Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1905-03-14
Conference Thirty Years Ago.

SOusShSn@0 Unity - 49,
The following is in. part an article IN
the Baltimore Southern Methodist on the
assembling of the Baltimore Conference
in Winchester next week.
The meeting of Baltimore Annual Con-
ference at historic Winchester. after an
interval of twenty-five years. is Of much
interest. The memory of those who were
present at the similar gathering in 1876
inevitably goes back to that time and we
think of the changes that have occurred
since. From the minutes Of that year we
learn that the Conference then had Io6
clerical members more than hundred
Of these are gone now; and, perhaps, q
larger proportion still of the lay members.
Bishop Marvin presided and DR.. John S.
Martin, famous as a secretary tor many
years. filed that important place then.
Both have long been dead.
OF the superanuated, Norval Wilson.
father of Bishop Wilson, was still living
| in Winchester. He entered the Confer
ence in 1921, more that three quarters OF
centuary ago. The names of Thos, b.
Sergeant. Samuel Kepler and Alfred A.
Eskridge, also. were on the roll. George
c. Brooke. who entered the work in 1926.
was still active and stationed at Wood
stock, Va. VIM. G. Eggleston, who be-
gan travelling in 1887, was on Winches-
ter Circuit He still-lIves, and we hope
that his name may long continue to grace
the head of the roll of the Conference.
A. w. Wilson was stationed at Mt. Yer
non Place, Washington. D. c. DR..
James A. Duncan was the great Presi-
dent of Randolph Macon College and
in his prime.
1t was great meeting of kindred spirits.
The trying years of the war and the
years Immediately following had passed
away, and in good degree the privation
and labor of recognizing our PROSTATE
churches of Maryland and Virginia had
been successfully accomplished. There
Hsto ihuSu uuofahSy anu Cutl uof<Aoet~
confidence in the future of our work.
God was smiling upon us; prosperity was
attending our labors. The spirit of self
sacrifice still burned in the bosoms of the
men of that day. They were willing to
spend and be spent" in the service to
which they had gwen their lives. The
presence and work of Bishop Marvin was
truly benediction to all who were then
assembled. The JUNCTION of the Holy
One was upon him; who can ever forget
that matchless sermon, with the power OF
the spirit attending, which he preached
on that Sunday morning. and the mighty
effect upon all present? 1t was a most
wonderful display of Divine power and
grace such as is, alas tooIseldom seen
in lifetime. The Lord seemed to de-
scend and meet with His people in al
most visible manifestation.
DR.. John B. McFerrin. the product Of
the frontier. with native wit and elo-
quence, rugged of feature, most unique,
whose like will not be seen again on
earth in all probability. was our general
missionary secretary, and present at the
conference, and made an address in his
linimitable manner. DIR. Thomas O.
Summers. once member of our Confer
ence. and long time the editor of the
Nashville Christian Advocate, book edi.
tor and commentator. sent his annual
communication and greetings to his ole
mother Conference. The burly form Of
John Landstreet was seen, and his ring
ing voice heard as he represented the
Wesleyan Female Institute before the
conference.
1t is pleasant to dwell upon these mem
oirs as we turn towards Winchester
again for the assembling of our grea'
historic body. But our faces must be to
wards the future, and we must strive, in
our day. to pursue the road before us with
even greater zeal and devotion as oui
members and resources perhaps, too
the difficulties in the way of the real pro
gress of the real kingdom of God-be.
come greater. What success is the work
during the years since we met last in
Winchester have we to encourage us
We turn to the records and what do we
find?
Truly far greater success than we ever
thought of, probably. has been ours. In
stead of loo clerical members of the Con-
| ference then. at last Conference we had
235. and instead of III charges then, we
have Is2 now.
The years have not been spent in vain.
The Gospel OF Christ is losing none of its
power. The present year. it is believed,
will show increase equal to that of any
of =" the years that are no MORE
Three decades more, perhaps. the Con-
ference may meet again in Winchester. in
the lifetime of those who shall meet there
this year. And someone then, perhaps.
if we remain true to God. shall show a
great increase of our Conference since
1905 10 I 900 churches and 100, 900 men,
bers, and still greater development in all
material resources.
Shepherdstown voted wet" Yesterday
by IA majority.
Mrs. Susan NJ. Byers. widow of Joseph
Dx-n~ e It,