1
y
r
VOL. XXVIII. NO 46.
For the Advocate.
Ilrtin iff Correspondence.
Our
BY REV. JOHN E. EDWARDS, D. P.
VIRGINIA CONFERENCE.
A representative of the Raleigh
Christian Advocate was present at the
late session of the Virginia Confer
ence, in the person of Rev. F. L.
Reicl. A welcome visitor he was.
Our only regret was that he could not
remain longer with us. Frank is a
tine fellow. That does not sound dig
nified. Never mind that. We like
him much. Now, friendly reader, the
aforesaid Frank L. Reid was appoint
ed to preach at Trinity Church, on
Friday night, and, would you believe
it? He gave Rev. J as. C. Reed, of our
Conference, the Raleigh Christian
Advocate for one year, free of charge,
to preach for him. The fact is, he
was the guest of Dr. Lafferty; and
Lifcrty either made himself so inter
esting that Brother Reid could not
tear himself away from his society; or,
the supper was so late Brother Reid
could not get to Trinity, in time for
the services. Bro. Reid, if he choses,
can rise to explain. In any event it
cost Rev. F. L. Reid one dollar to get
a substitute; for the Rev. James C.
Reed told me this morning, on the
streets, that he did not expect to pay
the usual subscription, for the Advo
cate for another year. Whether it
was the lateness of the supper, or the
fascinations of the social circle, or
the disinclination of Rev. F. L. Reid
to preach, it amounts to about the
same. One thing is certain, Brother
F. L. Reid did not fill the appoint
ment that night. We hope he will do
better next time. (Bro. Reid is not
on the effective list, and thought "one
of the name as good as the same," and
in this case much better. F. L. R.)
OTHER VISITORS.
Rev. Dr. Kelley was with us in full
force. He is a power. His speech
at the Missionary meeting, and his ad
dresses before the Conference . in
advocacy of theMissionary cause, were
all first-rate. In the social circle Dr.
Kelley is a charming man. He gain
ed for himself astrong hold on the affec
tions of the Conference, and won the
esteem of all with whom he came in
contact. He filled two appointments
on Sundav. In the afternoon he de
livered not a sermon, but a sort of
lecture or address to young men, at
the second Presbyterian (Dr. Hoges)
Church. It was somewhat incongru
ous with the occasion, but the conclu
sion and application were of sufficient
excellence to have redeemed a far less
meritorious address than the one de
livered on the occasion by Dr. Kelley.
Indeed, I have rarely, if ever, heard a
more exquisitely beautiful and touch-
1112: conclusion. 11 cumutu mc, nui
was
I able to recall it for several hours
after the delivery without that chok
ing sensation. It lingers with me
still, and stirs my emotive nature to
the bottom every time I think of it.
At night Dr. Kelley preached at
Broad St. Church. Some of the
preachers did not exactly accept a
doctrinal view presented by him,
touching one point. The sermon as
a whole was well received Dr. Kel
ley is an independent thinker.
BISHOP PIERCE.
Bishop Pierce wras with us. It w as
a happiness to find him in improved
health. His voice had greatly improv
ed since he was with us a year ago.
He assisted Bishop Kavanaugh in the
Presidency of the Conference, and in
his work in the cabinet. On Sunday
morning he preached to a densely
packed crowd at Trinity Church. His
sermon produced a profound effect.
Every body spoke of it in extravagant
terms of admiration. It will linger in
heart, and memory, and experience
long after the eloquent tongue of the
good Bishop is silent in the grave.
Bishop Pierce is a great favorite in
Virginia. He left before the Confer
ence adjourned.
REV. JAMES E. EVANS, D. D.
The Rev. Dr. Evans, of Ga., was in
attendance on the Conference for
several days in the interests of the
Paine Institute. Resolutions com
mendatory of his work in raising
money to put the institution into speedy
operation were adopted by the Con
ference, and the sum of $229 raised
in the Conference room to aid in this
Hr Evans Dreached an ad-
IV v -v - ' ' - x.
mirable sermon one night during the
Conference. He too left before the
Conference adjourned.
BISHOP HARGROVE.
It was an unexpected pleasure to
have a visit Trom Bishop Hargrove,
during a part of our session. He is a
man of fine personal appearance. He
preached twice to the great delight
and edification of his hearers. In the
chair he makes a fine presiding officer.
