The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-10-26
TIE REK. Nh. PRTOB.

AAh I'm y. MA ElflCb.
Moncure d. Conway, in very
interesting letter from London to
Harpers Weekly, about the Metho-
Dist Ecumenical Conference, makes
this mention of one of the delegates
from North Carolina, a member
of the Price family, whom our read
ers will recognize rs the same prod
ICY of Oratory and oloquence who
won such distinction and fame at
Raleigh, n. c., last summer by his
speech before a prohibition conven-
ton:
There was a different chairman every
dry, and among all who presided Bishop
Peck carried OF the palm. The Confer
ence had adopted rigid regulations 70
its constitution and the conduct Of bus
iness, and among these was a rule that
each subject should be introduced by az
essay OF twenty inmates, followed by
an invited address of twenty minutes,
and that for the rest Of that particular
session each voluntary speaker should
have five minutes. Bishop Peck had a
table-bell beside him which he struck
with terrible punctuslity. But when he
did so 1t was always with seine good
humored and appropriate remark which
took away the sting Of the enforced ST.
lence. One essay which he had to cut
short was a remarkably fine one by the
Rev. w. Arthur, on "Methodism. a
Power of Purifying and Elevating So.
ciety." Mr.. Arthur is the ablest and
most scholarly Wesleyan in Europe
and his essay sustained his high reputa
ton. Bishop Peck said no one could
know how ii hurt him TO touch the bell
but happily they would all have an CD
portunity of reading the entire essay in
print. The next occasion in which the
bishops bell had to be touched was one
which was still more gricvous to the as.
sembly. A remarkably dark African
from North Carolina, the Rev. Mr..
Price, was making a speech more effect.
i've than any which heard during the
Conference. Nothing could exceed the
literary finish, the wit, and felicitous
expression Of the extempore speech
which came through the musical voice
OF this negro. The assembly was thrown
into sort of ecstasy by It. When the
bell sounded he instantly sat down
like MIR. Arthur, stopping in the middle
Of sentence. There we're cries Of GO
on !" Bishop Peck said, "Our brother
has grand good sense, and l know he
Will not go on" a motion was offered
by an aged English delegate that further
time should be allowed this speaker; but
the bishop said the Conference must be
pqtient under the laws it had made for
Itself, and he could not put the motion.
The speech of this colored man was
followed by something more impress
i've than mis- peroration could have been.
The Rev. DR.. Marshall, Of Vicksburg,
rose, and after an admirable little speech
on the lave which he and his white
brethren Of the South had always felt
for the cSlored people-whom they had
never eglected-turncd around and
greeted Mr. Price In the name OF the
Southern delegates, and shook him
warmly by the hand. In front Of the
negro sculptured on the talbot Of the
great missionary Thomas Coke. already
described, one could see here remark
ably fine group Of negroes, and listen
to speeches from them by no means in
ferior to- others by their white friends.
During one day The eolored Bishop
Payne of baltimore presided, aud with
a perfect dignity, Some thought him
the best chairman they had ever known.
At Exeter Hall this bishop was rcceiv-
ed with long continued plaudlts, and
his account Of Methodism among the
Africans Wa6 one Of the finest specimens
Of graphic description r'have heard.
An aged and very tall culorcd woman,
styled Sister Smith, the Evangelist, F"
is GoHssqpl attendant ot the Confer
ence. She is especially noticeable a.
the only person present who wears the
old fashioned Methodist or half Qua er
bonnet.