The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-07

of SenSatiOnallSm, the 6lSnop warned the
young men against cheapening the
gospel He told them not to advertise
their text. not to try to attract men by
clap-trap 1.-THE world was never
hungrier for the gospel" he said, but
you can't feed hungry men on wind and
the east wind at that" The preaching
upon some little theme and making the
pulpit the place for small agitation is
belittling the gospel, and he urged the
young men to preach on great themes.
He told them that the world could not
be won by a gospel of negations, that if
they won men by preaching a religion of
conservation they would not need to
thunder against the little vices or mis-
| takes. Hearts full of the desire for the
| higher life have no room for the ques-
tionable pleasures that appeal to those
whose affections have not been centred
upon the highest things.
There was sound wisdom in -..s admoni-
| tion not to say about men in the pulpit
| what the preacher would not have the
| courage to say to a man face to face
He denounced-as nearly as the Bishop
denounces anything-that preaching
| which makes the pulpit fort for send
| ing phillipics against men who are denied
an opportunity to answer 1.-THE pulpit is
no place for the coward. If you think a
man is doing wrong, be man enough to
| go to him as brother privately and
seek to win him away from his wrong
course. Do not abuse him from
| the pulpits. Souls are not won by
| pulpit denunciations." He told them
you only aggravate the trouble when
| you tell your people things from the
| pulpit that you would not dare to say
| to them in private
| Upon the sort of reading a preacher
| ought to do, the Bishop showed his own
| breadth and culture. He urged the
| young preachers not to keep up with all
the new books, but said; "Read the old
| books, the great books
| Don't hunt for faults. Don't gossip.
Don't listen to stories about your neigh
| bors Don't be too ready to believe
| wrong. Don't think too much about your
support-it is my experience that if the
preacher looks faithfully after his peo-
pie, the people will take care of him.
Some places look hard and dark at
| times, but it often takes very dark
cloud to be the setting of rainbow"
But no synopsis could give clear idea
! of the excellence Of the address. 1t was
| not so much in what was said, strength
ening and uplifting as it was, as in the
wisdom of the admontion-the breadth,
the spirit the power.
Among the addresses of the week that
have made the strongest impression was
Prof. H. NJ. Hamill, D. DIS speech on
| THE Sunday School Work." marvellous
and brilliant and opposite presenta-
ton of the proper place of the Sunday
School in the work of the church. 1t
was pronounced by many the best ever
heard at an Annual Conference. For
| more than an hour he held the undivided
interest of a great congregation upon
subject that has put many assemblies to
sleep He has long been leader in the
| Sunday School world speaking in al
most every State in the Union in Canada
and in Europe. He is a master of his
subject and delighted every nearer. 1t
| is seldom that any man illumines his
subject by the happy illustrations that
| illustrate in so marked a manner as DR..
| Hammill.
The address of Rev. R. B. John on
| Early Methodism in the Lower Cape
Fear Section" was not only an admirable
address, but was valuable contribution
to the religious history of the Common
wealth There is no member of the Con-
ference better qualified for careful work
of this lasting character than Mr.. John.
His address will be published in pam
phlet form and will be permanent con-
tribution to North Carolina history.
The reports by the preachers from all
quarters show that the closing year has
been marked by success in every depart
ment Some new churches and parson-
ages have been built, most of the preach
ers have been paid up in full, the mis-
| sionary and other collections are in adj
vance of previous years, there has been
gratifying increase in membership, and
all interests of the church are in good
| shape. The business of the conference
has proceeded without jar or a serious
| difference. The divisions of other years
seem to be passing away, and there are
| evidences that there is coming an era of
| good feeling. $50 mote it be-"
1t is expected that there will be COM
| paratively few changes in the pastoral
charges, though there are surmises, as
| usual, of surprises when the appoint
| ments are announced. 1t is limited that
| tha hjchon ie 0nnnced N long tpnureS in