The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-01
Nc Reference to Bassett
or His Article.
MODERN JOAN OF ARC
Conference Will Help Those Noble
Women Who Saved Green's
boro Female COL
Iege----Other
Notes.
Editorial Correspondence.)

tEdItCrlaI correspondence
Coldsboro, \. c.. Nov. 28.-There is 2
large attendance upon the Methodist Con
ference now in session here, and Colds
boro is entertaining the preachers. lay
delegates and visitors in accordance with
it's well-establiShed reputation for g a
cious hospitality. The spacious church Is
crowded at IL services and the interest
is deep. There has been nothing in tn
proceedings of peculiar import, but they
have been full of interest. The reports
OF the preachers shows 4 good year,
probably above the aye-age, bat nothing
remarkable. There have been revlva->,
but few sweeping ones. The financial col
l~ections have been above the aver~Ga.
but too many circuits and stations are
not up III iull.
The most notable event of the ses-
sion was the large collection for the
aged and infirm preache. 5, who by age or
disease, are 10. Ced to retire from active
work. On Saturday morning this cause
was presented In ms m sterly speech nv
Rev. Mr.. Watkins, who has attended all
conferences in the interest OF this Worn
He has secured $4,000 from all the con-
ferenCes and this morning six thousand
dol a. was raised here. The largest sum
given by one man was six hunlret do
liars by that generous and noble he rtcd
Durham Methodist. General Julian s
Ca 7. who reached here yesterday. Many
gave 800 and Others small mounts al
las the Lord had prospered them" l.
was a notable ~neeting-the nearest ap-
proach to a "gul V wosher' seen since
the days when DR.. McFerrin swayed con-
ference ~ his burning ~eloquence.
Only six new members were admitted to
the Conference. Of these only two were
college graduates-One from the Universe
ty and one rom Trinity College. One of
them was restored after a zig-Zag excur-
sion into the so-callcd Holiness crusade.
He is a good man-hoaest and sincere,
but has a bad liver and is unstable. He
was admitted because three presiding elders
said he was thoroughly cured" and be-
cause he had demonstrated his worth by
faithful preaching as a supply for two
or three years. One other preacher adj
Eitted was abundant in labors." behind
IN preparation. TWO others had fair high
school education. Only two had grad
uated. There Is a place for twenty-five
strong and scholarly young men in
the conference. The harvest is great-the
laborers are few. Not one OF the appli-
cantS had received the valuable training
of Il theolCgiscal school.
Why do so few young men enter the
ministry? Bishop Gambler said he had been
afraid that prosperous times would de
ny lis prorhets.' Al the Kinston Confer
encc DR.. Kilgo accounted for the fewness
in the number Of Young men entering the
ministry to the POOR pay received by
preachers. II this is correct. what Is the
hope for the future of the church? The
old fashioned men who heard Gods call
didn't ston for purse or scrip. 1t is said
that more OF the graduates of Trinity Col
lege obtain jobs with the tobacco trust
than enter the Methodist ministry. Is
there not & reason for this? In the days
Of era ven it was rare when q large num-
beT CO the students Of Trinity College
did not enter the ministry. The college
was very poor; Craven had to practise
s~tr;ctest economy But somehow the
young men called to preach manage to
go through Trinity and graduate. There
We're not many rich Methodists then to
endow il. but men like Col. Alsraugh,
Julian S. Carr, Gray and others responded
moderately to appeals Tor help, and Trim
ity was the recruiting station for the
ranks of the Methodist itineracv. With
It's magnificent endowment and splendid
cquirrnent, few OF It's graduates enter the
ministry. Why? Is it not because a
spirit Of naterialism and OF commercial
ism is so pervasive in that atmos7herc
that aspiring youth is drawn rather away
from preaching TO money-mahing pur-
suits? In his talk on education last night
Prcsidc Mt Kilgo thundered against putting
a money value on education. Young men
are influenced more by the spirit that is
in the air than by one philippe. Bishop
Gambler said Solomon needed a Nathan.
Does not Trinity College also need a head
who Will restore Il to the church as a
recruiting station for itinerant preachers
Some Of the greatest men who ever
preached the gospel were self-educated.
The cay will never come when a man of
genius, denied q college course. will no;
come out from homes of illiteTacy to call,
in hes of commanding el~oquence, men
to repentance. But this age demands
that the Pulpit be manned by men with
trained minds. No man OF ordinary gifts
can lead the people who has not learned
by study and burning the midnight oil
If he starts cut with a college diploma, he
starts with sharp tools. There is need
10 stress the truth that "a call to preach
is 2 ca. TO get ready to preach" The
church that fails to attract to its ministry
men who. hunger and thirst after
knoWlcdge-I mean the knowledge of hu
man wisdom as well as Of the Tree OF
Life-will fail TO measure up to its hlgf
responsibility.
Bishop Gambler said that there was
need Of an experience meeting of knowl
edge. and suggested that it wouldn't be {
bad idea to call up the alumni of a colleg,
every ten wears to e. # the GRADUATED
were growing in ca. He stressed
the Importance { ..y upon the youne
rrca chers and truly declared that the
prescribed course OF study was mucl, les
thaa q man later IN life imposed upo,
hinfeif il he amounted to much.
The cid circuit riders are said 10 hav'
been ignorant men. That is a great mia
take. 1t Is true that few Of them hat