Bishop Hargrove left a very favorable
impression on the Conference. We
shall be glad to see him again. His
object in part was to secure recruits
for the wide Western field. He wants
THE ORGAN OF
twenty-five preachers for our Confer
ences bordering on the Rocky Moun
tains. His visit was - not
without success.
altogether
CONFERENCE BUSINESS.
More than our usual business was
transacted. The great Centenary
movement for 1884 was well consider
ed, and plans adopted for our opera
tions. A system of colportage for the
circulation and sale of Methodist lit
erature received attention, and meas
ures were adopted for putting a well
digested system into operation in every
Presiding Elder's District. Already
several Districts have colporteurs in
the fiVld who are doins: a good work.
This is a grand movement in the right
direction.
A committee was raised consisting
of the several Presiding Elders, and
one lavman from each District, to re
arrange the Districts during the com
ing year. This committee is to meet
in the month of May, in the city of
Richmond, to consider the matter, and
p repare a report for the next session
of our Conference. Our Districts have
grown into irregular shapes, and it is
believed that changes can be made
that will render them more compact,
and more accessible to the Presiding
Elders. Our Conference Boards will
henceforward be appointed on the first
day of each session of the Conference,
instead of the last, as heretofore, and
will hold over till the first day of the
ensuing session. The object is to use
such laymen on the Boards as may be
found in attendance on the Confer
ence. In the history of the Confer
ence we have never had larger crowds
of visitors and spectators in daily at
tendance than at our late session in
Richmond. Every available inch of
Broad St. Church was occupied during
the whole time. The aisles of the
Church were packed up to the bar of
the Conference many standing, for
hours together, as interested spectators
of the proceedings.
Not many changes were made in
the appointments. As is always the
case there was some dissatisfaction.
There was an increase in our member
ship of something more than 2,000.
All of our collections were in advance
of the previous year. The next ses
sion is to be held in Lynchburg. We
had fine weather all the time of our
Conference. I have written a scatter
ing letter under great pressure for
time.
Petersburg, Va., Nov- 22nd, 1883.
For the Advocate.
J! v. Jam? 11. Afford, Jf. I).
BY REV. MARQUIS L. WOOD.
Another good man is gone. An
other faithful minister of the gospel
has finished his work, and been called
to his reward on high. The North
Carolina Annual Conference is again
called to mourn the loss on one of its
purest and most devoted members.
At 2 o'clock, P. M., of the 6th of
November, 1883, Rev. James. B. Al
ford, M. D., quietly and peacefully fell
asleep in .Jesus, at his home near
Trinity College; and on the following
Sabbath was buried at Hopewell
Church. His funeral was attended by
a very large concourse of people,
which gave evidence of the high ap
preciation in which he was held where
he was best known. All who knew
him loved him.
Dr. Alford wras born in Wayne
county, North Carolina, April the
26th, 18 13. His early educational
advantages were very creditable, and
were well improved. His early home
training was excellent, the fruits of
which were seen all through his beau
tiful life. Hence it was not surpris
ing that he gave his heart and life to
God while in the tender years of
youth, and joined the Methodist Epis
copal Church the Church of his fath
er. He joined the Viriginia Confer
ence at Norfolk, Va., February, 1832,
when not quite nineteen years of age.
Up to that time he had been a local
preacher for about one year. But in
the fourth year of his itinerancy, and
while on the Randolph Circuit, his
health failed, so that he was compell
ed, much to his regret, to locate. His
voice gave way and he was not able
to preach.
On the 31st day of December, 1835,
he was happily married to Miss Eliza
S. Leach, daughter of the late William
Leach, of Randolph county, N. C,
who, with three children, still survives
him.
After retiring from the regular min
istry he studied medicine and located
in Wake county, N. C, to practice his
new profession and to carry on a farm j respect nor belief; the Book was origi
at the same time. After a residence ! naliy the Spalding Manuscript, stolen
often or more years in Wake, he mov- by Rigden, and recast by himrelf.
ed to Randolph and settled near where j Smith and others, the Book contains
he died. j the ideas and even the very language
In December, 1857, he was re-ad-! of Authors who lived hundreds 01
mitted into the North Carolina Con- j yars subsequent to the time, the Book
ference, to enter once more upon the i purports to have been written on th;
work that he loved so well. During j golden plates; it contains almost fer
tile years of his location he preached j batim Rigdon's tirade against infant
as regular as his profession and busi-' baptism. Kelly is a well posted, win-
THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE
RALEIGH, N. C, WEDNESDAY. NOV. 28,
ness and health would allow. And
during the time, as well as all through
life, he continued the study of Theol
ogy as time would permit; and be
sides, he read extensively. He was. a
man of fine intelligence, and a msfo hi
thought. He did his own thinking.
