The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-30
Spiritual and Material
Progress of the Church.
REPORTS OF THE YEAR
The Sessions of the North Carolina
Methodist Conference Open at Viii
son, Bishop Wilson Presiding.
Strong and Noble Workers
Give Glowing Reports.
BY EDWARD u. conn.

Wilson, N. c., Nov. 29-The first
session of the North Carolina Metho-
dist Conference was held this morn
ing with 140 ministers and many lay
delegates present. Bishop Alpheus
Wilson presided and Rev. w. l.. Gun
ningham, of Goldsboro was reelected
secretary. an office he has held worth
lily for several years. The body is as
strong and noble and manly as any
that ever met. The members are as
whole men with strength of soul
mind and body. The man element is
dominant in them and they remind
one when they preach, of Him who
spake as one having authority"
In their voice is the note of Sinai
They appear to be men conscious of
Divine calling and labor as the des-
tined Workmen of God. There is heart
power in them and they speak the
language of the Kingdom of Heaven.
They are the 'arstocracy of Method
ism" and proud of it, seeming to care
little for the fame and glory gained
by earthly achievements. Whether in
tellectually trained or possessing only
a knowledge given by the simple
study of men and the Bible the type
of the Methodist preachers here is a
stalWart man, retaining his strength
of character and good will with his
acquired culture and refinement. His
voice is vibrant with the truth, pierc-
ing the soul and setting the heart ON
fire This is the Methodist preacher
as l have found him, and he is as
this type, young or old With decad-
ence around him, his soul is as steady
and as firm as the forest oak. When
his charge is turbulent instead of be-
coming discouraged he makes his
Christ-like impress upon it. and with
Christian love and fortitude he per-
forms the purposes of God. Never was
the denomination, its churches, it's
missions. it's educational institutions
in a better condition financially as
we'll as spiritually. Progress every
where, the forward spirit, victories of
these stalWart stewards of the Master.
triumphs of the cross.
The church is moving upward, and
the churchmen are receiving clearer
visions Many men eminent in Meth
odism in North Carolina and distin-
guished by their marvellous accom-
plishmentS are here, far too numerous
to mention individually. They preach
with power, not to please or cater to
intellectual palates. but to fulfill their
mission like John The Baptist who
thundered over Judea as the fore
runner of the Messia. Hardly single
crease in membership and with only
a few exceptions all the churches re-
ported their conference collections in
full
DR.. John C. Kilgo. President oil,
Trinity College this afternoon spoke
before the Young Men of the confer
ence on "The Preacher as man." To-
he speaks on "The Preacher
as a Student" and Friday his subject
will be "The Preacher as a Worker"
DR.. Kilgo said that the only vital
issue is to get the truth of the son of
God in the minds of men. The Lord
he said. has set apart among the or
ders of men. the orders of ministers.
and retained Himself the prerogative
of calling men to His service. He de-
clared the ministry; to be a distinctly
divine calling. and had been Sc all
the building of the ages.
whose architects were the ministers
of God. He said, "God never made
woman to preac ch, and never intended
that she should do it."
Like Benediction.
The meeting tonight was like bene-
diction. Rev F. NJ. Shamberger
preached an effective sermon, using as
his text, Gallations /, verse "a: And
hey glorified God in me-" His sermon
was frequently punctuated by the sol
gregation and was received like an in
spiration. The best singers in the city
formed the choir, and the church be-
ng full, the music was grand, stirring
The heart Mr. Shamberger said that
genuine humility is a spontaneous inn
pulse from an individual knowledge of
self under the light or divine truth No
man. he said, can force piety by ex-
.ernal means, no external legislation
viii do this There must be enact
ments from the throne of God. He
said that all illusions 20 self without
;pringing from the spirit Of God are
nsincere. In all of the Apostle Paul's
illusions to himself there was not one
nsincere note. The effect of the hu-
nility makes a radical change in the
ife and character or a man. The
sneaker referred to the unreasonable
ness of attributing such a change to
)ther than divine influence. 1--WE are
liable" he said, 'to lose sight of God
Is a rcgeneratng agent in the means
We employ to communicate Him TO
mankind. A permanent change In
character must have underlying it n
leart conviction of sin in, a sense of
'uture accountability to God. Men are
irawn to God by observing God in
manhood. We should
seek to lead others 10 Christ by our
,wn transformed life and character"
The various committees have been
ousy all day with the reports and
referred to them.
Continued OH Page Three.)