The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-12-04
CONFERENCE
OF MINISTERS

State Convention began its march
upon Abbeville Monday afternoon,
and by Monday night whel The Min
listers Conference was called to order
in the Baptist church goodly num-
ber OF ministers was present.
The ministers conference is dis
tinct entity, having no real connec-
ton with the Convention proper, but
for many years its sessions have i'm
mediately preceded those OF the Con-
Ientlon.
The work OF the Conference Monday
night was confined practically to the
election of officers, the remainder OF
the session being devoted to devotion
al exercises.
After the reading of the Scripture
lesson in an. impressive manner by
Rev. John A. BrunSon, D. D., the con-
ference sermon was preached by Rev.
Howard Lee Jones, D. D., of Charles
ton.
DR.. Jones is a forceful and earnest
speaker, and his discourse was heard
with great pleasure and profit by
many laymen as we'll as preachers.
For the son of man is come to seek
|
chapter and 10th verse of Luke and Il
am not come to destroy but to fulfill
18th chapter and 18th verse of St.
Matthew were the two texts adopted
by the preachers as a basis for his
talk on the topic "The Point of View
in Preaching"
l. "As dull as a sermon" was oft quot
ed statement that unhappily had too
much foundation in fact was the state
ment made by DR.. Jones. He affirmed
his belief in the purity of purpose OF
the ministers, but believed that
through lack of proper conception
of the viewpoint of those whom they
would serve many preachers failed
to attain the measure of success
which was theirs of'right. The preach
ers' commission spells service, and he
who would serve his congregation
must begin at the point where he
found them and lead them on into
higher and better things.
DR.. Jones' said that the Bible was
not simp.\ a record of things past,
but was a wing, vital message for to-
day, tomorrow and all time, and it
was the duty OF the preacher to prove
to his people that the R'hle v'"s con,
temroraneous. The power OF nersonal
experience was as necessary today as
ever.
Changing conditions created ne
cessity for a change in the preacher
into to correctly grasp the point OF
view, and the preachers OF no other
denomination were so we'll prepared
to conform themselves to these chang
ing conditions as were the Baptists.
ITnhamnered by creed and strong
numerically and in faith. they were
we'll qualified to place themselves in
the attitude that would permit them
to see correctly the point of view OF
l. o Goddess. End be enabled to render
greater service to the cause OF the
Master
DR.. Jones pointed out some of the
dangers which lay along this path
way, but emphasized the fact that,
armed with a vicarious purpose and
strong in their loyalty to truth, no
danger should deter him who holds a
commission to preach the gospel.
GO We into all the world and preach
the gospel" was not geographical,
but was sociological, commercial, ana
even political.
The preacher closed with strong
appeal to the ministers of his denom-
ination to bestir themselves in an Ell
fort to understand those whom they
would save.
DR.. Jones in his discourse conform
ed to the ideal which he had set for
his brethren, and from the beginning
of his sermon to the end held the un-
divided attention of those present. NO
SYNOPSIS can do justice to his dis
course and the few points brought out
here are but a feeble reflection or the
words of wisdom which were so elo-
. ouently and so earnestly delivered by
this eminent divine.
At the conclusion of the sermon
praver was offered by Rev. V. |. Mas
ters, D. D., of Atlanta, after which the
, Conference elected officers as fol-
lows:
President-Rev. Rufus Ford, D. d.
. of Marion;
secretary-Rev. B. F. Allen, of
: Batesburg.
At $40 the conference adjourned
after prayer led by Rev. A. Z. Will
: kins, D. D.
: Tuesdays session OF the BaptisC
ministers conference was made ex-
tremely enjoyable by the reading ana
| discussion of several able papers. by
very close vote the conference re-
| fused to adopt a motion by Rev. W..
E. Thayer to discontinue the CONFER
, ence in order to devote more time 10
the work Of the convention anu tne
following committee was appointed 10
| arrange for the 1913 programme: W.
C. Allen, J. n. Tolar and }. ID. hug
: gins.
The devotional exercises this morn
ing we're conducted by Rev. George ii.
: Bussey. Prayer was offered by he''
4 II. Haydock and Rev. w. T. Tate:
= The following papers were read:
Rev. A. C. wilkins, D. D., review
of SOCIALISM and Ethics OF Jesus
: by H. C. Vedder, professor in Grocer
| Theological Seminary.
, Rev. E. S. Reaves, "The Civil Rlghts
= of the Minister" a,,.
!. Rev. John A. Brunson, D. ID. Ine
Worldwide Unrest and the World
: wide Mission of the Church
4 Rev. W. M. Jones, D. D., The f1nal
Authority in Religious Truth"
After prayer by Rev. w. T. Humid
-, tho oonfaronce adiourned