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ORGAN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE, M. E CHURCH, SOUTH
TABLISHED IN i8.
RALEIGH, N. C. FEBRUARY 23, 1899.
NEW SERIES. VOL'. 1. NO. 1.
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11
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EDITORIAL.
ONCE MORE.
Once more the "Old Raleigh" greets
its readers. It has had no !Rip Van Win
kle sleep during the last -few years. It
has not-lost its individuality; neither, has
there been any cessation of activity.
A few years ago, with an enlargement
of the paternal territory, it joined hands
with a Western neighbor, moved its resi
dence, and, with its neighbor, took the
name of the present worthy sister across
line the North Carolina Christian
obcte.
ror reasons accepted by both parties,
r
I on a basis mutually satisfactory, and
lined in another column, the "Old
aleisrh" has returned to the ancestral
nsion, and wearing the ancient pat-
ymic, presents in this issue the full-
of an affectionate heart to its nu
ous readers.
fhe "Old Raleigh" under the new
me is not the off-spring of an excited
Culse, nor even the result of a new-
yrn phrpose. It has not been quick-
I'ned b' connection with any special ex-
Jt" V ii . . 1, 4I-10 riiii'rr1i linQ
jeneiicc Liiiuun wiiivii ins- vnuivu
atelv or remotely passed.
Over three years ago, at the Eliza
eth City Conference, plans were formed
for the establishment of a paper as the
organ of the Conference. At the next
i -Conference at Kinston, a Commission
from the Western North Carolina Con-
rkrenc.c.was present, and urged the con-
ii Itinuation of the North Carolina Advo-
,,cate as tne organ oi uic iuu
ences. According to an ugiccmciu
which embraced the presence of a rep
resentative of the North Carolina Con
ference on the editorial staff, the North
Carolina Advocate was continued as ine
tan of the two Conferences. The
rth Carolina uonierence eictcu us
'tor for a term of two years
kt the last session of the North Caro-
!1
v-ot
Conference, it was seen mat uic
editorial arrangement was no Ion-
DOSSlDie. llicic atinv-vi
ice for the establishment ot one pa-
i(r the two Conferences. The gen
fper
eral interests of the church appeared to
dematS a separate organ. The Confer
i i infi'nnc wViirh are rmb-
ence-ppcu jcauiuuuno L
lisheel Vi another column. In accord-
nrAwh these resolutions tne Kaieign
hristi Advocate has been re-estab-
i . 1M1 1
rhed. i The mutual gooa-win um
Hristiancharity characterizing the par
es on bch sides before, during, and at-
ter tne ci liberations auu imai
'.ions are . matter of congratulation to
the whole :hurch. The Raleigh Chris
tian Advoite wishes its neighbor the
North Cartina Christian Advocate the
btmost succ ss in its great work of build-
ng up Metlodism.
Irrtssumiiig the editorial control ot
"Rnleifrh fhrictian Advocate. I feel
the weight of a very grave responsibility.
If he hand that guides the journalistic
I"1 ft i..w
yvessel of a great Conference with all its
pirecious freightage of interests and pos
Abilities must le under a true and vigi
lant eye, and controlled by a Christ-di
rected mind' aivl heart. Yet there is a
fact which brings to me a sense of re
lief. It is this. Under the present ar
rangement the paper is an institution of
he Conference, and every member ol
e Conference is responsible for the
iell-being of our organ, just as he is re
fjbnsible for the other institutions and
ftterprises of the church. This fact
ifarantecs the prayers of the Conference
jErtPthc editor and the most earnest co
Operation with him for the success of
he Advocate. '
The Advocate is not the official
Uouth-piece oi any party or faction. It
not the advocate of .any one, but of
ivery interest, of thelhurch. It is the
DlTicial organ of the INorth Carolina
nVrence. It is ill sentinel on the
l)wer of Zion.M V is a servant of
the church. It looks for support to ev
ery son and daughter of Methodism in
the North Carolina Conference .
Cornelius Vanderbilt used to say:
"In any enterprise never say what you
are going to do until you have done
it.
This is a good rule.
It is one thins:
to form plans. It is another thing to ex
ecute them. I can go so far, however,
as to say that it is the purpose of those
in control of the Advocate to make it
the equal of the best in the sisterhood of
Conference organs pleasing to the eye,
helpful to the mind, and stimulating to
the heart. The press-work will be done
by one of the. best printing establish-
junents in the South. Our business man-
ager, Rev. N. M. Watson, a member of
the North Carolina Conference, a suc
cessful preacher and business man, is
well fitted for his position. The Raleigh
Advocate. Company is an unusually
strong one. With the earnest and im
mediate co-operation of the ministry
and laity, the paper must be and will be
a success, the sub-pastor of every
charge, a well of joyful strength spring
ing up by thousands of hearthstones and
the helpful advocate of the church mili
tant in her contest with sin.
