Smyrna times., 1885-10-07
The M. E. Conference of 1850
and 1851.

rev. AQan WdllaCe, -. L., III SER
les of sketches to the Peninsular MethO-
dist, gives the following account of the
session of the Philadelphia Conference,
held in Smyrna in the Spring of 1851
"The Annual Conference was held
in Smyrna, beginning Wednesday,
March 26, and lasting ten days. There
was more preaching during the session
than l ever knew on similar OcCa-
sion before or since. First, Bishop
Waugh gave us a powerful sermon
from Heb. 12-17, after which, for the
first time, l heard my name called in
the Conference roll. 1t was then with
in q few names of the bottom of list
of $50 members. 1t is now, after 35
years, up near the top, and over 200 Of
those strong, active men, during this
interval have ceased to work and live.
1.-THE preachers l heard afternoons
and evenings, were, G. r. Crooks, just
beginning to make his power felt, Elon
J. Way, whose text from Psalm 119,
led him to speak of its peculiarities,
DIR. HOdgsOn, then mastery orator,
w. H. Elliott whose kindliness won
the younger men, DR.. Durbin, whose
flashes of rhetorical lightning made
every nerve in my body tingle, Billy
Barns, who as he said, took his stand
on hell-fire,' and defed all the sOphis-
try and sham of Universalism to dis
prove his position, DR.. Jesse Il. Peck,
who filled the pulpit of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, into which a lot Of
us crowded, and according to its beau
tiful ritual, "made a joyful noise "
in hallelujahs, under the preacher.
DR.. JOS H. Wythe gave us an intellec-
tual discourse, and Charles Karnser,
John d. Curtis, J. Y. Ashton, and
James A. Massey preached their best
! sermons.
"An unknown Irishman named
Boyd, however, as l heard some Of the
| brethren declare, Outpreached them
| all ! Boyd was a nOndescript. He
crossed the ocean accredited from the
/ Irish Wesleyan COnneXion, and made
| his way to the seat of the conference
to be admitted. They put him up to
see if such an odd genius could preach
at all. 1t was Sunday night. The
Church was packed. Boyd conducted
the opening and closing services him
self, and delivered u sermon in the
! u
Watson. He was admitted without
question next day, but in a short time
became untitled for the work, solely on
account of his verdency. 1t was com
planned of him, that he would not CON
fine himself to the parlOTs where he
was wont to put up, but always made
his way to the kitchen, watching the
cook and asking the most simple
questions. In regard to Il luxurious
dish of oysters on the table at one
time, he innOcently asked the lady of
the house, if they were clane.' He
was headed West in year or two, and
perhaps he at present may be a
Boanarges on the plains of Kansas, OF
possibly a ranch-man's assistant in
herding cattle. His lack, they said
was common sense, without which
of all men, in all relations, in this
country, Methodist preacher in those
days, was a nobody. This severe yer.
dict may have been modified of later
years.
while on Conference preaching,
may as we'll refer to a new star in the
, ecclesiastical hemisphere on that occa
sion. 1t was Frost POllitt, of Somer
set. Who in after years, acquainted
with the lower Peninsula, did not heal
of Frost? He drove into town, know
ing few except myself, at whose in
stance he came to seek ordination.
arranged at once to have his old hOrs,
taken care of, and had a notice sen
up to the Conference Secretary tina
this pulpit genius would preach in tn
cOlored peoples Church. A number O
, the prominent preachers came out t
4 hear him, and his peculiar logic, ant
fiery eloQuence captivated them. Mex
evening he had nearly half the Confer
ence, and although scared a little, mad
them laugh and cry at will. / KEEP
him preaching every night, and alway
passed the hat around, so that it too
his large red bandanna handkerchie
> to hold the treasure, in copper and sil
!. yer, contributed towards his expenses
He was, moreover, elected unanimous
ly, rare distinction at that time fO
one of his color. He and / were goo
friends after that Conference up to tn
hour of his happy release from tn
. Church militant, to see the beatific Wis
ions he so often depicted, when electr
flying large congregations
"That Smyrna Conference was mem
Orable to me from another considers
3 ton. My esteemed Presiding Elde1
Bro. Onins, Just finishing his term o
the Snow Hill District, came before il
bar under charges. His great pOpU
!. larity did not save him-perhaps wa
, the occasion of unfriendly imputatiol
The worst phase of the case was in
prudent conduct, but even this coul
:, not be sustained. He was cleared, BIT
'j the charges nearly broke his sensitiy
heart. My subsequent acquaintanC
with him in varied relations, thrOug
y all of which he acted the gentlema
and Christian, would make a volum
His last days were his best, for a
most driven from the bounds of h
:. own Conference by prejudice, as /
thought, he moved West, and file
Of some of the best appointments in KeI
tucky, West Virginia and at Otht
= points, before he died in peace an
went to heaven.
" The Smyrna Conference closed
noon on a Saturday, and the steambo
Balloon was waiting at Shorts Lant
ing, to convey the upward bour
a, preachers to Philadelphia. What
scurry that was to get conveyance
- and make the boat. Everything {
- wheels seemed to have come in
requisition, and the preachers we
merry enough to connive at a lit
squirting along the marsh roads, to s
81 whose team could keep ahead of Il
dust. My raw-bOned gray. after SUI
a good rest, behaved well, and q
IN though pulling as many of the bret
'" rem as could hang on to my carriag
was not far behind when we reach
ery the landing. It was n general scr
race, and a jolly finale to a pleasa
,nt Conference session"
let ----''p-- ------
ap TO KILL A PRAYER MEETING
Dc Forget all about It until the hour
riyes. Come ten minutes late and
tt near the door. Drag the music; slo
ges, painfully slow singing is so approp
ana ate for a dead prayer meeting. VIII
&C. the meeting has begun, wait for 9th
to speak and pray. When you
take part, occupy about twenty m
:. utes. Be sure and bewail the l.
- spiritual condition of the chur
When the meeting closes, go out
from funeral; you can speak W