The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-11-08

, byes; time for making new friend
ships; time for sighlng for the touch
Of a vanished hand, of yearning for
ithe sound Of a voice that is stilled; 4
time for getting new vision of hfe's
tasks; and time for laying some Of
the burdens down.
"And that morning Of the first
day. The bishop takes the chair and
announces the hymn-'And are we
vet alive 10 see each others face?'
How the stately old hymn rolls on!
Never this side of the heavenly city
Will any music thrill and still my
heart as does that old hymn OF
Charles Wesley as sung in the open
ing of an annual conference meeting.
""And then the roll is called! A
pause; some brother fails to answer;
and voice from the congregation
speaks for him: He's in heaven to-
day. Someone shouts Glory, an
other says Amen, and the whole body
with one accord breaks forth into song
Servant of God we'll done; Rest from
thy loved employ" just a line or
TWO, for business waits and the con-
ference muss go on"
Fixing the Bay.
The business Of organization is
quickly effected, one Of the most i'm
portant things being fixing the bar;
meaning settling the boundary of the
church for seating the members. No
one seated outside the bar has right
to vote on any question which may be
presented. Committees are announc-
ed; the address Of welcome is deliver
cred; pages are introduced; various
communications are read and referred
to the proper boards and committees;
visitors are introduced; memorials
presented, and the conference is we'll
on its way.
Are all the preachers blameless in
their life and official administration"
otherwise known as question II,
marks one of the intense moments of
an annual conference. The names are
called, one by one, the presiding elder
answering as character witnesses IN
the time-honored manner of nothing
against him. This question is, contin-
ued from day to day until each
preacher has had his character passed
and his work reported. Sometimes
the reports will be very brief, SUM-
married. in the words, everything IN
full Again much time will be con-
sumed in telling about the short cot
ton crop, the tobacco failure, the flu
epidemic And other ills which infesc
many Methodist zion.
Touching and Tender Scenes
Question Number IT also brings
about many touching and tender
scenes as when some old saint closes
his report with the request that his
name be referred to the committee on
Relations for the superannuate rela-
lions. The bishop allows him full
time and his brethren in the gospel
sit at his feet in humility and love
while ne recites the trials and trl-
umphs of many years; the younger
ones wonder if their ministry will be
so long or so fruitful, while the old
er ones realize that it will soon be
their turn to travel the devious path
known as the superrannuate relation.
And so it goes; the days are de-
voted to business, the evening hours
to preaching an inspiratlonal
addresses. The bishop sits in the
chair, prezides over the meeting;
gives advice, admonition and counsel;
and item after item of business is dis
posed of. Tender scenes are enacted
and bits of fumor brighten the hours.
Every Conference has its own fun
maker, favorite singer and quaint
character who give life and interest
to the gathering.
Other high lights in an annual con-
ference occasion are the presentation
of the various undertakings claiming
the attention of the church. For the
church has come to be rival of big
business and the Methodist preacher
who ekes out a precarious living on
one thousand dollars year can talk
understandings of millions of dollars
for mission, education and similar en-
terprises; while the words quota, al
lotment, campaign and drive are IA
miliar terms in his vocabulary. The
moving picture and stereopticon ma
chine have come to be part of the
conference equipment and expert lee
turers use these means to SCI? the