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PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF METHODISM IN NORTH CAROLINA.
as
ESTABLISH EI) 1855.
RALEIGH, N. C, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1894.
VOL. XXXIX., i ..J, 5.
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The Christian Advocate.
203i Fayettevillk St., Haeeigh, N. C.
The Official O reran of the North Caro
lina Annual Conference of the Method
ist Episcopal Church, South.
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POETRY.
The Voice of the Guide.
Walking through an unknown region,
Tangled thicket, brier, and thorn,
Weaving barriers dark and legion
Shadows on the tace ot morn;
Noontide hid in brooding tempests,
Nightfall coming cold and gray;
Lord, we thank thee tor the promise,
Star-like in thy word to-day!
Give us listening ears to hear it;
Give us faith to follow on,
Though the clouds unritted cover
All the glory of the sun,
"Thou shalt hear a voice behind thee!"
Do we, waiting as we pray,
Sweet from heaven discern its cadence!
"Tread with courage, this the way!"
Lord, so many thoughts beset us;
Lord, so many whispers press
On the silence ot the spirit,
Pilgrim in this wilderness;
Only as thy voice commands us,
Only as our hearts obey,
We are safe and sure of reaching
Home at ending of the way.
Lord, when we are worn and weary,
Lord, when faith is weak and faint,
Give us then, we pray, to hear thee;
Hush the moaning of complaint.
Thou shalt hear a voice behind thee!
Star-like beams the word to-day!
And we listen and we journey,
God himself our strength and stay.
Margaret E. Sanjstfi
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Advocate.
The History of Methodism in
North CarolinaPrior to the Or
ganization of the North Caro
lina Conference in 1837.
RY REV. ROBERT HENRY WILLIS, A. B.
AND REV. JESSE ARMON BALDWIN,
A. B.
WI"TI A CRITICAL. ESSAY OX THE
SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
BY STEPHEN B. WEEKS, PIT. D.
II.
History of Methodism in North
Carolina in the Eighteenth
Century.
BY REV. ROBERT HENRY WILLIS,
A. B.
(Continued.)
CHAPTER IV.
GROWTH OF METHODISM IN NORTH
CAROLINA FROM 1783 to 1800.
According to the minutes the place
fixed for the Southern Conference to
meet in 1786 was Salisbury. Of this
Conference Asbury says; " I thought
we should scarcely have preachers at
the time appointed, but the bad
weather did not stop their coming.
We spent three days in conference,
and went through with our business
with satisfaction." Asb. Jour., I.,
393. The minntes also indicate that
Salisbury was the place appointed for
the Conference to meet in 1787, and
Lee states that it was held there; Lee,
124 but it wa3 held in Charleston, as
Asbury's Journals show. Asb. Jour.,
II., 11. Asbury's account of the pro
ceedings is a good example of his ex
treme brevity. Under date of March
25th, he says, " We held our confer
ence in this city." " Tuesday, 27th,
we exchanged sentiments on matters
freely. Wednesday 28th, the Doctor
Coke treated on the qualification
and duties of a deacon. Thursday
29th, our conference ended."
For the next three years the Con
ference met at M'Knight's Church on
Yadkin River. Of the one held in
1789 Asbury says : " We opened our
conference, and were blessed with
peace and union; our brethren from
the westward met us, and we had
weighty matters for consideration be
fore us. Ibid., II., 46. Of the con
ference in 1790 he says: "Saturday
5th, and Sunday Gth, were days of the
Lord's presence and power several
were converted. We had ordination
each day. We have admitted into
full connection some steady men, with
disposition and talents for the work."
Asb. Jour., II., 76. At the Confer
ference of 1791, " many of the preach
ers related their experience, and it
was a most blessed season of grace."
Mitt, II., 97.
Green Hill's is the place where the
Conference met for the next three
years. There were two in 1792, the
first in January and the other in Dec.
This was the result merely of chang
ing the tinieof theConference from the
spring of one year to the last of the
preceding year. At the one which
met in the first of the year there were
"thirty-one preachers stationed at
the different houses in the neighbor
hood." Ibid., II., 120. It was not
necessary now for one man to enter
tain the whole Conference as was the
case in 1785. A good work in the
eastern part of the State was reported
this year. In December there were
about forty preachers from the two
districts in North Carolina. Ibid.,
II., 148.