T. N. IVEY.
A YEAR OF OPTIMISM.
God, in his boundless love, has grant
ed us the privilege of entering another
year. A few milestones have been. pass
ed and the main part of the journey is
before us. It behooves us to look for
ward, as well as backward and around,
fl-, rhr nnhmKni
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ivhnh ic nfprifr iq nor f bar whirl! s !11TS
its eyes to palpable facts and revels in
unrealities colored by heated fancy. The
optimism needed is that which, .wide
eyed and intelligent, sees everything
tipped with sunshine from thunder
clouds to the wings of the butterfly.
Optimism with-the Christian means
faith in God. It is ever asking in exul
tant strain, "If God be for us, who can
be against us?" It sees the crown above
the cross and, in the light of an eternal
sun-rise, catches the outline of a farther
shore. It means once and for all, the
Christian's hope, and the Christian's
strength.-
As a Conference, as workers m the
'"vineyard of the Lord,'' as sky-born
men and women, bovs and girls, we have
manv and pressing needs. But it seems
to us right now, the threshold of the new
l,: nference year just passed, that one of
the most pressing needs is that of a
spirit of healthy optimism. An abstrac
tion, you say. Well, abstractions some
untes hold very concrete realities.
Sighing, croaking, and dire prophesyings
are sentimental -and useless, but they
generate upheavals and revolutions.
The shaking head is generally followed
by the quaking heart. A pessimistic
church is not the one that received its
t . T A .
baptism at 1'entecost. A pessimistic
church means a plethora of triumphs for
Satan.
True optmism is not only the
best cure for pessimism, but is the nat
ural inspiration and robur of the spiritual
life.
We need now this cure. We adver
tise its merits in this first issue of our.
Conference organ. We recommend it
as a specific for many evils.
Signs of growing hysteria with a tend
ency to melancholia are visible here and
there in the body ecclesiastical. The cry
is wafted on the winds that the world is
growing worse. Tears are dropped over
smouldering revival fires. Such a de
crease in the number of conversions!
Such an absence of apostolic zeal in pew
and pulpit ! Things are truly against us !
These are echoes coming from columns
of religious papers, pulpits, prayer-meetings,
experience meetings, clivers gath
erings, and private conversations.
In the face of this condition, we need
the spirit of optimism. There is no rea
son why we should not have it, evil pro
phets to the contrary. We bid every son
and daughter of Methodism look to the
sunrise and see what great things God is
doing for us. The world is growing bet
ter and God hosts are marching on.
God blessed us asa Conference last year.
If He had .not done so, deai and de
pravity would haJe left us in : decimated
conditior at tht annual summing up.
New cVches re being erlcted,ne
Suncy VcisHshed, feew shouts
of praise from regenerated souls are go
ing up. Our educational institutions
were- never more largely patronized.
The spirit of Christian charity is abroad.
Plans for the establishment of a home for
our orphans and worn-out preachers
will soon be materialized. We have Cor
neliuses and Dorcases, in our laity. We
have heries of apostolic zeal among our
preachers. We have Rough. Riders of
Uinst, who before the falling: of the J
coming leaves, will make more heroic
charges against sin than were made by
Roosevelt's men up the slopes of San
Juan. In many ways God is shining on
and through his people.
We will not presume on the strength
of past and present blessings. We will
be glad, hopeful, and active. We will
"look to the hills whence cometh our
help." We will look forward to making
the present year a Ueautiful picture in
the calendar of years, f We will be Chris
tian optimists. This means that we will
have faith in God.
THE COMPANY BEHIND THE AD
VOCATE. One of the most important elements
of the strength and character of the Ral
eigh Christian Advocate is the Company
behind it.
The Raleigh Christian Advocate Com
pany is composed of the following: Dr.
J. T. Miller, Revs. J. W. Jenkins," R. B.
John, M. T. Piyler, B. H. Black, N. M.
Watson, and Messrs. L. L. Smith, B. N.
Duke, J. S. Wynne, J. G. Brown, F. P.
Brown, W. B. Harker and F. K. Elling
ton. Mr. J. S. Wynne, of Raleigh, is Presi
dent. He is one of the most solid, wide
awake business men of Raleigh, and is
one of the financial pillars of the capital
city. Dr. Miller, so well known over the
J '
State as a large-hearted, progressive phy
sician, Superintendent of the Hospital
for the Insane at Goldsboro, is the Vice
President. Mr. F. P. Brown is Secre
tary. He is one of the vounger business
men of Raleigh, who are aiding the city
so greatly with their 'enterprise and push.