But above all he was a good man-j- -ku
sincere Christian gentleman. What
ever may have been his faults no cj"e
could question the purity of his mo
tives, nor his integritv. He was faith-
ful in all his relations in life as a son,
husband, father, friend, neighbor, ph
do his whole duty. If he was not al
ways at his post, it was because it was
not in his power to be. ;
Dr. Alford's preaching was ofTa
high order, combining thought and
unction. He preached the pure word.
He wras not blessed with as good de
livery as some, which militated agairjst
his popularity with the masses, but utet
with those who think for themselves
He belonged to that class of preach
ers "that plantetb," who are always
the less appreciated, because tbiir
fruit does not appear so soon asjae
fruit of them "that watereth." We ko
readily forget that it is "God that
giveth the increase." But ever
:rybcjl
V
loved him, for his Christian spiriris
amiable deportment, his kind and un
obtrusive disposition. He did not sejek
position. He sought to do good. In lie
thirty-one years of his regular ministy
he labored from Mattamuskeet to tje
mountains, with heart, head aid
hands fully consecrated to the cai$e
of Christ. He was really a preacher
for fifty-two years, and in all that tifie
he acted in eveything under the dep
consciousness that the eye ofijie
Master was upon him all the while.
His whole life was one continued ser
mon. ut he now rests Irons h
bors.
"The pains of death are p-ist.
Labor nil sorrow cease ;
And. life's long warfare cloel
ft
i.is soui is rouna in p?Mor
bolaier of Christ, well io'-n
Pruist? be thv new employ
. Ana win le eternalises rsj,
aroi in 1 11 v Ciiviwi 9 jut i
. Trinity College, N. C. W
J J J
For the
3lorn0)th in rndi r Disroot
The public discussion of i
man question which has bee
gress here for seveal davs
ed an unusual religious intel
large congregations fill the dis "jet court
room every mght. Rev. Clar3
autnor 01 tne "Jrrooiem 01 rrDiein
and Bishop Keliy, a Mormojf Champ
ion, are the debaters. Fm, nights
have been spent on the firs pias
tion which is that "The Boot of Mor
mon is of divine origin andfoithy the
respect and belief of all religious peo
ple." The familiar arguments .pro
and con were entirely gong over, and
some original ideas advance. Ir or
der to establish the authenticity of the
Mormon Bible, Kelly was Obliged to
present such claims as thesefhat in. the
ancient prophesies concariTiUjie
children of Israel, the "uttermost parts'
of the earth," meant America; the
"everlasting hills" were tie Rocky
Mountains; the "wall" overl which the
vine was to extend was tl?e Atlantic
Ocean; North and South Ainericaj jure
the "spreading wings" beyond thfc ri
vers of Ethiopia; the Book tf Morjnon
was foretold, being identical witfl the
"stick" or roll of Ephraim; thejlost
tribes of Israel came to America and
were referred to by the Savior i hen
he said, "other sheep have I whic are
not of this fold;" Joseph Smith was
inspired and prophesied that his own
name would become known amoi g all
the nations of the earth, and he both
honored and reviled; like alLirw-pro-
phets he has been hated and defaired,
finally martyred; polygamy s a gieat
sin and corresponds with fapacil in
the Christian Church. On the other
hand Braden made it plain! that
he
to
uttermost parts 01 tne eartn rererre.
the known world; the Rockt Mcp
tians were no more everlasting tllan
the Asiatic hills; the Ocean could itot
be twisted into a wall. The 'Sea
ferred to was the Mediterranean; me
"other sheep were the gentiUitiv
the two Americas do not so rouLh re
vo Americas do not so rouLij
semble the wings of a bird, as k p4
tially filled meal bag tied in th rud
dle. "Stick" wras the emblem of" poi7
er, as the "rod of Moses," the jtnbes
were lost by being dispersed smon
the nations of the earth; Smith was no
prophet, on the contrary a low,vicious,
designing fraud; entitled to reiJ-f4Sr
Hi. t I
it a
VdJ
1 K I
1
i in ki;o-
?i arous-
1
OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
ning speaker, and carries the audience
with him until Braden again takes the
floor; Braden is a keen,logical reason
er, and well shows up the absurd in
consistencies of the Mormon Book,and
his
opponent's reasonings. Kelly's
most remarkable statement was that
Smith foretold cyclones which Braden
showed to be as ancient as history.