The Conference held at Green Hill's
in December '93 was the last one held
in North Carolina during the eigh
teenth century. The Conferences
were now somewhat re-arranged and
the greater part of North Carolina
fell within the Virginia Conference.
At this session " it was agreed that
the next Conference should be held in
Petersburg : there the preachers from
North Carolina, Greenbriah, the
Center and Southern Districts of Vir
ginia, may all meet, and change
properly, and unite together for their
own and the people's good." Asb.
Jour., II, 181.
They did not meet at Petersburg as !
was intended. There was a rumor
that the small pox was at that place,
and so they held Conference at " Sif
ter Mabry's," in Greensville county.
From the following can be formed
some idea ot the salaries which these
early preachers received : " After
raising and applying what money we
could (which was about fifty pounds)
we calculated that one-fourth of the
preachers at this Conference had re
ceived for their salary the past year
about ten pounds; one half from about
twelve to fifteen pounds, and one
fourth their full quarterage (sixty-four
dollars.)" Ibid., 208-9.
So much as to the early Confer
ences; a few words now as to the early
districts in North Carolina. These
were changed at almost every session
of the Conference. The number in
the State varied from one to three.
Up to 1794 there was hardly any reg
ularity in the formation of the dis
tricts at all, and it is not worth while
to undertake any account of them be
fore that date. In 179 1 there were
three districts, one in the eastern,
one in the central, and one
in the western, part of the State.
In 1796 they were cut down so that
there was merely an eastern and a
western district. In 1799 the num
ber was cut down again and there
was only one district In North Caro
lina. It extended from Yadkin in
the west to Mattamuskeet in the ex
treme east and included fifteen cir
cuits. For one presiding elder to under
take such a district as that to-day
would seem almost preposterous. But
few hardships were too severe for the
consecrated men of that day. They
had no comfortable railroad cars in
which to ride from one end of the
State to the other; they had to take
those long trips in private convey
ances, or more often, on horseback.
Asbury set the example for the oth
ers; he travelled regularly from New
England to Georgia every year after
Methodism was established in those
parts, and preached at almost every
place where the opportunity was af
forded him.
Thus it is seen that Methodism was
planted in North Carolina amidst
many difficulties, and that in spite of
these it steadily grew in strength.
Though the war broke out with all its
horrors and evil influences, and with
all the prejudices aroused against the
Methodist movement on its account,
the work could not be crushed. No
doubt the hand of God was in it all.
Had Methodism been introduced un
der more favorable circumstances, no
one knows what might have been the
result. The proper amount of hard
ship in its early days is necessary for
the healthy development of any move
ment, and It was well that Metho
dism in this State had some obstacles
to overcome.
It has been seen how the work had
spread from small beginni- how
that a few societies were gaihered to
gether in 1774, and how that from
these the wave of Methodism spread
out until it met other waves in the
east and in the west. North Carolina
was now well occupied by the Metho
dists. In 1776 there was one circuit
with three preachers and 683 mem
bers. In 1 800, only twenty-four years
after the Carolina circuit was formed,
there were nineteen circuits, thirty
two preachers and eight thousand
four hundred and seventy-two mem
bers. Their circuits now extended
from the extreme eastern to the ex
treme western part of the statets and
there were perhaps churches organiz
ed in every county.
For the Advocate.
Athletics in Colleges.
BY REV. E. L. PERKINS, M. D.
Men of philosophic minds are agreed
that to make a man of the highest
type of physical development is as
necessary as mental culture. When
the mind is kept under constant strain
to the neglect of bodily develop
ment, it is like placing a heavy
ordinance upon a slender fort,
but when due attention is paid to
the development of both body and
mind the best results are obtained.
The one may be cultivated to the
neglect of the other, as is often the
case, and thus fall short of the highest
type of manhood. As dangers lurk
in every path there is a risk of run
ning upon feylla in the att;-n to
avoid Chary bd is.
