The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-06-22
The German Baptist Brethren Con-
ference, Bristol. Tennessee.


! May 30th, Oh train No. Il started
| for Annual Conference at Bristol,
Tennessee. Ii is city of about 15,-
600 inhabitants, large proportion of
the town are colored people, some of
whom are quite we'll to 10 financially,
and of a good class.
The "trip TO The place OF meeting
was OF usual waits and delays. I
changed but four times. The coun-
try, in the lay of the land, was lot
what l expected After leaving the
lower portion of the Shenandoah
Valley, the country was quite broken
with Knobs and peak after peak ris-
ing skywsrd, the timber quite ordi-
nary and the land OH the slopes un-
tillable, and in some places. rocky
places like Shenandoah City, Roam
oke, and other towns are an excep-
ton. 1t is not the farming country
that | had expected to see The build
ings in the rural district are very or
binary and principally occupied by
the colored people.
However, before reaching the city
Of Bristol the valley widened out and
was more fertile and not so knobby.
Arriving at our destination two hours
late, on the 31st. We took a trolley car
for the grounds Venola Park is
beautiful park, just rolling enough
to drain well, density shaded by
trees OF 40 years growth. \ Taber-
nacle that would seat from 1000 to
5000 people, dining hall, restaurant,
ticket Office, Gospel Messenger office
and stand, committee room, in which
l spent the greater part of my time,
had been erected on the park for our
use
Our people practically We're un-
known to the people of Bristol and
her surroundings There was consid-
cradle surmising as to what the con
ference would be. Fifteen thousand
people, OF whose customs. habits and
religion were TO these people blank.
came into their l" DIST.
For instance, a minister OF one Of
the leading churches, (colored) said,
that some of the leading business
men advised that the people had bet
ter not 90 on the grounds, aud l so
advised my congregation from the
pulpit But when your people began
arriving, l said to my wife, l SHAH go
up the depot aud see what these peo-
pie are like. | was somewhat dubious,
but l went back aud told my wife
that these people are az right; they
seem SO cheerful, and manifest 50
much love among themselves and
everybody they met with | also,
said, / am not afraid of these people
If am to be killed would rather be
killed by these people than any l
ever saw" He came to the grounds
with mis- people and enjoyed the meet
iuss.
one of the managers said they had
some trouble IN getting lodging for
our sisters; why this was he did not
say. When the churches were open
ed to Us, it was with the request that
we preach the gospel Whether they
thought we would preach Mormonism
or some other heresy do not know.
| learned afterward that it was said
that they meyer heard the Gospel
preached so plainly. The ministry
and the congregations We're highly
pleased. | saw the change before we
left the grounds. The Board of Trade
OF the city, gave US an urgent inyit a.
ton to meet with them again next
year. The accommodations and
treatment could not have been better,
the meeting was pleasant one. The
open conference had four sessions
closing on Wednesday evening. The
name question was among the most
important ones, but they fell back to
the old name.
The weather upon the whole was
al that could be hoped for. | arrived
home safely on June 18th, greatly
pleased with my trip and the meet
ings.-C. q. L. Myersdale Republican.