The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-07
The Eastern N. C. Conference
at Damascus Church.
THREE DAYS HARD WORK
Foriy-:hree Churches We're Represents d--.A
Healthy Growth Shown. The Conference
Will Meet Next With Shallow Well
Church, Ionesbcro.
Especial to News and Observer

w. u. Clements, OF MorrlSVl1e, n. G.,
president of last session. This Conference
is composed of forty three churches sit
Uated along the SeabOard Air Line Rail
road between Norlina and Sanford, n. c.,
and on the Southern Railroad from Selma
to Durham, n C. Thirty-eight churches
have reported. There are about seventy
five delegates and ministers in attendance.
The full organization WAS competed by
re-electing Rev. w. G. Clements president,
Rev. l.. F. Johnson assistant secretary,
Rev NJ. w. Butler. of Raleigh, standing
secretary, and ]. z. Ballentine, of Flu
quay Springs, treasurer.
Deacon l. w. Pritchard in behalf of
the church and community extended
most hearty welcome to all visitors, dee
gates and ministers In his address he con-
trasted the session of the Old Mother
Conference, held here in 1866, with the
present, and told how that the ladies at
the former melting had to dress wounded
arms. as wei las dress the chickens. Again
in 1873 the Old Conference held a session
with this church.
The clouds had cleared away, but organ
iZation was lacking. Since 1878 our people
have better organized and the conference
has grown till division was necessary,
and now we have three conferences in
North Carolina either of which is double
the strength of the old Now to the mem
bers OF the Eastern North Carolina Chris
than Conference this church and commun-
ity extends you most hearty welcome.
The president called on Rev. ]. d.
Wicker, of Sanford n. c., to respond in
behalf of the conference. He did so in
fitting terms, and at the same time ex-
pressed gratitude to God for his provi-
dences and prosperity upon the confer
ences, as they had grown in all depart
ments of work till now the North and the
South are one in the Christian cause
Rev. w. c. Wicker, of Elon College,
joined the conference by transfer from the
Eastern Virginia Christian Conference
and on taking his seat made appropriate
remarks on conference relations. Rev. NJ
w. Butler, of Raleigh, then delivered the
annual sermon, using as text 1 Cor. 1:22-
20. The sermon was full of historical
facts, Bible doctrine and practical Chris
tan work and was well delivered.
Dinner was then served and many know
what that means in good country COM
munity 1t was all the healthy and hun
cry man could wish
At the afternoon session, with President
Clements in the chair, Rev. ]. w. Welons
in behalf of Mr.. j. ]. Pritchard, of Dur
ham, N. c., (who is member of this
church) presented a beautiful pulpit
Bible in appropriate and touching re
marks.
The church letters were called for and
.J,1 IoYr oil 10
church membership and liberal offerings
for conference funds. Ministerial reports
were read, showing that the majority of
preachers were over-worked many of them
preaching at from to z churches.
Conference adjourned and the committee
on entertainment assigned homes to all
visitors
THE SECOND DAY.
Devotional exercises were conducted by
Rev. j. D. Wicker. Conference was called
to order by the president Many frater-
nal messengers from other conferences were
received and on taking his seat he made
touching and appropriate remarks on the
unity of our work and thankfulness of the
people for Gods blessing upon the church.
Shallow Well Church, Jonesboro, n. c.,
was SGl6cJGQ DIS Iuo place lOf next
session and Rev w. c. Wicker was elect
ed to deliver the annual sermon.
The report on religious literature was
the occasion of very interesting addresses,
especially that of Rev. j. o. Atkinson,
editor of the Christian Sun. His address
was fuN of humor, instruction, and showed
how it was possible for us to do great
good by supporting religious literature.
Prof. w. c. Wicker, of Elon College,
preached very able sermon; text Phil
Us.
In the afternoon the first report was on
Moral Reform and dealt in suggestions for
the correction of Sabbath dissertation,
drunkenness, cigarette and tobacco etc.
Some most interesting speeches were made
Hon. w F. Stroud, Rev. NJ Hocutt, of
the Baptist church, and Rev. N. NJ Wat
son. of the Methodist church, were invited
to seats as deliberative members.
Action was taken by the conference look
ing to the establishment of church build
ing and loan fund and K. B. Johnson was
elected as trustee from this conference
Adjournment.
THE THIRD DAY.
Conference opened with a rush of bust
ness. The laymen in a Christian confer
ence have a large majority and they had
decided that three days was aE the time
they could lose from their cotton fields
and 1012 cents markets, hence the rush.
The educational report was first consid-
cred, this recommended the ordination of
Rev L. F. johnson. pastor of the Green's
boro Christian church; the members of his
congregations asking that the ordination
services be held at his church This was
granted and the following elders were APP
pointed the ordaining Presbytery: Revs.
j. d. Wicker, ]. l.. Foster, and W. c.
Wicker, with Rev. w. G. Clements to
preach the ordination sermon. The above
services will be conducted the fifth Sun
day in this month. November 90
The following delegates were elected to
the next session of the Southern Christian
Convention, which meets May 1904:
Elders-Revs. w. G. Clements, Morris
vile N c.: M w, Butler, Raleigh n