Because some of the games indulg
ed in by college students are healthy
and manly it does not follow that all
are so. The reports of athletic con
tests during the year 1893 seem rather
degrading than honorable to the col
leges encouraging those contests. The
Medical News for December begins
an editorial thus: " Since cur last is
sue another death from foot-ball has
occurred, the young man having been
injured October 11th. This makes
five deaths in this country this sea
son, still another being probable, the
patient lying paralyzed with a chance
for recovery." The editor then goes
on to describe the bloody scenes of
broken noses from fisticuffs that were
witnessed by the spectators ot the con
tests referred to. Speaking of such
brutal conduct connected with foot
ball contests, Prof. Norton, of Har
vard College, says that " base-ball is
a game that would have delighted the
Greeks, but that foot-ball is only fit
for Barbarians."
The question has been put to a
number of leading educators as to
whether the boys who excell in ath
letics are as a rule also excellent in
school work ? The answers indicate
that excellence in athletics and in in
tellectual work are, as a general rule,
not met with in the same person at
the same time. The trouble is not
because the athletes have not the
mental capacity for literary work, but
because so much time is wasted in
training for the games, which in lat
ter times have become very scientific,
and therefore requires more time for
thorough preparation.
The Charlotte, (N. C.,) Medical
Journal, speaking of the foot-ball
games,says : " It is certainly the most
brutal and dangerous game that ex
ists." It then suggests a few excellent
rules in regard to college athletics. It
says, " Brain workers and those who
lead sedentary lives are unwise in at
tempting to become general athletes.
The sort of athletics is best which (1)
is free from danger to life and limb;
(2) is natural and pleasing to the in
dividual taking it; (3) promotes the
healthful flow of blood through every
portion of the body, the more equally
the better; (4) is regular as is the hour
for meals and sleep; (5) permits cheer
ful companionship; (6) does not seri
ously disturb the ordinary duties of
life." Here we have six good rules
formulated for the government of
athletics to which no person can ob
ject with any show of reason, and to
which all the college authorities can
heartily subscribe.
The medical journals, upon scientific
principles, are denouncing the brutal
ity of the foot-ball games, and many
of the secular papers have echoed the
denunciations. The religious press of
the country should be a unit against
all games leading to brutal conflicts,
as a disgrace to the civilization of the
nineteenth century. Let the boys have
all necessary exercise, throw not a
straw in their path, but see to it that
while the exercises are manly that
they are also moral. The foot-ball
craze has gone far enough towards
disgracing this generation. Those
whose minds are absorbed in making
preparation for a coming contest, will
hardly reach that point of excellence
in mental work that is attainable to
him who keeps his eye steadily fixed
upon the problems of his books.
For the Advocate.
Random Notes.
BY REV. T. B. KINGSBURY.
I have read with interest the
installments of ''The History of Meth
odism in North Carolina," now ap
pearing in the Advocate. It is
much needed and timely. Dr. Weeks
is an excellent contributor to State
histcVy painstaking, accurate, fair,
clear. We hope he will continue his
work for his two contributions pub
lished by Johns Hopkins University
are really thorough
and valuable.
Reading chapter II
by Rev. R. H.
Willis, I made the following notes
that may possibly interest and add to
a belter understanding of matters
mentioned. Granville county was
erected into a county in 1746. It
covered a large area, Warren, Frank
lin, i Xsf- nd nerha f s a part of
Ora -k' I'-wiv'ii not a iic.ua liie uct
of the Legislature creating the county,
but in an address made in 1876 at
Oxford, on "The History of Gran
ville County," I quote the act. But
the county was cut off fromGranville,
and in 1779, it was divided into
Warren and Franklin counties. How
soon Methodism was in Granville I
am unable to say. The Baptists had
two preaching places as early as 175G.
One was north-west of Oxford at
Sherman's which still exists. It is
the home of a worthy family of that
name, and prior to the war a votirg
prejinct. It maybe so still. The other
was south-east of Oxford at Fishing
Creek. See Rev. M. McCadden's
diary. He preached at those places
in 1756. See also as to Nutbush where
he says a refined, educated, hospitable
people lived, who were " hungry for
the Gospel," that is the section lying
near the old historic village of Wil
liamsboro, one of the three " Post
towns" in the first War of Indepen
dence. There afterwards lived a
people equally distinguished for cul
tivation, refinement and wealth. In
William3boro,and vicinity, lived Col.
