The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-08
HAD A LOVE FEAST
EXPERIENCES GIVEN BY THE
METHODIST PREACHERS.
MANY MOVED TO TEARS
by THE PATHos OF SOME OF fHE
EXPERIENCES.

Rev. G. G. N. MacDoneH and Rev. J,
ID. McGeehec Among Those who
sPOke-The Latter Now Attending
His Fiftieth COnference-Saved by
His BIbIe-Rev. Bascom AnthOny's
EccIesinstic Descent-131 Years of
Preaching In Three Generations
the Record lie shows Bishop
Gamblers Sermon.
Townsville. Ga, Dec. Long be-
fore 9 o'clock this morning. the
hour announced for the love
feast, the ministers and The
people commenced to arrive from
every direction. The congregation was
increased by visitors from the sur
rounding towns and country.
The love feast was conducted by
Rev. C. G.. N. MacDonelL In opening
the meeting for testimonials he re-
marked: For nearly fifty years l have
been in this ministry and Jesus has
kept me. None of us know where we
will be another year. l am on the In
side (meaning the Bishops cabineO
and 1 do not know what the Bishop is
going to do with me-"
Rev. ]. b. McGeehee, ID. D., a prom
inent figure in the conference said:
This is the fiftieth annual conference
God has permitted me to attend. Re-
Gently | had a severe fall in Macon.
and fortunately l fell on my Bible,
which | was carrying in my pocket
and was thereby saved from injury.
Against the Demon Drink.
One after another arose and with
Thanksgiving and praise gave in tes-
timony During the recital often many
in the congregation were moved to
tears. During the talk of Rev. w. G.
Jones, a comparatively young man,
who because of failing health is forced
to retire from the active ministry,
strong men broke down and wept.
Rev. M. c. Austin testified that for
fifteen years he was drunkard, but
through the Bibde readings of Miss
Jennie Smith, railroad evangelist, he
was convicted, converted, and brought
to Christ. Speaking to the citizens of
Thomas county. he said: IF you vote
whisky back into this county and
murder is committed through whisky
every one who voted for whisky will
be an accessory before the fact"
Anthony's CIaim 10 Goodness.
Rev, y. Anthony said: II want to be
a good man; ought to be. My grand
father preached sixty years in this
state, my father fifty, and / have put
in twenty-one; that's 131 years"
These testimonies were from the old.
gray-haired father to the beardless
boy in his teens.
At II a. m. when Bishop Gambler
arrived, the church and aisles were
packed many standing around the
walls. Scores were turned away I'M
.EI % 4..a-
church. The singing was a feature of
the service. The congregation, rather
than the choir, led the singing.
Sermon by the Bishop.
The Bishop announced for his text
Hebrews 2:11: For by 1t the elders
obtained a good report" In part, he
said We are shown in this chapter
how these elders obtained a good re-
port. 1t is not the report one makes
among men. Not a record gotten to-
gether The object they aimed at is
the object that ought to control us.
the effort to obtain a good report.
You are minifying and weakening men
by an everlasting analysis. Putting
them under a microscope, you ask
where are all the great men, Calhoun,
Webster and the like. / don't know.
You will not make a preacher as long
as you criticise one another.
LOU can BIOW nOl0lHS great With
out approval. We need the divine APP
prevail of God or we cannot do the
work which He has given us to do.
This fidelity that stands up against
wrongs must be very calm and Sc
reen. l am tired of hearing even sim
ners denounced. 1t is not courageous
to hide behind the sanctuity and Sc
curity Of the pulpit to denounce men.
and yet a preacher ought to be a man.
1.-THE preacher of God must be sep
arated, isolated. You will need the
divine approval when you fail. 1t Is
no use for men~to tell me that we will
always succeed. Luther. Wesley. Paul,
did not. Isaiah, in tears, asked the.
question, Who has believed our re-
port? 1t is not ours to work for sue
cess, but to fill our ministry"
The Bishops peroration was a mas
terpiece of rhetoric and eloquence. At
the close he started the hymn Jesus,
/ My Cross Have Taken" During the
singing 0f n hundreds Woro In fnore