The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-28
Tho Grecnville Conversation.

| COnVOCatlOn, wnlCn ls the mission.
ary organization Of the Episcopal
Church 'in the upper tier OF coun-
ties Of South Carolina, has just
been held in our city. The meeting
opened with the Holy Communion early
Wednesday morning, followed by q re-
treat for the clergy, lead by the Rt.
Rev. Bishop Capers. A retreat is a
devotional service, at which the Btsh-
op Tin this present instance) delivers
addresses of purely spiritual nature
to the clergy under his charge. Hie
object is to give them helpful sugges-
tions and instructions DOR their sacred
work, and encouragen mt in tho mani
fold difficulties incidet 70 their labors
in tho prosecution Of their high calling.
His addresses were upon "Our Call
ing" and "Our Helps and Hindrances. ."
A pleasant feature of this retreat was
the presence Of many Of the pastors of
! Newberry, who united W 4 the Convo-
cation In hearing the godly instruction
Of the St. Rev. Bishop. 1t was an oc-
casion which all who enjoyed it will
long remember. The Bishop was most
happy, both in his selection Of O subject
and in his treatment OF 1t.
| After these services, the COnvocation
was called to It's business sessions,
Bishop CAY crs in the chair. The usual
prcliminaries'over,t the Rev. II. ID. Brat
ton was elected Secretary and Treas
urcr for the ensuing year. The stand
ing committees were then appointed,
| when the Convocation took u recess for
| dinner.
The afternoon session ut 4 o'clock was
devoted to the missionary reports from
the various clergy present. The Bishop
in opening the session spoke of tho ex-
| cellont work being done by his thco.
logical students, from the school at
Sewanee, Tennessee, who voluntarily
| offered to give al their holiday season
to missionary work in South Carolina.
or these students, Mr.. Witsell Is at
work in Gaffney aud Blacksburg, Mr..
Boyd in Winnsboro and Chester, Dr..
Waring in Yorkville, and Mr.. Bean in
Spartanburg.
The reports of the missionaries were
unconscious testimonies to the faith
full and incessant labors of these
| worthy men, and showed gratifying
progress throughout tho fold commit
| ted TO their care. Their work Is done
on railroads, bicycles and in buggies,
! from house TO house and town to town,
many Of them being constantly on tho
road doing tho work OF evangelists.
With the exception Of the Rev. DR..
Mccullough, the we'll known and VEN
cradle Arch Deacon, Of the Convoca-
tion, tho clergy who compose this
band Of missionaries are young and ac-
tive men, full Of youthful vigor and
equal to tho burdens Of missionary
life.
The first days work closed with a
service at 7.30 p. m, when Bishop
Capers delivered q splendid sermon
| upon tho subject relationship in Church
and State;" his text was "Ieender unto
Caesar the things which be Caesars,
! and unto God tho things that are
I Gods"
On the second day, Thursday, the
session opened, as always, with moru-
ing prayer. At this service the infant
son of Mr.. and Mrs. O. MGR. Holmes
was baptized by the Bishop, assisted by
the Rector, Rev. w. S. Holmes. The
| Convocation may claim another NOM
bcr in little Nicholas Schcnck Holmes.
| Who knows but he may some day join
the white-robed band of clergy who
gathered about the little new born
| Christian?
The business meeting being called,
the Rev. Mr.. Holmes delivered most
thoughtful and useful essay upon the
theme, "Concentration in Mission
Work." in which he clearly outlined a
wise policy Of tho Church in cenccn.
trating her force Of mon and money in.
stead Of diffusing IL, and showed how
this could best be done practically.
The subject was further discussed by
most of the members, both clerical and
lay, and finally summarized by the
Bishop from his larger view point.
In the afternoon tho matter Of sup
port for theological education was dis.
cussed, when the Rev. Cantey Johnson,
of Rock Hill, and Mr.. Witscll explained
tho objects and operation of tho St
Luke's Society, which Is occupied in
raising funds for this purpose. There
are fourteen candidates for the minis.
try for whose support the Bishop holds
himself responsible. He must look to hit
church members to supply the means
to fulfil his obligations to these young
men.
The next meeting of Convocation was
fixed for the 28th September in Blacks
burg. The appointments for this meet
ing were then made, when the Convo
cation adjourned for the day.
At 7.3O p. m. the chancel of the
church was filled with tho clergy pres
ent. The Rev. Cantey Johnson preac ed
a most interesting sermon on Missions
Bishop Capers confirmed two candi