The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-09
Oh, Herald and Meus
THE LAST OF THE CONFERENCE.
E. B. AULL, EDITOR.

teenth session of the South Caro-
lima Conference closed last night,
and many of the preachers are now
speeding away to their homes as
fast as steam can carry them. The
session was one of unusual har-
mony; even in the debates where
great issues were at stake the ut
most good will and feeling obtained.
This is to be highly commended.
If men who minister at the affairs
of the church and preach ''peace on
earth and good will to all men" do
not in the midst OF their weightlest
contentious and polemic contests
set the world a G. cd example, then
the gospel of Christ would be
made of none effect.
Men of deep religious convictions
are also men of strong and positive
convictions on any vital question,
and the ministry is not given to
prophecying smooth things, but for
the most part it may be said in
those instances where they meet on
the Conference floor to settle their
contentious it is generally done in
the most manly way. The "Priest-
ly spirit" may now and then be
seen, but as a usual thing those
who rely on their priestly dignity
are relegated to the rear, and hard
common sense and good Judgment
prevails.
In material things the past year
seems to have been one of great
prosperity. A number of new
churches have been built, and q few
of them thoroughly modern in
structure.
The salaries of the preachers and
the benevolent collections ordered
by the Conference were more nearly
paid during the past year than per.
haps during any previous year in
the more recent history of Method
ism in this State. The mission of
Methodism, in the years that have
gone by, has been largely one of
ingathering; now there is change.
The great Church is trying to edify
and develop the masses which have
been gathered into the folds of the
church. It is evident to one who
watched the proceedings of the
Conference day after day that the
influence of Bishop and preachers is
directed to this end. Methodism
can no more rely on numbers mere
ly and expect to succeed than China
can afford to rely on her millions for
protection. If the great masses of
the Methodist Church imbibe the
spirit of its leaders and swing into
the line of action and progress the
Church may make the most brilliant
period.of its history in the twentieth
century.
There r Isl Methodist churches
in South Carolina, with a member
ship of nearly eighty thousand-a
following of over one hundred
thousand-this is a vast army and
when once aroused to enthusiasm
for missions, education or any other
great work, may accomplish Won
ders.
During the year 1eo2.3 the Con-
ference proposes to raise fifty thous
and dollars for Columbia Female
College, the whole amount to be
expended in charging the present
plant at columbia. This is a most
laudable undertaking. That church
which looks we'll to the education
of its daughters may have little fear
of the future. Put educated, re-
fined and consecrated motherhood
by the side of every cradle in the
Southland and the product will be
manly men and devoted woman
hood. May the Church succeed in
all of its great undertakings.
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