The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-29

ence-have to be good financiers to make
both ends meet. They do it and some
give ten per cent. then of their incomes
to the enterprises of the church and to
charity.
OF course the central figure of the Con-
ference is the bishop. This is the first
time Bishop Gambler has presided over the
North Carolina Conference. He is young
man not over AZ. should say lie says
he obtained some Bessemer steel in his
makeup from his Scotch mother
and enjoys perfect health. He has
a massive head on rather small
body He seems chiefly head as he sits
in the pulpit And there is plenty in that
head. too. He comes of a virile Georgia
family-one brother a judge, one a gov
ernor, one a bishop. Not eloquent as
eloquence is generally counted, he is rath-
er what we call preacher of reserved
power and force. He is a scholar and
student. He says the most prosperous
financial year of his ministry was the
year when his income was $142.70. He has
filed 81 places in his church, including
editor and college president, and ranks
among the strongest of Southern men IN
the pulpit or on the platform. He is
man of affairs, too, and is the leading
force in looking after and prosecuting the
mission work of his church in Cuba. He
is independent, bold, masterful. His
Thanksgiving sermon was great. His
admoniton to young ministers was full
of wisdom and sound sense.
The question that most folks think most
about-the Bassett troubles little talk
ed about. Most preachers and laymen
feel oppressed by the Trinity College sit
uation. Some say let Bassett resign and
it will all be ended. Others say that it IS
a spirit alien to North Carolina Method
ism that now controls at Trinity College
and that there must be a new, controlling
spirit there before the college will be in
touch with the church. There is much
private talk. The laymen are nearly
unanimous in expressing themselves strong
ly against the Bassett article and the
spirit at Trinity, of which it is the freak
product. The preachers are tired of the
dissension that Kilgoism has brought
about. They wish rest. Kilgo and his
cabinet are saying little. The day when
Kilgo was hailed with enthusiasm has
passed in North Carolina. His friends
have to apologize for his mistakes. There
are many who wish the college had a
ing is said in the conference. The college
is managed by trustees, one part chosen
by this conference, one part by the West
ern Conference, and one part by the
alumni. The disposition seems to be unani-
NOUS not to inject the question into the con
ference in any way but to lease it in every
aspect to the trustees who are called to-
gether to pass upon it next Tuesday. 1t
is generally believed that Kilgo wishes to
keep Bassett. This is natural They are
two of a kind. Bassett's mistake and
wrong have grown out of a spirit that
prevails at Trinity to be against what
ever is most dear to North Carol!nlans.
Of course his expressions as to Booker
Washington and equality are not approved
by the other members of the faculty. To
do so would be for all of them to put them
selves outside the pale. But the people
feel-here in Conference and in nearly
every Methodist home in this State
that there is something wrong" at Trim
ity College, and the something is the
spirit of materialism and worship of the Al
mighty dollar and hostility to North Caro-
lima ideals and traditions. How long will DR..
Kilgo be permitted to make Trinity Col
lege the agency that makes against old
fashioned Methodism and North Carolina
ways? The trustees will take the first
turn at answering that question Tuesday
night. If they will obtain about half
dozen misunderstanding Kigo's and
Bassett's-and infuse a new spirit they
will do great things for their church and
State. If the same influences continue
to dominate there, there will be IAN ap-
peal unto Caesar" or a cutting loose from
the institution by nne-tenths of the Meth
odists of the State.
80
The best address have heard before the
Conference Except alone Bishop Cand-
ler's) was the brief address of Miss Nan
ME Lee Smith, of the alurnnae association
of Greensboro Female College. She had
been deputed by the association to pres
ent the claims of the Oldest educational
institution in the church. A modest little
woman, she was able to face that great
tcongregation without fear because she is
| controlled by a great purpose-a purpose
| that lies very near her heart What a
great thing one little woman can do who
has a purpose firm and faith that knows
no failure! Last summer when the news
went out that Greensboro Female College
was to be closed. it stunned the church.
| The people did not know it was not doing
well. Inc PUBIC announcement VI ClOolAS
the institution stupefed many men, 1t
aroused others. 1t challenged the faith
of the women of the church. They waited
some days. Except ringing resolutions of
the Raleigh District Conference and now
and then a brave appeal from men like
L. L. Smith. of Gates. there seemed
paralysis to fall upon preachers and lay
men, But the women who had been edu-
Gated there, animated by love for their
educational mother, resolved that the col
ege should not close. They had little
money They had great faith and noble
zeal Some prudent business men said
they had zeal without knowledge and
could not succeed. The women were wiser
in practical affairs. They organized, they
wrote they travelled. They put the col
lege first upon the heart Of the women,
and then upon the laymen. Our glorious
Governor and other educational leaders
cheered and helped them. They soon
raised enough money to buy all the stock.
except what Mr.. B. N Duke and Mr..
C. H. Ireland and a few other generous
donors of stock gave them. The college