Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-27

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Israel G. NJ. e. church last evening Rev. Mr.
Hargraves, from the committee on literature
mace q report recommending that an effort be
made to sustain the correctional paper and
that care be taken to exclude from the Sunday
scnool DOORS that "have tendency to detract
from the Sunday SCHOOL,
81 think" said Rev. VIM. a. Sherwood, che
really means, or intends to say books obnoxious
or that might hurt our minds to read. We hal
better insert some other word in place of de-
tract"
These remarks by Brother Sherwood, who is
young preacher just admitted to the confer
ence, raised something of breeze in the con-
Oric.
"A good many OF these preachers" observed
make reports and talk about correctness in
grammar, &C., and then go out and never think
again about church literature until the confer
ence meets again the next year."
THE BISHOP ON GRAMMAR.
$50 far as grammar is concerned" said the
bishop, 1--WE an'texpect 1t to be the best in the
world. good many of our preachers come
from the rural districts, where their associa-
tons, so far as grammar is concerned, is bad.
They've had to pick up what little they learn
we should not be ashamed of the day of small
things. good many folks want to criticse
,e They crsicise the songs in the
But it is part OF our people. We can't help it.
a A man might as well be ashamed because he's
"a good many of them are" interrupted
member.
elf our people make mistakes in grammar"
at them. know some people criticise the
child-like letters in our papers. 1 am not
ashamed of them or OF our poetry: rs bring
little Jump-ups.' Why 1 have heard negro
ditties that sounded to me the sweetest
used to ask N sing a dttfy MOI
ashamed OF my. people or their songs. Not
even that one about The 'washpot and buck
what do you call it, Brother Usher--that thing
behind? and Skip, Josephine, and put on your
waterfall" brother having supplied TO the
bishop the name OF "that thing behind" the
bishop continued:
"Oh yes; put on your bustle.'
Put on your WATERFALL
Buckle your shoes and ALL and SO on. That's
all very rude, but our people are in a transitOry
state, but they are passing out. We are in the
bondage of Ignorance into the promised land.
When u preacher breaches, and makes a mis-
take, 1t Is a mistake for US to make game of
him. We should pray for him and pity him. I
have heard some sermons that were execrable;
preachers who would spit nearly across the
church, and sing the gospel, but then it couldn't
in favor of this paper said the bishop, refer
ring to the organ of the conference, "gOing on,
II it does have some letters in it, whose gram
mar is not good"
BROTHER MITCHELL AND BROTHER sHER-
WOOD.
IT am glad" said Rev. Mr. Pierce, "that men
are Weakening up to the fact that whatever is
said of the Lord ought TO be said we'll. am
glad young men are studying. think Brother
Smothers ought not to reflect on the young
men s aspiration, as he did in laying emphasis
on the word grammar"
Mr.. Sherwood urged that he had not said the
grammar of the report was not good. He had
only suggested that another word ought to be
used. There was no need tor the "sarkOsticap'
remarks of Brother Smothers.
Brother Mitchell, an elderly preacher, who
sat in the front pew under the bishops eye, evil
IDENTIFY considered that the remarks about
grammar were intended for his benefit, for he
now rose and lifted up his voice. mo house is
ever closed against me" he said. ''They are
glad to get me to preach, and when 1 have
preached they want me TO come back. Any
pr acher who has grammar enough to explain
the gospel will do. That's grammar enough to
get to heaven with"
"You amt grammar enough to come back
here now" said Brother Pierce, referring to
Israel church, which is the leading charge-the
"Ive been here" retorted Brother Mitchell,
proudly, swelling his chest. land that's more'n
you have. I've been here and you can't get
The committee compromised by changing
its report SO that it referred to books contrary
to Methodist Episcopal usages and teachings,
and the report was adopted.
resolution was adopted to memorabilia the
several conferences 70 set apart a Sunday for
taking collection for the benefit Of Israel
THANKS TO THE BISHOP.
Rev. Mr.. McDade offered resolution of thanks
to Bishop Holsey for his kindness and impair
TALLY as presiding officer of the conference
Rev. Mr. Pierce did not think it right to adopt
such resolution. He never heard of such
sit is not customary in our church." said the
bishop, ITO thank the bishops for doing their
duty; it is customary to get after them when
they don't do it"
Rev Mr. McDade said LOOKING sharplv a, Mr.
Pierce, that he thought that of all men min
lister should have courtesy, else he was not fit
should be SO "abominabIy aristocratic"
The resolution was passed.
Among other resolutions of thanks offered
was one to the reporters
II don't know" said the bishop, "whether we
ought to give thanks to them or not. They
come 9 here to get news The reporters ought TO
to charge the reporters" The bishop, how.
ever, Withdrew his objections and the resolu-
Thanks were also voted to Rev. r. 8. Will
Jams congregation, at Israel church, and the
people OF Washington for their hospitable treat
ment OF the congregation.
THE TRIALS OF PREACHERS.
The bishop then assembled the pulpit to per-
form his last duty In the conference by an
the appointments for the year. He
prefaced this by little informal talk or
advice to preachers. He said those who went
to new fields should not 60 around and hint
Iuat VIC uiou VINO was Cnefe before MIN Ola
not know anything about his work. Some of
them were y little better educated than others;
some could preach little better than others;
but they should remember that all were equal
In Christ. Another thing I have seen In
preachers, remarked the bishop, "that is q sort
of big head1sm, sort OF swell-headism. They
come to people to bully or whip religion into
them. Now you can't whip religion into any
body. AS old Bishop Asbury used to say mo
lasses will gather more flies than vinegar" He
advised preachers If they wanted to get at any
particular sin or weakness in their congrega-
lions not to rebuke them too much on that
point, not to harp on it. II they kept whipping
a mule In one place the skin would come OF,
and the mule would kick after while. "Dont
give them the same old thing all the time,"
said the bishop. "Don't give them stale bread
all the time. OF all the people in the world,
tho colored people liked good juicy meat Don't
give them too much dry theology. While You
are reading your old sermons, two-thirds OF
and enthusiasm. 1 wish we had more enthu-
siastic evangeiistics, who would carry fire and
sword into he'll itseif-like Brother Mitchell
there"
"Amen!' said Brother Mitchell.
The bishop, continuing, said the preacher
should visit those who lived poorly just as often
most comfort, but we have to make sacrifices.
have eaten many q dinner didn't want May
be that Is why have the dyspepsia Ihave had
1t for fifteen years" The bishop related trial
which he and Bishop Lane had undergone in
Tennessee, where they had TO sleep In q bed In
which the bedbugs held general conference as
bad not apparently been washed for six months.
In the morning the woman cooked In turn in
the same spider the meat, biscuits, coffee and
cnickens, ana never once washed the spider: