The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-26
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE
BISHOP ALPHEUS WILSON.

The annual session OF the North
Carolina Conference will meet in Viii
son on Sunday Elsewhere we print
picture of the beautiful new church
in which the sessions will be held. 1t
is one of the most elegantly appoint
ed churches in the State. with mem
berShip of men and women surpassed
nowhere in the world. The preacher
host, Rev. f. d. Swindell, d. D., is east
who has no superior in the conference
in the pulpit or in the council room
and who in the broad field of mis-
sion work. as the CHOSEN representa-
tive of his conference. has borne d
conspicuous part in the growth OF
Methodist church. The hospi-
tally of the people of the town
of Wilson is proverbiai, and is of the
sort where 1.-THE latch string hangs
on the outside" The presiding bish-
OPP. Rev. Alpheus w. Wilson, of Bal
timore is now one of the oldest bish-
ops in the church. He was educated
and broadly educated-for the bar
and would have made a great judge
if he had not heard and answered the
call to a higher work. OF the old
schooi, he has none of the modern
ways that are often improperly called
eloquence. He does not deal in eXag-
geration or hyberhole to make sem
sation; he deals in no gibes or jests
or slang in the pulpit; he raises up
no man of straw to destroy by cheap
clap-trap: he does not know the
meaning of craving for sensation or
church intrigue. He breaches the
gospel with great ability and power.
Like all great machines. he moves
slowly. In unfolding a sermon. in the
first few minutes, when he is laying
his deep and broad foundation. you
begin to fear he will be tedious and
dry, but after 1.-The steam is up he
breaches like the great masters of
old. His is no gospel of thou shalt
nots" that narrow the religious life
but a gospel of privilege to live on
high plain to think the thoughts of
God. to Give above the fog in
public duty and in private
thinking" The greatest sermon this
writer ever heard fall from the lips
of man was preached by Bishop Will
son i'm Central Methodist church in
Raieigh something like fifteen years
ago. He happened to be in Raleigh
on Wednesday and conducted the ordi-
|
nouncement had been made of his
coming and only few people. outside
the regular week day congregation,
had the opportunity to hear the SER
mon HIS subject was that incident
i'm the Saviour's life where the woman
broke the box of ointment and an
ointed the Christ. 1t is a theme for
lofty thought. The bishop used it.,
as now recalled, to contrast the happi-
ness of the Christian life that needs
mo prohibitions to do this or that.
because his life is SO attuned TO the
will of God that he lives on the
mountain top and never thinks OF
giving up something in order to walk
worthily. Such a life is never touched
by the need of saying DO not do TINS
or that questionable thing: there IS
no desire to walk in doubtful paths
but the whole life is in harmony
with the higher teachings of the Mas
ter. What an Illuminating and help
full and mastery sermon that was.
1t abides with the few who heard it
that quiet Wednesday evening and has
helped to strengthen them III many Il
time of temptation and half hearted
service. Such a sermon is benedic-
ton that abides in the heart and bios
SONS in the life.