In th.3 next proposition Kelly will at
tempt to prove that Jie Mormon is the
true Church.
Wilber, Nebraska, Nov. 16th, 1883.
For the Advocate.
An Old Time.Iwltje.
BY REV. W. W. ALBEA.
Next in dignity and usefulness to
the gospel minister is the civil judge,
set apart and commissioned by the
government of his country to execute
justice in defending and guarding the
civil rights of the people, and judg
ment in inflicting upon sinners and
evil-doers the just punishment due to
their crimes, the judge should be him
self a pattern of learning, moral,
righteous, conscienteous, obedient to
divine and human law. In dispens
ing the law he should be inflexibly
just, and powerful, the poor and weak,
should appear before him under the
same character, all under the same
law, all subject to its penalties for
transgression and sin. But how can
a judge fulfill the dignified and im
portant duties of his station unless he
is an accomplished lawyer ? How
can he apply his learning to useful
purposes unless he possesses fortitude
and determination ? And how can he
govern and direct others in judicial
proceedings, unless his own mind is
well informed and well disciplined ?
The judges of the different courts of
the United States are honorably dis
tinguished for learning, and acuteness
111
detecting
error, some are not ex-
celled in any country or age. Among
the enlightened judges of the Ameri
can bench,it is said the Hon. William
Patterson of New Jersey, was a star of
the first magnitude. None excelled
him in his day, in firmness of character
and Christian humility. This truly
excellent man, it is said, was one of
the first judges of the Circuit Court of
the UnitedStates.
I It is said in history, in 1762, a ses
sion 01 the Circuit Court ot the u nited
1 States, for the Newbern district of the
State of N. C. was held in Newbern,
in which Judge Patterson presided.
He is described as a plain-looking
man, of ordinary stature, rather spare
made, black hair, and dressed in a
plain suit of black. He came into the
court house, and took his seat on the
bench, without noticing or speaking
to any one by the way. His coun
tenance was serene, his eyes mild and
benevolent. He called upon John S.
West to open court, and when ready
for business, the judge requested the
attention of the gentlemen of the bar,
and all others having business in court.
He observed that being commissioned
by the United States to preside in
their circuit court, it was his duty to
hold the same in such manner as
would best conduce to the welfare of
the government, and to all parties hav
ing suits at issue, it was his custom to
enforce punctuality and the strictest
order in conducting" the business of
the court. He informed them that he
would be found in open court, and
ready for business, at the precise time
to which the same should be adjourn
ed, and warned the gentlemen of the
bar, and all concerned, that they must
be punctual in their attendance, as
more than five minutes should not be
allowed, after ringing the bell and
opening the court, that such as were
behind that time must expect to be
fined, unless detained by some uncon
trollable cause, that without punctuali
ty and diligence nothing could pros
per, and that the court would not be
guilty of a falsehood in meeting at any
other than the time to which the court
was adjourned.
To expedite the business oi the
court, it is said, the judge required the
bar to be ready that when a suit was
called, it must be tried, continued, or
dismissed, if
rnntinnpH. the affidavit
showinjr -cause must be hied, ana
A J. v 7 -
Lffihich was read and disposed of by the
judge without argument, or good cause
continuance not being f.nown,
was lorrnwun set 101 hjai ui
dismissed. In conducting ine trial ot
a cause, it is said, the judge would not
permit a point of law to be argued, for
so soon as it was done he informed
the bar what the law was, for he was
commissioned and sent by his govern
ment to teach the law to the bar, and
not to be taught, that it was his busi
ness to know the law, if not, he was
unworthy the station he occupied.
