and catching IN
the immortal strains.of Toplady'
inspiration of a hundred years ago,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me.
Let me hide myself in Thee"
and there mingling with the re-
rejoicing Knox, Judson, Cary and
all the faithful laborers, gathering
together with their abundant
sheavcS.
The Bishops closing reference to
hlsown advanced years andevident-
ly early departure, and his earnest
words of fathcrly admonition and
encouragement to his younger
brother Ministers, were peculiarly
touching, deeplymoving the hearts
OF the entire audience. His ready,
fluent words flowed forth sanctified
through his own tears, yelling up
from the depths of a great svmpa-
thetic soul, stirred with the love of
Christ and His cause; and every
thought and utterance seemed to
90 echoed back in audible responses
and sobs from every member of his
Conference fold, who manifest
ly had for their venerable shepherd,
a remarkable love and reverence.
We regret that we neglected to
take notes sufficient to enable us to
give fuller synopsis of this, to us
most edifying and effective dis
course.
After the sermon, c. w. Mayhall
Z. f. Chapman and James Barker
were ordained to the office of FL
dcrs, and set apart topreach, by the
laying on of hands, which was fol-
lowed by singing and the benedic-
ton
IN THE AFTERNOON
general experience meeting was
held and richly enjoyed by the
many brethren taking part and
present, as we learn from
friends attending, being ourself
necessarily absent. The audience
was much affected by an earnest
talk from Father West, of the
Methodist Church, who is 50 years
of age and has preached the gospel
for 60 years.
IN THE EVENING,
the church was filled ~ usual, and
after an excellent sermon by Rev.
B. +. Booth, Of Marietta, O., and the
taking OF a general collection, the
conservation hymn,
This year for Jesus"
was sung with much feeling and eff
feet.
Here, DR.. Warner, reviewed the
history Of the Conference, which
was organized % years ago by Biah-
op Glossbrenner, at Centreville, Ty-
Ter County, with ten ministers and
ten meeting houses.
In the first year of the war tho Con-
ference lost $50 members, just tho
number it had at it's organization.
1t now has SO ministers, 80 church
cs and 1000 members. The Bishop
has only been absent 2 terms in %
years, and has been in active service
since 1915. His official life with
this Conference ceases tonight
and with earnest and fitting words,
DR.. Warner proceeded to prepare
the way for a hearty and affection
ate farewell Misunderstanding on the
part of the Conference with
their much loved father in the
church
The affecting scenes and expert
ences that followed, were not for
words to picture or express, and only
for sympathetic hearts and souls to
enjoy, being richly joyous and sa-
credly sad. The Bishop himself
seemed to be lifted Heavenward and
almost divinely inspired, as NOV
ing aboutthe altar, he greeted each
coming brother, oung,middle-aged
and old, with words of blessing,
comfort and encouragement, just
suited to each well-known member
of his spiritual flock.
When the aged father West and
the Bishop met in exchanging fare
well blessings, the entire audience
seemed moved to tears and sobs, in
sympathy with the deep emotions
Of the two venerable patriarchs.
These hallowed exercises were
I. -