Robt. Burton,of the Revolution, Judge
John Williams, Judge Richard Hen
derson, his son, Chief Justice Leonard
Henderson, Gov. Turner, Col. Tom
Turner, his son, Bishop Ravenscroft,
of the Episcopal Church, and many
other families of prominence. The
" Nutbush Creek Chapel" mentioned
by Mr. Willis, I would suppose, was
either in Granville or just on the line
in Warren.
The first document that is now ex
tant bearing upon British oppression
appeared in 1765,and is signed "Nut
bush." It belongs to Granville. The
Regulators had their origin in the
same county as I show in the address
referred to above.
Rev. Robert I. Devin, of the Bap
tist Church, has published a book on
the Baptists of Granville. It is worth
consulting by any one searching for
early religious history in North Caro
lina. The Episcopal Church at Wil
liamsboro wa3 originally a free
Church, and I do not know how it
comes to be the property of the Epis
copalians. It was erected in 1754, I
think it is, (I give the exact date in
the address) some six or eight miles,
(perhaps more) from Williamsboro,
and was taken down and removed to
Williamsboro prior to the war of In
dependence. Howell Lewis was the
builder. He was the head of the Lewis
family of Granville. Col. Tarleton,
the British cavalry officer with Lord
Cornwallis, encamped at Williams
boro f r at least one night. It was
cold weather and his ruthless
soldiers built a fire upon the heavy
oaken floor in front of the pulpit. The
marks of the fire are easily visible to
this day. The building is in an excel
lent state of preservation after 140
years.
The Edmund Taylor mentioned by
Mr. Willis evidently was of Granville.
The Taylors, of that county, have
been influential for several genera
tions. We think one of them was a
Col. in the Continental War, others
have been wealthy and prominent.
Many of them have been Methodists.
The late Mrs. Robert Taylor, whose
husband was one of the richest men
of his day in that section of North
Carolina,lived to be some eighty years
or more. She was a very religious
woman. When passed her seventy-
fifth year she told me this : That she
was a girl of perhaps fourteen, and
well remembered the meeting of the
Conference at her father's. He had
one of his barns cleaned up and the
preachers met in it. Bishop Asbury
presided. She said at the first meal
the Bishop sang the grace he offered.
Mrs. Taylor died about 1860, I think.
The late Archibald Taylor, of Oxford,
her son, was a Methodist, as was his
half-brother, the late Colonel Richard
Taylor.
- . . - - .. ... ... -
For the Advocate.
What Next?
BY "PHILO.
We call to mind a scene that took
place over eighteen hundred years
ago, in the city of Jerusalem. One
day when Jesus visited the temple he
saw that His Father's house was be-
ins used as a house of merchandise. It
'Si
did not
take - Him long to act, but
drove the merchants and money
changers from the sacred precinct.
Why was this ? They were desecrat
ing the house of God; the "house of
prayer for all people."
A scene presents itself to us now.
It is not ancient, but very modern.
The following from the Richmond
Advocate tells the story, a story of
filthiness and desecration :
AT THE VIRGINIA CONFERENCE.
(Editorial Cor. St. Louis Advocate.)
On entering the basement of the
church in Danville, where the Confer
ence was sitting, we were staggered
with smoke and astonishment to find
large groups of men, in some instances
father and son, desecrating their
bodies, their high calling and the house
of God by puffing and poisoning the
air with such a dense cloud that look
ed almost as if you could lean against
it. We survived a visit to the opium
haunts of China and India and the
hasheesh pavilion of Morocco, but we
were not prepared to remain long in
this commodious Sunday-school room
of a Christian church. We were not
much surprised the next day to hear
that one of the aged ministers of the
Conference had in this same basement
fallen suddenly dead from "heart fail
ure!" While alcohol is slaying our
ablest statesmen, tobacco is slaying
many of our ablest preachers.