The judge would not suffer captiou
questions to be put to iciincsses on cross
examination, and always stopped an
attorney when examining in that way,
remarking that a witness was to be
fruited n ith respect, and that in ex
amining the object was to elicit the
CHURCH, SOUTH.
1893.
truth, and that such conduct threw a I
bimue over me aigmnea character ot a
gentleman of the bar.
In argunng a case before the jury
the judge would not suffer an attorney
to deal in sophistry, or ramble from
his subject to m islead the jury, nor re
peat several imes the faeU given in
evidence sta''ng lhat was a direct at
tack upon the understanding of the
jury to repeat over and over, when
once well and plainly told, neither
would he suffer a case' to be read and
commented on, unless directly in
point, observing that such conduct
tended to confuse and darken instead
of elucidating to and informing the
jury.
To give opportunity to the bar, and
all others concerned, to attend in
time, the court was not opened until
9 o'clock, in five minutes business
commenced, when parties, jurors, and
witness had to be ready at the call of
the crier. The court continued open
until five o'clock, unless a suit on
hand required a longer session, and in
no case would the judge adjourn for
dinner. When the court adjourned
for the evening, the judge retired to
his room, where he continued until
he went into court the next morning,
and in passing to and from, he would
bow, but had no talk for any one.
When court was over, the judge mingl
ed with the people, and was a familiar,
free, and friendly Christian compan
ion.
Winston, N. C.
Have Yon a lihjht to liiU Your
self? There has recently been an unpre
cedented epidemic of suicides. They
plunged into the river, and dashed on
the sidewalk, and poisoned themselves
out of the world. It was not the ad
verse direction of the wind, for that has
been west and northwest, and the
weather has been almost supernal for
beauty; it has not been great national
disaster, wrecking fortunes and pros
trating the hopes of business men; but
an unaccountable epidemic that has
called forth-knife-and pistol and wave
to do horrible havoc. It seems high
time that emphatic words be uttered
on the subject of suicide. If one in
dementia, as is generally the case,
takes his life, he would be no more
reprehensible than would be a typhoid
patient if, escaping his nurse, he
should walk off a roof and perish; but
he who takes his own life while rea
son is dominant, commits a crime
compared with which ordinary murder
is benign and sinless. You are not
placed on guard as to your neighbor's
life, but God has not only given you
life, but has intrusted its keeping into
your care, belt-destruction, therefore,
is not only murder, but it is, in addi
tion, sneaking and infamous betrayal
of a God-given trust. Hence, suicide
hath a turpitude over and beyond as
sassination. It has been recently
conspicuously declared that the Bible
says nothing against self-murder, and
that the names of those who fell on
their own swords, or went out and
hanged themselves, are not denounc
ed. But know you not that all those
Bible characters who committed this
deed were bad men? Traitorous
Judas a suicide, but who wants to be a
Judas ? Cruel Abimelech a suicide,
but who wants to be an Abimelech ?
Infamous Ahithophel a suicide, but
who wants to be an Ahithophel ?
Bloody Saul a suicide, but who wants
to be a Saul ? Who can describe the
villainy of an act by which a man in
his senses puts an end to his earthly
existence and takes the responsibility
of rushing his naked spirit into the
presence of his God ? Does not the
Bible say, "Do thyself no harm?"
Does it not inculcate that sobriety and
excellence of habit tend to longevity ?
Does not God offer length of days as
a reward ? No amount of misfortune
or disaster can be an excuse for him
who takes the awful responsibility of
separating soul from body. When
God wants us out of this world He
will take us out. The whole spirit of
the Bible and the unanimous opinion
of well-balanced men antagonizes sui
cide. Know right well that if, exas
perated with this life, and in your
right mind, you open the door of exit
with your own hand, you go into the
blackness of darkness. You leave the
dire miseries of an earthly state for
the ten million worse horrors of an
eternal state. It is high time that
modern society be instructed and ton
ed up on this subject, in terms un
mistakable. This, however, is not to
perturb the feelings of those who have
lost friends through suicide. Some
one writes me of a lady wrho had lived
a pure and useful and consecrated
Christian life. There were no sorrows
but she put her hand to the merciful
ministration,, and after living a friend
of Christ and a consistent member of
the Church, she in time of ill-health
plunged into the river, and her body
was brought out lifeless. The writer
of the letter asks me what washer
ESTABLISHED 1855.
