The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-27
WARRENTON DISTRICT CONFER
ENCE.
Recalled The Old Time Methodist
Gatherings and North Carolina
Hospitality.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer
| Henderson. ~ c., July 26.-The
| Warrenton District Conference, of the
NJ e. Church, South, convened this
July in annual session at Union
church, in MeCklenburg county, Nlr-
ginia, Rev G.. f. Smith, Presiding
| Elder of the District in the chair.
| Union church is in the midst of a re-
| fined, cultured and hospitable people.
and the conference was sumptuouslE,
| and elegantly entertained. 1t was an
| ideal district conference. Prominence
was given to preaching the Word, AMI
| the spiritual Improvement, and enjoy
| ment of the body, and the large con-
| course of people who attended. 1here
| were two sermons a day, and the
preaching was good to the use of edi-
| ficatiOn. The routine business OF the
| Conference was quickly attended to,
by short written reports from the
pastors and oral comments from
| many laymen. There was not a duli
| moment during the. session. aud the
house was crowded with interested
spectators at every session. 1t MADE
| one think Of the old-tlme DISTRICT
| Conference, before we got in the habll
| of cutting and drying everything by
an iron bound program, especially
| drying). Everything moved off WITH
| lust us mucn precision and regularity
| as it could have done had strict pro
| gram been followed, and there was
| freedom and freshness that could not
| have been attained by that method
| The District Conference in the M. e.
! Church. South, is a very important
| body. Here preachers are licensed to
| preach, and recommended to the an
| UuaI conference for admission, ana
| for orders There were two young
men liscensed to preach at this con-
| ference, Mr. WhitmOre and Mr..
| Campbell. and one was recommended
Tor admission into the North Carolina
Annual Conference, and for deaconS
| orders, Rev. James NJ. Daniel.
There were fifty-seven preachers
and Iaymen from the District in at
tendance, and five visitors, viz; MRS.
| Robertson President of Greensboro
Female College; President M. S Davis,
of Louisburg Female College; Prof.
| Hinton of Central Academy, and Prof.
Hornaday. Of Trinity Park School; and
| last but not least, Rev. j. w. jenkins,
of the Methodist Orphanage of Raj
| eigh All represented their various in
| terests we'll, and were we'll received by
| the conference.
| Notwithstanding the schurch was
| some distance from the railroad, con
| veyances were at the depot to take
| delegates and visitors to the seat OF
the Conference, and there was great
| disappointment manifested when II
| was discovered that out of one hum
| dred and fifteen, provided Tor, ana
expected, not much mora than halt
that number came.
Rev. L. NJ Chaffin, the preacher III
charge of Ridgeway Circuit, and the
| host of the Conference. seemed very
much troubled to know how to divide
M the members so as to give all who
| were looking for company some one.
Union church is situated in a strong
| Methodist community. 1t is about
! twelve miles from BOydton, the Coun-
| ty seat of MeCklenburg, and the Ola
seat of Randolph Macon College
Here MethoGism was planted by such
men of renown as Hezekiah G. Leigh
DR.. William A. Smith, DR.. d. 5. Dog
| gett DR.. Leonidas ROsser, and many
| others who were giants in thelr ddy:
There are many old members OF
| Union church, who remember lllC
| DAYS of these giants. The conference
showed that the church IS making
progress in the district. There IS no
/ higher type of Methodism or CnrlS-
| tianity than may be found in the war
reuton District The Presiding ElueF'
Rev. G. F. smith, is in high favor WIN
the preachers and people, ana all lne
preachers seem to be happy IN thelr
work, and the people seem TO De
pleased with them. The cor1munley
seemed very much pleased with the
conference, and the conference was
delighted with the entertainers
given. I think Union church can set
The Conference as its guest for the
asking in the future.
This account is written by request
and entirely from memory. The dele
gates TO the next annual conference
! are ]. T. Flythe, of Jackson; }. II.
Bridgers. Of Henderson; George w
| Davis of Palmer's Springs, Va, and
j. H. Exum. of Whitakers.
Rev L. NJ Chaf1in, the solid. talth-
full preacher in charge of RidgeWaY
Circuit, made an excellent conference
! host. He is held in high esteem, and
deservedly so. by his people. lie mas
a good charge, and they have good,
! fearless and faithful preacher.
1t is we'll to hold these District
Conferences in the country. mere is
a sociability in such gatherings that
do good. and are very enjoyable.
Everybody carried their baskets, ana
had a long table and supplied dinner
for every one: and such dinners. There
was an abundance of everything to
eat; and an open-hearted hospitality
that was beautiful to BEHOLD. Long
may the good people of Union church
live and prosper. The next session will
be held at Whitakers: N. G.
l.. L. NASH.