The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-16

WHICH - AC va uCys
Charles r. Deems, d. D. LIZ D.. one Of
the most mastery and gifted preachers
Southern Methodism ever had, q dis
tinguished author OF many excellent
books. and as genial a. brilliant, as
true as learned. as devout a indust-
rious: Rev. Robert 8. Moran. a nan of
as much mental power. combined with
rarest gift OF expression and imagfna-
tive splenoor as any minister who has
ever figured in North Carolina, Of
whom DR.. Deems once said to us,
that after knowing Bishop Bas-
com intimately, he considered Dr.. Mo-
ran a higher mind, and resembling
somewhat the splendid western orator;
Rev. Newma F. Reid. an exceedingly
catching, pleasing preacher of fine
parts; Rev. DR.. n. II. d. Wilson, a
really admirable preacher, sometimes
eloquent. always interesting; Rev. DIR.
Rufus 7. Hef1in, the ablest editor, and
the first The North Carolina Christian
Advocate ever had, a capital debater,
a lucid, vigorous preacher, endowed
with excellent judgment and clear.
strong understanding; Rev. Joel ".
Tucker, a preacher Of very remarkable
sermons, always sure to preach at con-
ference and meet expectations, of
whose sermon on Gods Sovereignty
and Man Free" the late excellent Rev.
Jacob Doll, of the Presbyterian Church..
said to Judge John Kerr, who told VI,
that he did moi believe God ever Great
ed more than one preacher in q CEN
fury who could preach such a sermon
as that; Rev. John s.. Long, then rising
like a star Of brilliancy. of whom we
heard DR.. Deems, his presiding elder.
say at Beaufort in 1859, that he was 4
young minister Of exceeding promise.
and that he had heard him preach ser
mons he would himself have been very
glad to have preached; Rev. DR.. Brax-
ton Craven, a strong man, achieving
much under greatest early difficulties,
the founder of Trinity College, and q
| man of vigorous intellections and adj
| ministrative gifts. These are the chief
men as their names occur to US aS we
make a rapid retrospection.. There
were other men Of talents and much
usefulness-men like Revs. William
| Barringer, David B.. Nicholson, Ira T.
| Wyche, John Tillett, and others, and
among the young men pushing for
ward in their work, and who have be-
come strong men in the place Of the
| old sO1dior~ whn 6io6 m fha fold of
battle, fighting the good fight for their
Lord and Master, we may mention
Revs. Edward J.. Yates. John r..
Brooks, A. H. Mangum Gall D. DIS at
terward) and some other men of tall
| ents and energy. The conference then
had only some 126 to 40 preachers. In
1859 it had 126. It was a remarkable
body as a whole. Rev. j. G.. Troy was
among them. In old age he is using
his skilled pen and disciplined mind for
the cause of truth. We have not read
his book, but we know he is intelli-
gent, writes clearly, is a man to be
trusted and venerated and we hope
his book intended to do good will ac-
| complish the end sought, and be wide
" circulated. The price is thirty cents,
and it was published in The Charlotte
Observers o~ffice,in which paper the ar
ticles comprising the book first appear
ed in the religious department. He is
| disabled by failing health from the &C.
tive work of a minister, u he wisely
employs his pen in the cause Of right
| eousness. His address is Jonesboro,
| Moore county, N. c. OF all the older
men named there is not one living.
| All have passed over the river" and
like converted, regenerated men; they
| all died in the confident hope and ex-
| pectation Of a home in heaven. Mr..
] Barringer. of all, we think, only failed
| to give some testimony as to peace Of
| mind and the bright assurance of inn
mortality among the blessed n saw
ed. He was suddenly killed by a fall
from s~caffolding around Greensboro
Female College when It was building.
write of that roll. If W. had time for
q magazine article we could with
pleasure enlarge much upon the quail
ties and Intellectual endowments OF
each and what they accomplished in
behalf of pure and undefled religion.
We hurriedly make the brief references.
prompted by. the book mentioned. We
doubt II there is another secular editor
in North Carolina who knew personal
~ all those strong men. After all the
educational advantages since 1859
nearly forty years-can the two Metho-
dist conferences in 1897, numbering
probably $50 Or $50 preachers, match
in real learning. mental force, wisdom,
Judgment, knowledge Of men. power in
the pulpit, eloquence, those named. We
probably should rave included the late
Rev. Robert O. Burton, D. D. He had
removed fO fho VIRGINIA conference he