The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-27
YEAR Of HEAL THY
PROGRESS SHOWN
Reports of the Elders to
the Conference.
SERMON BY BISHOP
Donations to the Methodist 0rphanage
at Raleigh and to the Brevard
SchooI---$700 for the
Former $500 for
the Latter.
Editorial Correspondence. }

Goldsboro, n. c., Nov. 26.-The reports
of the presiding elders-the colonels IL
the great Methodist army-are an ays
called for first at a Methodist conference.
They are the leaders of the hosts. They
are on the field in command, having
no superior except the bishop. During
the full twelve months they travel their
districts, preaching at stated times, and
having an eye on the preachers and the
pew. 1t is theirs to maintain discipline,
to plan advance movements, to direct the
marches and counter marches. They are
in truth really subbishops, exercising
in the absence OF the bishop every funC-
ton of that great office, and at the An
nual Conferences they compose the bish
ops cabinet and take part in making the
appointments. In the Methodist polity
the presiding elder is the big man. He
has large power and exerts great infiu-
ence. In the old times, when district
embraced both AsheTille, N. c., and
Montgomery, Ala, the presiding elder was
selected largely because of his great elo-
quence and power in pulpit. Today, in
the complex church work, the presiding
elder needs more to be a man of affairs,
possessing executive ability, than to be
an eloquent divine. He is ten fold more
popular if a man of surprising eloquence,
for the day has not come and never will
come when the people will not be attract
ed by genuine eloquence. Any man who
has the gift of touching mems hearts
y IA movirg them to noble deeds, will
always draw crowded houses But it is
not always the most eloquent man who
makes the best presiding elder. 1t is the
man who has the highest wisdom, the
best sense of justice, the truest knowl
edge of human nature and the best execu-
tive ability.
The present cabinet of presiding elders
embraces some of the first men in the
conference-men of approved wisdom, abil
ity and zeal. In the Methodist army
there are colonels handed down. Men
attain promotion from the ranks by show
ing qualities of leadership. Brains, labors
abundant, ZEAL wisdom must be demon
strated before elevation to the presiding
eldership is conferred
The first district called is the Raleigh
district Rev. w. H. Moore, D. D., an
sewsrs here" and brings up a good
report He is, perhaps the oldest man
in the cabinet. He is not only a preacher
of ability, he is philosopher as well
and a poet of no mean ability as those
who read his Thanksgiving Hymn in Sun
days News and Observer know. His re-
port was not burdened with detail. He
sees results and states them with COM
prehensive brevity. "The church is in
good condition, there have been revlvals
in most charges, and three-fourths of tho
churches paid up everything in tull."
That was his report in substance, and
good report it was too. He did not go
into particulars-they would come when
the individual preacher gives In his re-
port.
Next called was Rev. j. T. Gibbs, d. D.,
of the Durham disrtict. Quiet, precise
correct, a master of Methodist pohty and
discipline, a man known for his con-
servatism and sound judgment. The blsh-
op trusts to his largeness of view and
spirit of justice. He said he came from
the tobacco district. Prices OF tobacco
are lower than last year, but collections
for all causes are in advance OF last
year, and all salaries but three are paid
up in full. Good revival meetings. That
was the substance of his good report. He
has way of quitting when he has I'm
ished his reports, and nothing else needs
20 be said
Next rev. ]. B. Hurley of the Fayette
vile district, reported. He is the fresh
man" among the presiding elders, having
been selected in the summer to succeed
the lamented and lovable Rev. Ben. r.
Hall, who fell in the midst OF grand
work, in the very prime of manhood. Mr..
Hurley has made a favorable impros
sion upon his district. He reported gra-
cous revivals and 90 accessions to the
church. Though there has been larger
prosperity than usual, collections are not
up IN full.
Rev. w. S. Rone-stately, dignlfied,
scholarly-reported from Rockingham dis
trict. He said that the year had shown
progress. Ten thousand dollars had been
invested in church buildings and the col
lections were larger than ever. hand
some new church had been dedicated at
Rockingham by Bishop Smith and other
charges had started improvements. Only
three churches behind in salaries. Re
vivals had resulted in large ingathering
No department of church work is neg
lected by DR.. Rome. He is well armed
at all points and succeeds in whatever
work he undertakes.
Rev. R. B. John, presiding elder OF the
Wilmington district. began his report by
saying that the year had been crowded
with hard work and happiness. How