The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-23
Splendid Impression at His
First Conference.
HIS CHARGE TO THE CLASS
Full of Wisdom and Sound Sense it Pleased all
"A Prosperous Conference Year
CIoses---The Circuit Riders are
Elegantly Entertained.
Editorial Correspondence


Monroe, N. c., Nov. 22.-I verify be-
lieve the high, stiff hats, called beavers"
in North Carolina, are going out of fash
ion. At the Methodist Conference here
this week l saw fewer than in a dozen
years. Whether it is because the people
paid up the preachers what they owed
this year, and didn't feel it necessary to
make them presents of unbecoming hats,
or whether it is good seed l have been
sowing, l cannot tell, but it is a good
change. Ten years ago, in a letter from
Methodist Conference, l told the story
of how beaver hat was an obstruction
In the way of preachers doing good. 1t
was this way: A woman was in deep trou-
bic and the preacher came to see her
He had shiny beaver hat She lived in
an humble cottage and kept no servant.
When he came in she was so afraid that
his slick tile would get dust on it that
she couldn't hear word he said and
while they were at prayers she got up
from her knees and busted it. A t'beaver''
Doesn't look right on a meek and Iowly
preacher anyhow, it looks too ''fixy" and
While some of the very best stick to
them for one cause or another, they are
growing fewer and fewer every year. The
same thing is true of gold headed canes.
l am sure John Wesley would regard it
as coed change to see both going into
lnnOcuOuS deSuetude.
Apropos, preachers dress, it is noted
that the members of the conference now
i'll session here do not look like they
are wearing their best They look like
body of well-dressed gentlemen, with
out the look of brand new clothes. This
is also another evidence that the peo-
PIE are paying the preachers better so
that they don't need to be saving their
best suits for conference, as in we olden
time. Il remember said on old cir
cult rider, ''the time when salary of
S4O0 was considered large and if had one
real good suit to keep for conference I
felt all right. Now / can have a real
good suit to wear every day in the
week"
The preachers are setting good exam
pie of good taste in dress. The old-fash-
ioned Methodists put too much emphasis
On simplicity and plainness, but latterly
the tendency has been in the other direc-
tion. Now the pendulum has swung back
to the idea of better taste and greater
simplicity.
The first impression upon entering
conference is rhe number of young and
fiue looking men who make up it's mem
bershp. 1t is body of progressive
looking forward. militant preachers. full
of faith and full of courage. There are
not few old men still in the active
ministry, some of them who set an exam
pie of abundant labors to the younger
men. II have enjoyed better health the
past year than at any period of my life, :"
said the veteran Rev. J. J. Rem, pre-
siding elder of the Mount Airy district
and | have been much of my times in
the mountains Last winter / travelled
hundreds of miles in the snow and ice
and 1t did me good That is a glorious
country in Surry, Ashe, Allegheny and
Watauga and the mountain region. In the
East the tendency has been for the en-
terprising young men to go to the towns.
Here they stay in the country and no
where in the world will you find better
people and finer climate" The truth is
that DR.. Rem has renewed his youth in
the attitudes and no wonder he is en-
thusiastic about the country.
There IS 40 body of men where the
comradeship is sweeter than among the
circuit-riders. The old man recalls his
youth when he sees the young men com
ing into conference. and the young man
sees his own last days when he looks upon
the superanunated preachers. Time deals
gently with the older men, but they are
admonlshed that they have not the
strength of ether days. Among the older
men here, who receive the warm greeting
OF all. are Revs. John r. Brooks Frank
n. Wood. and Paul ]. Caraway For
nearly half century they have been
in the harness and have held the most
important positions in the gift of tho
conference. The first two have been
forced. at least for awhile. to retire
from active work. Mr.. Caraway. the old II
est of the trio. continues in the pas
torate. but not in the more burdensome
offices which he filled a few years ago
Go where you will and you will not find
a trinity of men who in their day and
generation have done more for North
Carolina. They are North Carolinians to
the bone. they love their State and their
church. and their lives and characters and
usefulness are an inspiration to the
younger men. There are others among
the older men here as worthy. l men,
tion these three as types of class and
because I have known them for many
years and been helped by their minis
trations.
Reserve the front pews for the older
men, said Bishop Coke Smith yester
day morning. 'Their hearing is not so
good as 1t once was and we want to
give them the seats where they can hear
the best That expresses the spirit man
ifested toward the older men. 1t is beau