Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-09-11
Report of the Lewisburg District
Conference.
Written for The Recorder

On the morning Of the conven-
ton small delegation met at the
crossroads on their way to attend
attend the Lewisburg District Con-
ference at, Covington: Rev. }.
M. Eavey, preacher-in-ch charge; } L..
Hively and M. L. Woodzelle, dele
gates, and Misses. Hattie Burns,
Myrtle and Nettie Woodzelle, self
appointed delegates.
Our way led through the Fall
ing Spring Valley, and although it
has not the grandest scenery in the
world, still at everv turn are speci-
mems Of the handlwork Of God and
Nature. 1t is a happy valley. Great
fields Of grain nodding to each 9TH
er as a slight breeze passes over
them; acres and acres Of waving
corn stretching from the highway
to heforest beyond and mingling
with it in friendly association.
Those who saw it will remember
the sight-the strangeness of corn
growing beneath and am ong the
tall forest trees
Yes, 1t is a happy valley. Even
little children came laughing and
smiling and offered us flowers. We
drank Of the water from the Fall
ing Spring, and, although clear and
sparkling, it was too warm to be
pleasant. We had scarce gotten
over our disappointment in the
taste Of the water when-a turn in
the road, and the falls were sudden
! " in view. The water makes a pre-
cipitous descent Of number Of
feet, Dashing over the side of the
precipice, it falls down, down, until
in trying to reach The valley below,
! it dissolves into one cloud Of white
mist and vapor, and the surround
ing air filled with murmuring
sound as it musicalfy sings laug-
ing goodbye to the waters above,
and flows away gurgling over its
rocky bed. With d sigh we, too.
turn away from the scene before us
and hasten onward.
The sun had long since set in
golden glory, with yellow, red and
amber light, while just beyond lay
the town of our destination al
ways Just beyond. At last we are
there; and as a gentle twilight set
ties over the earth and faint light
still in the Western horizon, we
find the homes Of AGessrs. Muffett,
Hively and Burns opened to US with
genuinely hearty welcome.
Yes, Coyington WARMLY welcom-
ed the district conference and those
who were there can verify the state
ment Of a warm welcome, with
mercury scarcely varying from 100
during the entire session. How
warm we were! and it seemed not
breath of air stirring; and how we
longed for just one mountain
breeze! The preachers were armed
not with weapons for battle, but
with palm leaf fans.
This epistle has naught to do
with the business portion Of Con-
ference, il is the ''we small courte-
sizes, the Kindly words and pleasant
oompanionship that brighten many
dark places Of life for each other
and adorn memory's walls with
light and shade just enough for
perfect picture"
After the first session Of Confer
ence what a handshaking there was
as old friends FASTENED to meet each
other with many warm expressions
of friendship. and it may truly have
been said Of them, "See how these
Christians love each other" They
seemed bound together with ties of
love and sympathy for the work in
which they are united. One COM
mon cause, one aim in view, and
thew work together with goodwill
for each other in peace and harmo-
ny. We cannot forget the kindly
expression on the face Of Presiding
Elder Martin, as he presided over
the Conference with gentle kind
ness. bot Gree during the entire.
session did cloud Of irritation or
vexation cross his brow. Not even
when the piece Of ice fell from the
bucket Of water to the floor. there
by causing the members in the Vi
cinity Of the bucket to look up with
something Of the expression OF a
guilty school boy; nor when the
members were laundering around
in deep water and all wanted to
talk at once regarding the Epworth
league Convention.
There we're many amusing inci-
dents occurred, which we are sure
those who were there will enjoy
reading as a pleasant memento OF
their social life. Brother llamill's
report was that the Sunday schools
and prayer-meetings were obsolete,
and that the Sunday-schoolg hi
bernate;" while the presidentanter-
rogated Summer Or winter, broth
err" Mr.. Waid, as layman, in an
swer to the query regarding his. ii