The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-09

PASSED INTO FULL CONNECTION
]. E. Holden. G.. r. Rood and y. c..
YEARLY were received into full connec-
Ition. In connection with tf.lr recep-
ton Bishop Smith SAID to them as fol-
lows:
II am not going TO keep you standing
Tong. but 1 want to say 4 feE things 10
Iyou. / hope ysu nave cut the lines
which have bound you to the shore. II
you have any misgiving about entering
1.-THE work of the ministry now Is the
time to turn back. II you 60 forward
today never turn aside.
You must have faith in GCd. a per-
sonal experience of Iod's approval.
You must keep IN constant touch with
God II you would lead other men to
Him. Pious talk brings religion into
idIscre.:it if the speaker has not the eI-
ip%erience in his own heart and dos not
live daily his profession. You are TO
have a growing faith. and il you have
not his faith now, don't let another day
pass before you experience this faith
IN your own heart. Jesus Christ is big
ger in the eyes of the world today than
ever before. Have a growing faith and
keep in constant touch with Cod.
Il want you to uncersIand that the
love of o. perfected means Tie love OF
God as we'll. There are some men who
iseem TO love men less the greater the
Hove lley DEolcSS " Iva
Love men. see the good in men.
The master found sood whe' ever He
could find It. We are ID save men by a
positive gospel. We can never save
them by a gospel of IL Catives. Guilt,
waite the big virtues IN inen and you will
kill out their the little vices.
Il beg you to preach a whole gospel.
i beg you not to preach a one sided Cos
pei. The grace of God is manifold and
~lcovers everything. so thing on great
things and preach m great things. 1t
will be necessary for you to preach IN
special subjects, bnt never belittle the
gospel by preaching on some little
theme.
THE world was never hungrier for
the gospel than it is today, but you
cant feed hungry men on wind and the
east vino at that. Don't try To draw
men to you by any cla"-trap tho Is.
I have never published the subjects Of
my sermons in all the thirty years IF
my ministry, eXcep two or three times
I have announced series of sermons
Keep out of debt and let your work
be as good as your bond. Avoid debt
las you would a serpent.
BE courteous, for if any mana ought
to be a gentleman it is the Christian
minister. Make yourselves so pleasant
in the homes Of the people that they
will always be glad to see you. old peo-
PIE anu young people.
You will AVE responsibilities IN your
own home and in your church, and you
cannot meet these without getting your
strength from God.
BE studious, live among the great
books, but l beg you don't try TO keep
III with the new books of the day.
Read the old books, the great books,
think great thoughts and absorb 49,
Bible into your own heart and God Will
have something to bless when you come
before your people.
Prepare your subjects as if it AL
depended upon you, and go into the
pulpit feeling that it all depends upon
iChrist.
Don't think too much about our
support. 1t is my experience that the
Ipastor who faithfully o after his
people, that people will TAX care of
him. Some places look hard and dark
lat times, but it often takes a very DARK
cloud to be the setting of a rainbow.
Cultivate a sweet spirit toward YOUR
brethren. Don't hunt for faults. Any
body can find dirt, but it takes a keen
eye to see gold. See the good in your
brethren.
Don't gossip, and dom let other
people come to you with reports about
other people.
You are to be punctual n obey the
rules of your church. You can't enforce
disciple until you obey discipline.
Don't play the coward. Don't tell
your people things from the pulpit IT,
you would not dare to say to them in
private. You only agravate the trouble
by throwing bombs from the pulpit.
Tell men privately of their sins. AS
you are all married men l will omit
part of what 1 was going to say, but
will say this. Order your own N---~
holds Alright. Haye prayerful house
holds and never let the fire go out on
Your family affairs. l want to leaf
others to Christ, but may God help me
and help you so that we may have the
honor of leading our own house, ds
to Him."
Mrs. L. H. Robertson, president OF
IGreensbor~ Female COLLEGE, was intro
lduced to the conference and spoke N
behalf Of that institution.
TRANSFERS RECEIVED.
The following ministers from other
conferences were by Bishop
lSmith as transferred to this conference:
J. w. Bradley from the Western North
ICarolina conferences; A. 3. HaIton,
lfrom the Denver conference; E. Nc
lQuirter, from the Pacific conference;
F. l.. Church, from the Florida confer
Ience; and W. H. Kirton from the South
lCarolina conference.
RALEIGH AND DURHAM.
The characters of the preachers of
the Raleigh and Durham districts were
Ipassed and they made their reports:
PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
Just before the close of the morning
u c.. Kilgo said that he regretted the
necessity for doing so, but that IS a
personal privilege he desired to make an
explanation to the conference. lie said
that he feared at the time that what
he said on yesterday regarding minis
jterial students would be misun i.rstooC.
He said that he did not mead to make
the impression that the mlnistery is
lowered in the eyes of the world by min
l~isterial students who try to get an easy
Education, but that he intended 10 say
THAT such poor students lowe" he stan
lizard among themselves.
APPRECIATION OF COUTESY.
On motion Of r. B. John a vote of
THANKS was rendered unanimously to c.
&c. C~ovington and w. B. Cooper Of the
reception committee, for arranging the
complimentary trip to Wrightsville
Beach to the conference and visitors
this afternoon.