Rev. N. M. Watson, oitr JUisines Mana
ger, who has demonstrated his fitness
for his onerous position, is Treasurer.
Board of Directors : J. S. Wynne, J. W.
Jenkins, J. G. Brown, R. B. John and
N. M. Watson.
Executive Committee: J. S. Wynne,
J. G. Brown, and N. M.AVa'tson.
All the above mentioned are loyal
Methodists, having the good of Christ
and His Church at heart. Their moral
and financial character guarantees a suc
cessful management of the affairs of the
Advocate.
A DISTRICT LIBRARY AND
READING CIRCLE.
A Presiding Elder in Texas is said
bv the editor of the Texas Christian
Advocate to be a progressive man. As
an evidence of this fact the statement
is made that he lias among the preach
ers of his district a reading circle. They
buy a good book' each, have a quarterly
meeting, discuss the contents and then
xchange books for the coming quarter
It is unnecessary to say that this is a
igood plan that in time will work won-!
ders tor the intellectual ana spinmai me
ot tne preacners, ine iibuici, uic vun
is
economical. A. preacher does not have
to buy a large library to receive the
benefit of it. -There-is system in it. The
discusssions are mind-sharpening, and
the community of interest is valuable.
If such a plan can be worked in Texas,
whv not in the North Carolina Confer
ence;
THE GREAC SNOW STORM
1899.
OF
The great snow storm beginning Sat
urday, February 11, 1899, and ending
the following Monday in the afternoon
marks an epoch in the meteorogical his
tory of this State. For long years we
have been hearing of the wonderful snow
of 1857. But this will now give place in
he popular mind to the wonderful snow
of 1899. The latter storm was the se
verer of the two, although the depth of
the snow was not so great. In the for
mer case the depth was over two feet; in
the latter, not more than 18 niches. The
latter storm was characterized by intense
cold which made the mercery drop be-tm-
ti. i rfi 1 1 1"
OW,'i:ero. lne cHnuwas ly ven-iieua j-
frrc the snow begano fa)
V - J0 I J I L I
Aas lost: Thus natui
special preparation for the advent of the
V. rnter Queen. When the people open
ed their eyes on the light of Monday
morning, they were greeted by a true
arctic scene. Mother Earth was folded
in ermine 15 inches thick and the noise
less flakes were still falling. A stiff gale
from the North was piling up parapets
along the sidewalks and fences. Huge
icicles decorated the pumps and foun
tains, while every exposed window was
beautiful with the filagree work of the
frost. The gale flung great clouds of!
snow ironr root and ground and sent
them scurrying in blinding fury in all
directions. No sound from railroad de
pots and round-houses was heard for the
great monarchs of the rail were bound
hand and foot by the white hands of
winter.
People for the first time felt fear creep
ing into their hearts. The situation was
serious. Poor people were suffering. A
fuel famine was imminent. The cattle
on a thousand hills were in danger of
freezing. But the news from all sections
showed that Christian charity was equal
to the demands. The towns and cities
came up nobly to supply the needs oi
the suffering. "
GIVE US TIME.
Not so many years ago it was our
privilege to hear a sermon preached by
one of the quaintest characters and one
of the best men in North Carolina Meth
odism. The brother was apparently well
up in the preliminaries, and had his ser
mon well written on the best manuscript
paper, tied, if we mistake not, with some-
tnmg like ribbon. But figuratively
speaking, he found himself unable to find ;
the latch string of the door to his sermon.
He scrambled violently in the bramble of
irrelevant and conflicting ideas. He
finally cleared his throat and looking
over his glasses at his sympathetic and
bewildered congregation, said: "Well, all
1 want is for you just to give me time.
You'll give me time, wont you?" Being
assured that the congregation would not
be stingy with this precious commodity,
the brother proceeded and preached a
strong and evangelical sermon.
At this juncture, we are prepared to
enter into the feelings of. the brother on
that occasion. We feel moved to say to
our many subscribers, "Just give us
time." Getting out the first issue of a
paper under the most favorable circum
stances is always a difficult matter. Mis
take will occur at first. The arrangement
will not suit you probably. The typo
graphical appearance of the paper may
not be just what you wish. Some of
the matter may be scrappy. But "just
give us time." We propose to have a
paper second to none of the Conference
organs.
JofNT LETTER TO THE SUB
SCRIBERS IN THE N. C.
