The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-04
An Irish Bishop
R. sy Gray Way He Works
By
R. l.. Gray


that must be seen and felt "to be
appreciated 1t is different from
day anywhere else The flavor is its
own. To be of it, even as an on-look-
er, is to know that one is learning
sub-consciously things that cannot be
expressed but are widening and val
liable in their influence.
/ was at Henderson Friday, sight
seer. / wish that L might for a While
be stereoptic in description of the con-
ference as ii went its course. That is
impossible. However,
Notwithstanding the fact that he
came out invariably ION top severaI
of the clergy rode their temerity
to a fall in pleasant bouts with bishop
Gambler FRIDAY morning.
The Bishop is an odd and a most
positive man. With if all. his wit liz
of that crisp and epigrammatic char
acter that would suggest long pre-
meditation did it not bubble out in
simultaneously as the occasion arises.
AS a presiding officer he is a model
when it comes to attaining results. He
carries on the work of the conference
quickly and with precision and order.
The rules of procedure are at his
tongues end and he enforces them
rigidly In doing so, he says caustic
things to offenders that would sorely
wound were he not so sure in the ex-
ereise of the native power of born
wit and were it not for the presump-
tion upon that psychological quality
that will let one man tread with heavy
feet where another would fear to go
on tip-toe. Some of the preachers
come out of these encounters red in
the face and with dignity sadly ruff
fled. But their temper is never touch
ed to the quick that it will not let
them laugh heartily at the next in
trepid member who incautiously
throws down his guard. So much for
the Bishop because he is a man with
a personality on which the eyes and
ears of the members and visitors TO the
conference centre like the spokes in
wheel. The Bishop likes TO talk and
to comment and advise. The confer
ence keeps wide awake and on the
qui vive for the next sally of fun or
sarcasm. The Bishop. however. rarely
smiles though the church roars. His
wide mouth tWiches at the corners but
nothing more. When he does permit
himself a smile. it comes from the in
side AMI involves fhe whole face.
Usually his features are set in the
mask of a gravity that lends an ex-
quisite sauce to his humour Nor ls
there scarcely ever fun merely for
funs sake. The Bishop puts his pills
up i'm merry doses-thats all The
an equal or stronger effect than 1t
would if administered straight.
Then, too the day was one to en-
phasize the Bishop and his personal
ity. The first hour was given up TO
reports. but it was generally Bishop
Gamblers comments and questions that
gave these their interest. And at
eleven O'Clock he delivered to two
young men newly admitted to full fell
| lowship a homily that they are not
likely soon to forget. So it was "Bish-
ops day and the time passed on
swift wings. 1t was only when DT.
Hammond, the secretary of the Cen
eraI Education Board arose at i
o'clock to make an educational ad-
dress to be followed by a collection for
Payne's negro college which has been
burned, that the Bishop in some sense
lost the centre of the stage. During
this address and while listening to
such reports that did not call for COM
ment, he sat heavy ana low in his
chair. his short legs stuck out under
his desk, his mouth compressed so
that his under lip protruded in con-
stant pout his brow relaxed into
heavy and habitual wrinkles above the
nose and his fine eyes looking thought
fully into space. At ease the Bishop
looks heavy both physically and mem
tally: in action one knows that there
brain-and that is buoyed always on
the wings of his wit.
The hour of meeting was set for
half-past nine. but it was ten before
conference convened. The church will
seat possibly five hundred people and
it was comfortably filled at the open
ing of the session, gradually filling
with people until at the beginning of
the Bishops address there was good
deal of crowding and many people
standing in the aisles. On account or
the rain. many toWnsfolk stayed away,
although the gallery and choir seats
were filled with ladies of Henderson.
DIR. j. G.. Underwood, over six feet
with fine presence and a deep and
resonant voce, opened the session with
a short prayer, after which although
there was no oroanist ii seemed for
a second that there was a cathedral
instrument concealed in the Amen"
corner. This, however, was only
the bass-toned A. r. Parker "linine
out" the hymn which was 'Come
Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" AS
the congregation stood and sang. the
slow and emphatic rythm of the tune
Swelled in reSounding yolumn. The
singers evidently enjoyed their work.
They stood up straight and each man
We'd with his neighbor to get the
notes from his diaphram, chins tuck
eu uQcIuOuSIS INTO Lne cuRtS VI IouIlu
Standing collars as they "canle down
hard" at the ends of the lines. Above
the roll of the mems voices the So
prano of the women rose with clear
distinctness. 1t was a music that was
spontaneous. human and contagious.
In the front ranks of the singers,
his battle emptied left sleeve hanging
loosely by his side stood the Rev. w.
G.. Davis, straight as an arrow for all
of his evident years, mis- hard brown
skin. his direct eve. his bushy white
beard waving below his chin as his
stern mouth shut on the words with a
snap-a picture of old-fashioned. hard
hitting Methodism.
Across the aisle sat the superannu-
ated Rev. NJ. G. Thomas. singing from
his seat by reason of a cork leg that
made ii too tiresome to stand--a man
of delicate spirituelle face covered
with a short, soft white beard of a
head ringletted with hair that had a
faint touch of the tawny gold of youth
yet yellowing the silver locks
Behind him stood the active clergy
thick between the benches, big. strong
bearded men in long coats and white