The news & observer., 1905-11-19

AS we are right in the midst of
Methodist Conferences, in this State,
the Western having just been held,
and the Eastern to be held at Wilson.
the latter part of this month, it may
be interesting to some of the readers
OF these sketches TO refresh their
memories with regard to the early
days of Methodism. 1t is known Of
course by Methodist readers that no
such organization as the North Car
olina Conference existed prior to
1888. Up to that period, the Virginia
Conference or the north and the
South Carolina Conference on the
South, Tapped over North Carolina
and, as Methodists we were either
Virginians or South Carolinians, in
our Conference relations. SO, while
within the borders of our State there
were, perhaps more Methodists than
in either of the former States, we
had no State organization, but receiv-
ed our preachers from them. 1t is a
singular fact, in history, that in 1896,
when the General Conference divided
the whole Methodist Connection in
to six Conference, viz: New England
Philadelphia, Baltimore. Virginia,
South Carolina and the Western. the
Southern States had a membership of
44,265, while the northern and New
England States had about 1000; only
a fraction above one-fourth as many
as the South had. Another fact
worthy of note is, at that time, North
Carolina stood third, as to member
ship, among the Southern States.
Maryland had 12,416. Virginia had
1878 and North Carolina had 8,713,
and yet, North Carolina was not made
a Conference, while South Carolina
with a membership of only 1853 was
So 1t turned out, that from 1896 to
1888 North Carolina Methodism had
no organization, but contributed to
the development of the two Confer
ences which existed North and South
of our State.
The North Carolina Conference had
been in existence only six years, as
one OF the families of Conferences,
when the division took place between
the Northern and Southern Methodists,
hardly long enough to become ac-
quainted with the several Annual Con-
ferences. And being so young and
withal SO gaunt, (for it embraced onIy
the territory lying east of the Blue
Ridge, between the Roanoke and the
Cape Fear rivers,) it had not been
able to cut much of a figure, even
among it's Southern sisters.
In that General Conference of 1896.
the preachers salaries being $64
year, q supplemental scheme was
started to help those who failed TO re-
ceive $64 from their work. No wonder
that % preachers left the Conference
at that session and nine had died dur
ing the year. Sixty-four dollars for
a whole years maintenance, must
have brought the preachers very close
to starvation.
The following regulations We're
adopted by that Conference. to-wit:
1. That no sum exceeding sixty
four dollars shall in any one year be
applied to the use of an itinerant, SUI
perannuated or worn out single
preacher.
2. That no sum exceeding one-hun-
dred and twenty-eight dollars in any
one year shall be applied to the use
of any itinerant superannuated or
worn-out married preacher
8. That no sum exceeding sixty
four dollars in any one year shall be
applied for the use of a widow of an
itinerant, superannuated or worn
out preacher.
4. That no sum exceeding sixteen
dollars shall be applied in any one
year for the use of any child or orph-
an of itinerant, Superannuated or
worn-out preacher"
Sixty-four dollars was just ABOVE
starvation; below sixty-four dollars a
preachers only chance was to locate
and go at something else for a living.
But there was some consolation IN
the fact, that getting married would
help a preacher, for his wife would De
allowed the same amount that he re-
ceiyed, and then if child was born
the sum of sixteen dollars was to be
added, making the salary run up to
one-hundred and forty-four dollars.
I think, had l been in the Confer
ence in those days, l should have tried
mighty hard to have gotten q wife.
The only additional expense after mar
riage was the buying of a few calico
dresses, bonnet and a pair of shoes
or two, as the wife generally went
around with the preacher, and she |
was not expected to dress in those
days as the sisters do who attend Con-
ference in these days. Now, the up
to-date preachers wife who goes to
Conference must have along, two,
three or four fine hats. as many pairs
of gloves, and so-forth to match the
various colored silk gowns she pro-
poses to wear during Conference. [
am almost sure some Of our dear Sis |
ters-wiveS of meek and lowly am
bassadors for Christ, who are expect
ing to be delegates to the General Con-
ference, connectional gathering. per-Ai
haps be made to sacrifice themselves !
on the altar of the episcopacy-wear |
gowns, when attending annual Confer