The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-11-15
THE. FARMER AND MECHANIC

felt.
In nothing was the resemblance be-
tween father and son more strongly
marked than in their Opposition 10
Journalism and wOrldliness IN the
church. This Bishop, indeed, ooked
with scant favor upon choirs and or
| gans, believing that they would pro-
duce formality of worship anu prove
a hindrance to spiritual Devotion.
Nothing gave him deeper concern than
symptoms OF a professional or mer-
cenary spirit among the preachers. he
favored broad and liberal culture, but
expressed the fear that theological
seminaries would give to intellectual
training the emphasis that belonged
to spiritual experience. and would
tend to make the ministry more a
profession than a sacred calling IL
titudes he assumed, he erred on the
side OF simplicity and fervent piety
in the church.
AS ecclesiastical statesmen they
were equally ron wise. and pru-
dent. From the first delegated Gen-
eral Conference, in 1912, Lovick
Pierce vas q leader whose zeal was
tempered with moderation and whose
counsel was seasoned with wisdom. In
the best sense Of the word, he was a
representative man Of his church. The
same was true of his gifted son. In
1910, at an unusually early age, he
was elected to the General Conference,
and from hat time to his elevation
to the e~piscopacy, in 1864, he evinced
more and more the high qualities OF
leadership. This had become SO dis
tinctly recognized that on the first bal
lot, by a decisive majority, he was
chosen to fiji the highest office n the
gift OF his church.
Bishop Pierce was equally wise in
his Interpretation and application OF
parliamentary law. Those who knew
him best affirm that he eve sacri-
feed the substance to the shadow, the
spirit to the letter. His faculty for
cutting down at once to the very root
of a question CAV him no little of the
directness and incisiveness of John
Marshall in p~ronOuncing a judicial de-
cision. In this, too, he strongly re-
sembled his rugged colleague, Hol-
land N. McTyeire. In q case that arose
in the Virginia Conference over which
he presided in 1878 nc less than nine
teen questions Of law were presented
for decision. To eleven Of these he
gave the answer Yes or mo" and
TO four others the same answer with
a very few words Of explanation. His
rulings in the General Conference
were equally pointed and concise. and
his decisions eldom failed TO com
mend themselves to the best Judgs-
ment of his colleagues and brethren.
During their long lives father and
son were the acknowledged champions
Of old Methodism in its spirit and
form. The Bishop especially was
known to look with suspicion upon
innovations. Well satisfied with the
old Methodist economy, he dreaded
changes as a source of confusion and
weakness. At the General Conference
Of 1886, he was fortunately present to
check radical measures and doubt
full reforms. One unexpected change
was the removal OF the time limit from
the ministry Of the Church, South.
Against this his stand was prompt and
uncompromiSing. He believed that if
the preachers were to move at all the
law must fix the time, and he declined
to assume the responsibility Of decid-
ing when and where they shoUld move
in the absence OF q legal INIT. So
pronounced was his opposition to this
radical change that the vote removing
the limit was re~considcred, and the
present rule Of lou years was made
the law Of the church. Bishop Pierce
also disapprOved lay representation in
the General and Annual Conferences,
fearing that it would greatly cripple
The influence Of the min'stry: but
when it's practical advantages were
made manifest, be recognized his mis-
AXE and acknowledged the utility Of
the change.
Such men are unQuestionablv a
,providential gift to the church at the
time they are most needed. They
were elected and called Of God to the
high md holy stations in which thew
could most fully serve and bless the
church. Their work is not yet done.
Their influence lives after them. To
father and son alike the egnan
words Of Bishop Haygood concerning
the latter apply: II did not live
unto himself he did not die unto him
self; living and dying he vas the
Lords; he is the Lords now that he
lives for and because he is
the Lords he is also ours."--NashyiIe
Christian Advocate.
Cannot Use Eastern Road.