The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-06

of about nine days they reached the place
in time for the session of the conference.
All the article was interesting, some of
it not without amusement. The following
extracts are among the most interesting:
Tuesday morning we passed through
Hillsboro and followed the road leading
to Raleigh. Nothing of special interest
occurred during the day; we rode over
the site where the city of Durham now
stands; but there was not the least sign
of town then to be seen. Having made
good days ride, we reached the resi-
dence of Rev. DR.. Afford. He enter
tanned us very cordially. He was very
glad to have us stay with him. He had
once been a member of the Conference;
he had married a wealthy lady-a Miss
Leach, | think-and his health failing,
he had located and entered the medical
profession. Everything in and about the
house, indicated elegance and refinement.
Mrs. Afford was a cultured and refined
lady. When we were invited out to tea,
| was very much perplexed, for | saw by
| the side Of my plate white cloth, neatly
| folded and slipped into an ivory ring.
What it was for. / did not know. But /
noticed one at DR.. Affords plate of the
same kind. So / watched what he would
| do and ! would do likewise. Presently
| he pulled the cloth out of the ring,
| opened it and placed it in his lap. Then
| | pulled mine out of the ring, opened it
and placed it in my lap. Brother Martin
did the same. After a little DR.. Afford
| took up the cloth and wiped his mouth.
| Then ! took up my cloth and wiped my
| mouth, and Brother Martin did likewise.
So whenever DR.. Afford wiped his mouth,
we both wiped our mouths. When we
| had finished eating, DR.. Afford folded
| up his cloth and slipped it back in the
ring. We both folded up ours and slip
| ped them back into the rings Thus we
| learned what to do with table napkins,
| without exposing our ignorance. And so
| in after years when we met with finger
| bowls and other fashionable fads, we first
watched how others behaved. and fol-
| lowed their example.
| Wednesday forenoon we passed through
| Raleigh We had never seen such a
| large city. We were filled with wonder
when we beheld the magnificent State
| House. 1t was then quite new, and look
ed splendid--the largest and finest build
|
| the city. we went on in the direction of
| Smithfield. We stopped at a public house
for the night. The gentleman was not a
| member of any church. but said he had
great respect for the church and for
| preachers who said their prayers. Some
times preachers stop here who never pray.
and l feel like l ought to charge them
just as anybody else" When bedtime
l. L. Co. slx-
ship. We read chapter. sang a hymn
| and Brother Martin offered a fervent
prayer. The next morning the landlord
said, Your family worship was worth
more to me than your board and lodging
it did us all good; come again and you
shall be welcome to the best I've got"
Thursday we passed through Smith
field, and by pushing little, we reached
Waynesboro by dark. Here we stopped
overnight at hotel, kept by very nice
lady. We became acquainted with her
and her family in after years, and found
them to be excellent people. Next morn
| ing we passed over the great spot now
| occupied by Goldsboro. Here, for the first
| time we saw the track of a railroad. We
saw no engine or train, but only the track.
There was 9 station and few houses.
not more than a half dozen. Now there
| is a thriving young city with several
| thousand inhabitants"
Mr.. Frost was an old time Methodist
preacher of the strongest type who made
| a lasting impression upon the Methodism
of North Carolina. 1t is a little singular
that Rev. Wilbur F. Tillett. of the
Theological Department of Vanderbilt
University, who is here. should have
written this item of Mr.. Frost in this
weeks Raleigh Christian Advocate;
Another able and scholarly man whose
school l attended was Rev. Samuel Mil =.
ton Frost. He, too. had come from the
North and returned thither soon after
the war. and has filled some large and
influential pulpits in his church since his
return Some years ago he used to ia
vor his North Carolina friends With an
occasional letter in the Advocate, but
have not seen anything from him lately.
This was at Olin, in Iredell county,
President Wilson. in a timely address,
urged the Importance of preserving the
facts of the early history of Methodism.
The society has done much good already
and will accomplish more. The officers
elected for the next year are
President-Rev N. H. d. Wilson.
First Vice President-Rev w. S. Rome
Second Vice President-Rev. w. H.
Moore.
Secretary-Rev. w. F. Craven.
Treasurer-Rev. Y. H. Broom.
Editor of Historical Society Annual
Dr. J. S. BasSett.