What next in God's house ? Why
will this desecration go on ? What
an example to the young of our coun
try; but I hope they will profit by it
and not allow themselves to be seen
filling the holy place of worship with
the smoke arising from unholy and
filthy tobacco.
I am not writing especially against
the use of tobacco, Mr. Editor, but
those that use it either smoking or
chewing should use it in its proper
sphere, and not desecrate the house of
God with it. To turn God's house
into anything but an house of prayer
is desecrating the holy place, and is
an insult to God.
"But this was not in the main
body of the church. ' What of that ?
It was under the same roof, and used
for holy purposes.
Did God's favor rest upon that
scene ? Did He approve such a course
as this, by smiling upon it ? I be
lieve not, for says He, "mine house
shall be called an house of prayer for
all people." Could one have offered
a prayer in that Sunday-school room
under such circumstances? It would
have been almost a mockery.
-i
"Christianity is what Chri ach
es.' 7 These are words of truth and
wisdom from a wise man. Did Christ
teach anything like desecrating His
Farther's house by smoking under
its roof, or using it as an house of
worldly entertainments "baby
shows," "hard-time sociables," and
"jug breakings ?" Nay ! n a y !
Verily, nay !
The Chinese and Lynching.
BY REV. D. II. TUTTLE.
The following paragraph appeared
in the editorial columns of the Neics-Obsercer-Chronicle
one morning last
week :
The almond eyed gentry across the
water are looking at the missionaries
askant once more, and placards have
been posted in those curious characters
that run backwards, to the effect that
China has no need for anything new
and especially no need for a new re
ligion, and the missionaries are not
wanted. The mob is called on to lynch
them after the most approved western
style. We are very sorry for the mis
sionaries.
Whether so intended or not, such
writings in our secular papers hurt
the cause of Christ and his church,,
and also the persons who might get
blessings in supporting that cause.
Three things I have to say about what
is said in the above paragraph : (1)
The fact that China sees no need for
"a new religion," and the further fact
that she would lynch the missionaries
"after the most approved western
style" proves most conclusively that
China does need missionaries and the
new and better religion they teach
and live. (2) The world of humanity
in their lost condition needed, but did
not want the religion of our Lord ,
Jesus Christ. God sent it without
waiting to be asked to do so. The
heathen nations, " having the under-
iftandhig darkened,- being alienated
!iiom lueiife ofGou ifnoagli thognoi
ance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart," have never
(as nations) asked for the religion of
Christ, Christ did not say to the
church, wait till they ask, but " Go
ye into all the world and preach the
Gospel to every creature." The devil
did his work of sin so completely in
man's mind and heart that man in
and of himself knows nothing of the
true God or of the way of righteous
ness until the Holy Spirit reveals it
to him through the word of God. (3)
Such writings as the above, and oth
ers akin to it, are often taken as
thrusts at the missionary work of the
church, and many weak ones in the
church, together with half-hearted
ones seeking excuse not to give to
that cause, are caused to withdraw
their support. Finally,sofaras lynch
ing is concerned, it cannot and will
not stop missionary work in China or
anywhere else. Eighteen hundred
y ars ago that was tried on Paul at
Lystra and other places, but he rose
up as from the dead and went on with
his missionary work. And to this
day every country to which mission
aries have been sent has " lynched '
some of them and yet the Gospel wave
widens and rolls on, and will take the
world for Christ. Hallelujah! Chris
tians are not in the lynching business.
And the Waste Still Goes On.
The amount of money squandered
during the past year in our city for
rum among our poorer class of people
would feed and clothe their families
well during the entire winter, who
are now in destitute circumstances.
The amount of corn and rye wasted
in distillation of these liquors would
fatten enough pork and beef to supply
these families with choice meats for
over a year's time. Dr. W. II
ray in the Voice.
Michigan City, Ind.
The devil never says good-bye to a
man a3 long as he can ksep him con
ceited. No one can enjoy communion with
Christ who is not willing to be like
Him.
God;was never able to say what he
wanted to say to men until Christ
came.
The first prayer was made by the
man who had the first need.