The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-12
MEETING Of MEN
Of COD TO CONF Err
he Western North Carolina
Conference.
SESSIONS HAVE BEGUN
3ishop A. Coke Smith Preaches Powerful
Sermon--.2eports Show a Glorious
Outpouring Of Gods Saw
ing Grace.
Especial to News and Observer)

Especial to News and Observer)
High Point, n. c., Nov 1.-THE first
session proper Of the Western North Caro-
lima Conference of the M. E. Church,
South, assembled at Washington Street
NJ. E. Church this morning at 9:15 o'clock.
Bishop Coke Smith opened the exercises.
After prayer and song he read as a scrip
ture lesson the 18th chapter of Romans,
commenting on many of the verses.
He remarked that when trouble came to
many, fault was i'll the fact that we did
not heed the scriptural injunction, not to
think too highly of ourselves Every man
should think highly of himself IN the
proper way. He thought too many young
men did not appreciate and use their IN
dividual gifts. He related an incident OF
a young preacher who was In the habit
of clearing his throat and moving his feet.
Bishop Smith said he thought it was nat
ural with the young preacher until he saw
his teacher, a distinguished divine, and
then he saw that the young man was an
mitator and as usual took on the faults.
Bishop Smith incidentally complimented
the old way of Methodism by asking if
there would be again the old fashioned
Methodist exhorter. Mr.. Carroway an
swered that he licensed one not long ago.
Bishop Smith replied that a license does
not always make them These preliminary
remarks of Bishop Smith were hlled with
good advice and love.
In speaking on hospitality he said he
need not exhort Methodist preachers to be
hosptable. He said however, that the
spirit of hospitality was waning
Can we bless a prosecutor? 1t is hard
10 do said the Bishop, and he then gave
some personal experiences. He met diff
ficulty OF this kind by prayer.
Live. peaceably with all men was his
doctrine. Paul could not live peaceably
with all but the fault was not with Paul.
have heard people say you must fight
the devil with fire" Now brother, when
you begin to play with fire, the devil
can stand great deal more of it than you
can,
AT the c.ose of Bishop Smiths remarks
the conference was led In prayer by Rev.
DR.. J. J. Tugert, of Nashville Tenn, who
is connected with the Methodist Publish
ing House at that place. After these OPP
ening exercises the roll was called by
Clerk ". NJ. Sheriff.. Mr. Sheriff. was
reelected secretary Assistant Secretaries,
r. d. Sheriff., c. A Wombe, l.. d. Alb
ernathy. The districts were called for al
ternates and three reported. On the sug-
gestion of Bishop Smith the hours of meet
ing were fixed from 9 to u m.
On motion of Mr.. Ware, the presiding
elders were appointed a committee to
nominate the other committees of the
conference. Rev. Mr.. Scroggs from the
presiding elders read the committees.
AT last nights meeting no business was
transacted, the service consisting only of
the regular service for worship, Rev. DR..
Rowe preaching. About all the ministers
and delegates have arrived by this time.
ach afternoon the various committees
will meet and preaching will be at
a. m, $3.50 p. m. and 1880 p. m. The even
ings will be devoted to anniversaries and
special meetings.
Alter the announcement of committees
Dr. Tigert, representing the publishing
house OF Nashville, Tenn, made his an
houncement OF publications. endorsed by
the church. He emphasized the fact
| tlat southern people were too modest to
| acknowledge the worth of Southern pub
! hcatons. Mr.. Martin, chairman of tie
Joint Board of Finance, made the an
nouncement of the meeting OF commit
tees.
The conference then arose and the
bishop introduced the visiting ministers
of other denominations.
DR.. Weaver requested some changes in
representation from his district. DR..
Chrltzberg was, by his request, released
from the Board of Education on account
OF the death of Mr.. Butterick. The places
| he filled on committees were taken by
his son. Many changes were made for
good reasons in committees.
paper on Sabbath Observance" was
submitted and referred to a special COM
mittee on motion of DR.. tkins. A COM
munication for endowment for superan-
uated ministers, on motion of DR.. Rowe,
was referred to a special committee on
superanuated endowment fund. The bish-
ops remarks were father favorable to
this project, alluding in complimentary
terms to a like plan IN Canada.
The bishop called the twentieth queS
t}on, which practically means that every
minister must give an account or hlm-
self. Each minister Is called and If there
Is no charge against him his presiding
elder says so and then he gives an ac-
count of his work during the year.
This business experience meeting, so to
speak, took up much Of the morning
hour. DR.. Rowe, in speaking OF his work,
said that he had been proceeding on the
cash basis. He spoke of the necessity of
making worshippers comfortable by using
the broom freely. DR.. Rowe also said
that there was demand for preachers,
not SO much pastors, but men who eau