Smyrna times., 1888-11-28
For the snyrn a Times.
"Reminiscences.

Among the preachers ent' ,rtained at
The house of Robert Pa lterson, the
" Titer's father, at the Philadelnbia
Conference of the NJ. T.. Church OF
1870 held in this town, was the Rev.
Fra neis Waters, local preacher of said
chu'ch, and President of Washington
Coll 3ge, at ChestertOwn, Md. The
writer's brother was pupil at that in
stitut ion and on that account an invita-
! ton vas extended to the President to
visit during the Conference session.
AmO ng our other guests was Bishop
George, who moved his congregation
to tears by his earnest discourses and
pathetic appeals. He manifested his
own deep feeling in his mission bv his
tremulOus voice, and weeping ewes.
One Sabbath morning while preaching
he said that religion was above the
world, and a gay and intelligent lady
in the congregation, just converted
audibly responded, Yes religion is
above the world ~
The dignified Joshua SouIe who was
afterwards a Bishop of the NJ r.
Church, and subsequently of the M. %
Church South, and Rev. Ezekiel Coon.
er, well known as profound locician.
with several other nOtables were amonG
our guests.
1t was a favorable opportunity to
| arose the dormant powers of the
Church with regard 70 Collegiate in
! struction. Nearly a quarter of cen
tury had passed since thev had de-
nOminati6nal college. and now. there
was one in their very midst that was
calculated to take charge of such an in
stltutlon, 1t was Thought expedient to
make an effort to procure his services.
Accordingly, on certain evening the
Rev. VIM. Ryland a distinguished
preacher of the Conference and Rev.
James Smith, known among the
preachers and people as Baltimore
smith" to designate him from two 9th
ers OF the same name, were present to
see what they could do with the Rev
President to enlist his services. It has
been said of the Rev. Mr.. Smith above
alluded to, that there was no greater
divine in the United States or ENGLAND
Those that met on that memorable
evening were a constellation of worth
les that | have in my Imagination COM
pared 10 that magnificent one in the
Heaven known as Orion, and spoken
OF IN the scriptures by both Job and
David
There seemed to have been no pre-
paraLory thoughts nor acts previous to
the Conference, nor any thing done bv
1t, but the subject was brought forward
IN this social and private way to see
what could be effected.
They had no location in view and
no funds to endoW it with, and under |
such circumstances the learned Presi- !
dent declined enlisting his services to |
the probable effort they were de- |
slrous Of making. Some of the preach !
ers that met on this business were dele !
gates to the General Conference the |
following month. At that Conference !
there were resolutions passed in favor |
OF denominatiOnal education. which /
soon resulted in the establishment Of |
Colleges and Seminaries supported and .
controlled by Methodists.
such was the incipient step towards
the revival Of colleges among us as a
people, and this was taken in SMYRNA
Delaware, at the residence of the writ.
er's father
The Conference closed on the Goth of
April ana the General Conference com.
menced its session on the first dav of
May. SARAH p NT.eoSS- u