The news & observer., 1905-12-03

of the "oid fathers who pioneered
| Methodism into the Western wilds, on
horseback, following Indian trails;
who swan creeks, and rivers, went
hungry all day many times, because
there were no habitations to be found
along their route; and, when they
found homes. in which they could
| spend the night, they read the Bible,
sang the old-time revival songs, pray
| ed and eXhorted sinners to repent
| and, laying their weary bodies down
| to rest, after Il day of travel and an
evening spent in religious services
they fell asleep, rejoicing that they
were counted worthy to suffer such
! things for Christ's sake. Addressing
the brother who had such a hard year.
| he winds up his splendid talk by say
| ing: Il have served in hard places
myself, brother. In my early ministry
| had all the rough experience of
back country mission. and l know how
| to appreciate the difficulties, discour-
| aGements, trials and even the sorrows
of the man in hard work. But,
my brother, they that sow in tears
shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth
| weeping, bearing precious seed shall
doubtless come again rejoicing, bring
] ing his sheaves with him."
The well-fed-looking brother on the
front seat cries out, "Amen!" loud
enough To make the audience, the
preachers especially, feel like they'd
all like to be back woods preachers
on hard circuits.
! We all love to hear the Bishops talk,
| for they are men of experience as
we'll as of wisdom, and they know how
to talk.
Here comes the pastor of the church
bringing one or two visiting brothers,
! to be introduced to the Conference.
The Bishop says it gives him much
| pleasure "to have the brethren with
u.s." and is about to call another dis
| trict under the twentieth question,
when he remembers Correctional
officer just over there, who must leave
on the evening train, and who has al
ready intimated that he would like to
be permitted to represent his cause at
| this session of the Conference. We
have the honor, brethren, of having
"Dr. Suretocome," one of our Connec-
| tional Secretaries with us, whom /
| take pleasure in presenting to the
| Conference"
The preachers rise, of course. by
I way of expressing their delight at haV-
ing 'Dr. Suretocome" with them. Then
| a dozen or two tip-toe out, as DR..
Suretocome begins his talk, which will,
| likely, run up to the dinner hour ad-
| journment They return, however, in
| time to hear the announcements and
| to congratulate the Connectional offi-
Ger upon his fine address.
| The business of a Conference is
really not seen by the public mean
Itthat which reviews the years work,
makes calculations and estimates, and
] devises plans for the future. Commit
| tees go over all those matters and re-
port to Conference and these reports
are generally adopted as presented.
| The afternoons are devoted to this
work, by the various committees.
| while, during the same time, the BlSh-
! ops and the presiding elders are busi-
Iy engaged arranging the appoint
| ments which are to be reat out at the
| close of the Conference.
| DR.. Moore, by virtue of age and
Hong service, is, / presume, better ac-
| quainted with the cabinets routine
work than the younger presiding ell
| ders; but, while that may be true.
| all of them are wise cOunSellors and
safe advisers, in the very delicate du-
ties they are required to perform for
the church. One thing I have noticed
is, the preachers, generally brag on
their presiding elders; from which
| infer they are all good men.
| AS look over this fine array OF
| Cody men met in council, here i'll
| Wilson, l wonder how many will at
tend if another Conference should be
held here fifteen years from now. But
| what matters 1t when one goes, if his
| work has been well done? The Mas
ter's approval is the mark at which we
! should aim, in life. With that secur-
ed, it were better to depart and be
| forever with Him.
! 1 love to attend Conferences, even
if I have to sleep with a snoring man,
in a room of snorers. There is an at
| mosphere about Conference that
makes one feel better and spiritually
healthier; and if he will keep his eyes
| and ears open, he will get many new
| thoughts and impressions that Will
help him afterward.
| When two hundred Methodist
| preachers who have labored in all
the cities, towns, villages, hamlets and
| country places, for a year, meet in
conference they can give you all the
news you may ask for; they have seen
and talked with everybody on their
respective works. and they know just
about everything that's worth know
ing-and a great deal more.
AS have gone into the conference
room and cast my eyes over the body
! have thought that it would be Il
fortune to 4 writer of "reminiscences
!, could be put empty all those brains
A Methodist Conference is an ency"
clOpedia of as many volumes as tnere
are members, and every one is chock
full of interest and valuable informa-
ton.
Some funny things happen at Con
ference, and would not life be a NIGH
ty dull affair, without little humor
thrown in occasionally. The Bishor
says things that provoke mirth some
times, and we all appreciate it, upon
the principle that all work and ne
play makes Jack d dull boy good
hearty laugh helps wonderfully, after
an hour or two of dry detail. and al
feel the better for having had theit
sides jostled up. / don't like to hear
man groaning all the time. Ever
pious groans become wearlsome if to;
often repeated.
The preachers are fond of getting
off Jokes upon each other, and as {
general rule preachers tell jokes wei
better I have thought than the ma
Iority of people. which fact l accoun
for upon the principle that they know
how to anaIyze a subject and brinS
ont the best or worst points
T cannot undertake to tell all. no.
indeed. any of the mirth provoking
things I have seen and heard at con
| - win II n