TERMS: P.fir J,n"'"'
( m Month, (.OO
spiritual destinv. and
where
did she
go to after that violent death ? I nev
er had an easier question to answer.
She went straight to the bosom of
Christ and the companionship cf
angels and the glory eternal. She
was not responsible for the physical
disorders that clouded her brain, for
she knew not what she was doin- .Lct us
believe that the majority of these who
precipitate their departure from this
world are, through disordered body,
irresponsible. But infidelity and ag
nosticism have a tendency' to foster
suicide. If there be no hereafter, and
this present state is intolerable, why
not put an end to everything with one
Hash of a bulldog pistol ? There are
hundreds of people kept from putting
a quietus upon themselves by one con
sideration, and that is, the persuasion
that there is a hereafter. Take that
belief from the mind of the world, and
every morning the East River would
show floating corpses, and every night
would hear the clack of firearms, and
the morgues of the city would have to
be multiplied. There is a hereafter,
though the tongue of lying skepticism
may deny it; and you had better be
careful how, uncalled of God, you
plunge into an existence for whi&h you
have made no preparation. Dr. Tal
lage, in Frank Leslie's Sunday
Magazine for December.
.o m
The Successful I readier
Who is he ? And what is the secret
of his life? First, he is one whoso
official duties are all discharged re
gularly and well. In the main, these
duties are the same with preachers of
all denominations, and embrace the
performances of the pulpit and the
work of the pastorate. Peculiar de
nominational usage and lav make some
slight difference in methods of per
formance, but all preachers of the gos
pel have substantially the same work
to do in expounding the word of God
and in visiting from house to house.
Neglect of one is the neglect of both,
so far as concerns either official in
tegrity or the effects of ministerial ef
fort upon the public faith and morals.
It is well to be a good pastor, but
it is not well if pulpit preparation must
be neglected. It is well to be a good
preacher, but not so if the pastoral
work must be neglected. The temp
tation to give undue emphasis to one!
or the other function is very great sol
great, indeed, that perhaps very few!
preachers have altogether escaped thel
snare. The snare, we say lor mark-j
ed success is almost sure to bringl
great praise from the unthinking, and!
creat praise is almost sure to Jead tol
vanity and boasting. One man ma
pride himself on his pastoral skill asl
much as another does on ins puipn
grace, and may be just as eager t
catch a compliment to his ubiquitou
visitations as his brother is to hear o
his charming eloquence. But for sucl
divorcement of what God has joinecl
together, there is no necessity, eitherl
in the nature ot the work to pe done
or in the mental or physical condition
nf one renuired to do it. r or it all
preachins and visiting, studying anc
talking, working and persuading other.H
to work, collecting money and giving
it, reading books and distributing
them all is one work, and no par
can be omitted without breaking thd
integritv of the whole.
The next point is, that all this pas
toral and pulpit work, must have ir
viVw tlif salvation of souls from sin
AW
and hell. In the pulpit the preache
must never be degraded to the level o
the mere elocutionist or debater; no
in his pastoral work must he become
heartless functionary; nor must
motives ever stow out ot tne groun
hilanthronv. Whateve
art he employs in preaching, wnatejve
of skill in private ministrations, wliat
L j- '.-. , .
ever plans of public good he may(de
vise or aid all must look to tne on
end and focalize in the one fact o
savins: souls from death. The value o
souls must be very great in his eyes-H
thpiV ruin must be a constant burden!
on his heart, and their salvation mus
sive him the highest joy.
But aback of all official fidelity anc
the love of souls prompting thereto
there must be a continuous consecra
tion of the heart and devotion of the
life to Jesus Christ. Some physician
noted for professional benevolence arc
known not to be men ot exemplary pn
vate conductjand soldiers when offdutj
have been convicted of stealing the
very property they would willingly
have shed their blood to guard when
on dutv. It mav be so with preach-
prs The nrofessional life may be!
better than the personal life, official!
integrity may exist where personal in
reo-ntv cannot be found. When thb
is the case, others may declare there!
is nothing asrainst him, and yet hid
own heart condemns itself as being!
devoted of the constraint g love oil
riirict whirh is the highest and!
strongest motive that can impel one td
duty, or sustain 1 im in its pcrftr
mance. Fxch avge.
Lf a.