The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-14
4 PROSPEROUS YEAR
REPORTS OF ALL CHURCHES IN
THE CONFERENCE ARE
ENCOURAGING.
FIVE THOUSAND CONVERSIONS
Annual Meeting of the Confere ace His-
toricai Society and Dr. Bassetts
Able Paper on the Nature aud Prob-
lens f the w ork OF the Society--DT.
Hoss, Talk About the Trials OF an
Editor-..The Christian Advocate
Matter Still Unsettled.

Edit0r-.-The Christian advocate
Matter Still Unsettled.
ELIZABETH CITY, N. c., Dec. 13.--
sSpecial) The third day of the n.
G. Conference opened with devo-
tional services conducted by Rev. r. 2.
Troy. Many reports from pastoral
charges were received. These reports
show that the year abs been prosper
Gus one with the churches. 1t is esti-
mated that there have been about five
thousand conversions during the year,
but the statistical report is not yet
complete.
After very animated debate lasting
one hour and a half, Rev. .jno. I. Aber-
nathy was re-addmitted into the con
ference,
Rev. DR.. Law. of the American Bible
Society was introduced to the confer
ence and made an interesting state
ment about the work of the Society.
Rev. DR.. Hoss, editor of the Nashville
Christian Advocate. was presented to
the conference. DR. 1Ioss spoke at
some length concerning the great or
gan of the Southern Methodist
Church. DIR. Hoss is editing one of
the ablest religious journals Ameri-
odist can be justly proud of. DIR. Ifoss
remarks We're in very happy vein.
DIR. Hoss said that he had come to the
editorial chair of Southern Methodism
without having had any previous eX-
perience in conducting public journ-
al. He had served in nearly every 9TH
er Office from plowing a one-eyed mule
upon poor farm in Tennessee to a
n a rsaslt
and yet he was stranger to the edi-
torial chair. The Doctor said that the
hardest place he had ever been in is
that of the editors chair. lie told OF
the old Kentucky brother who wrote
him that he did not believe he
was anything but an old whiskey Dem
ocrat, and that hts wanted him 10 stop
his paper The doctor said there could
not be- q more intense temperance adj
yocatss living than he was, but that he
did not believe great paper ought 10
DE run just on one line. You can't
whip the devil out Of he world by
shaking 4 tin pan in his face. The doc
tor made pleasant reference to the Bish-
ops "a tiss church. He said hs had
known each ole of them personally
during the last thirty years. and that
he had not known one who was not a
cultured Southern Christian gentle
snan, but that some of their contliI,u-
tions sometimes found home IN the
Naste-basket.
The Conference unanimously passed
resolution stating its hearty endorse
ment Of DR.. kilgo's position on chris
tian education.
The report of the special committee
appointed at the last years Conference
to select one of the editors OF the
North Carolina Christian ADVOCATE was
submitted as follows:
after confere lee with the present
editors. the committee was unauie TO
come 10 any agreement, two members
of the committee coneurring in the
plans Of the present editors and two
members non-concurring. Your eoIn-
mittee is therefore unable 10 advise
any line of action to the Conference in
this matter"
The report was referred 10 the COM
mittee on books and periodicals.
In the afternoon the Conference His
torical Society held its annual meet
ing. r paper of rare merit was read
by Professor Bassett. Of Triuity Col
iege.
DR.. Bassett's subject was the Ma
ture and Problems of the Work of the
Historical Society,"" He said:
Some how the thought is to-day fill
ing the minds of our continent that
the South is entering on a period of
new life. The intuition of the world
is aglow with the idea of Southern de-
Yelopment. In industrial lines the be
ginnings of the process are easily to
be discovered. There are many OF us
that are anXiously looking for the
dawn also of an intellectual renais-
sance. Such a movement can never
come till the common intellectual
forces Of our community shall realize
the great ideas of those that long for
life. The historical work of the South
will be greatly benefited by such a
movement. 1t has been wofuliy neg
iected, IN both religious and civil life.
As a solitary hut in desert, as the
single house OF the poet that looked
over the ruins of desolated Thebes, so
are the few historical books we have
produced. ] come TO you to beseech
YOU that we may all consecrate our
selves 10 the study of the past, SO that
in our new problems our strengthened
hands may be directed by wiser heads
and sweeter spirits.
I'VE need n consciousness of the past
because: a. 1t viii keep Us from rush
ing into ideas Of social functions that
are not in keeping with Che indiyidu-
alistie spirit Of our people and our old
leaders (2.) II viii give us culture.
Culture means the equal Development
of the intellectual and spiritual sides
Of mans nature. TO save the world
from sim TO free human hearts
from base tendencies, to give
ms the dominion Of the soul
over the body, and TO reveal in its love
liness the purity of a god-lilse spirit
4his is doing good this is also true cul-
ture. History will give this, for in
scope it is as broad as humanity. To
master it broadens the soul till II en-
braces the life Of the world. This APP