CONFERENCE,
Through an arrangement recommend
ed by the North CaVolina Conference in
the resolution looking to the establish
ment of a separate paper aa the organ
of the North Carolina Conference, and in
accordance with a basis of value before
" ted b Rev L- vy. Crawford, rep-
i resentin the North Carolina Christian
'Advocate Company, and agreed to by
the -committee appointed u uic uun
Carolina Conference, the names of all the
subscribers to the North Carolina Chris-
tian Advocate, residing within the
bounds of the North Carolina Confer
ence and who subscribed previously to
February 7th, 1899 have been trans
ferred to the subscription list of the new
paper, the Raleigh Christian Advocate,
published by the Raleigh Advocate Pub
lishing Company which shall be the
lawful owner of said transferred sub
scriptions and all accounts due thereon,
with the title and good will of the old
Raleigh Christian Advocate, so far as
these may be owned by the present N.
C. Advocate Publishing Company. By
this arrangement the Raleigh Christian
Advocate becomes the organ of the
North Carolina Conference.
. The division and transfer have been
made with mutual cjbod will and prayer
ful desire that each paper in its separate
sphere may contribute largely to the
cause of our commorfflethodism and ttr
Signed: A. M'owell YV. C N
-TtV
"it -iQf BrPwn. W. B. Harker
FROM OUR BISHOPS.
To the Ministers and Members of t$&
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Dear Brethren: The General Cony
ference, at its late session in Baltimore
Md., by a unanimous vote passes rescVu-j
tions in favor of raising a Twentieth Cen-
turv Education Fund to cofmmenorate'
the signal blessings oi Lrouiupon
our;
Church during the past oie hundred;
years. The minimum amount suggested!
as an appropriate thank offering, ;, is
$1,500,000. This surely is a modest sum;
to be sfiven bv
a minion ana a aart
S9
Southern Methodists. We' desire,
your Chief Pastors, to earnestly com!
mend this most important and timeh
movement. It is eminently nttinsft
we should celebrate, the birth of a
century 01 opportunity bv generous
ferings to the great educational worl
our church. The General Board of Ed
en; ion is perfecting plans for a thoroi
canvass of the connection in this interei
We would affectionately urge you
cordially co-operate with these effort!
and thereby make sure the largest
cess of this noble en'-'eronse. The Gei-
cral Conference has placed this matt
before the church as of choicest concern,
I. is suggested, therefore, that local or;
other connectional enterprises should'!
not be allowed to give this Twentieth
Century Fund a secondary or unimport-.
ant place. In addition to the regular
tithes we bring to the church let this 'be
a special and liberal thank offering. By,
a reconsecration of ourselves, soul, body,-1
and substance, to the Lord we may make"
this connectional movement monument-
3 5, and provide ampler equipment for no-j
bier work during the next century of j
wider opportunity and greater responsi
bility. JOHN C. KEENER,
JOHN C. GRANBERY,
ROBERT K. HARGROVE,
'WILLIAM W. DUNCAN,
CHARLES B. GALLOWAYS
EUGENE R. HENDRIX,
JOSEPPI S. KEY, '
OSCAR P. FITZGERALD, :
WARREN A-. CANDLER;" "
HIvNRY C. MORRISON.
Owing to the absence of Bishop Wil
son from this country has signature
could not be procured.
There can be no doubt of the fact that
the dispensary idea is the most promi
nent and popular one in temperance
circles in North Carolina. Those towns
which have tried the dispensary pub-
iish the most enthusiastic reports of
its success. The Legislature has been
besieged witli petitions for the establish-v
ment of new dispensaries. Some of
these petitions have been granted. It
takes no great stretch of credulity to
suppose that this method of restricting
the the liquor traffic is becoming more
popular and will soon be in vogue over
the whole South. The theoretical argu
ment is with the prohibitionist. But
the practical argument is with the dis
pensr.ry advpeaie, inasmuch as prohi-
lrtion is assumed to be an impossibility
for the present, and the dispensary is
icstrictive only, not permissive, and a
means to prohibition.
'
The commission appointed by the "
President to investigate the War De
partment in its conduct of the late war
has made its report. It is a lengthy doc-
ument. it exonerates an connected witi
the War Department, but. by. insinua
tion reprimands Gen. Miles. It ac-'
knowledges the lack of foresight and sys
tem in the loading and unloading of
transports. It practically says that the
embalmed beef charge is untrue. Parts
of the general verdict will not be accept
ed by the American people. But
we are thanktful that the question will
1 ow rest. We have enough of which to i
feel proud and over which to rejoice. '
Our country is a great one. . ;
P SK 3j! , ,
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In behalf of Durham and the Trinity
College Association, Mr. J. S.Xarr iijt.1
vited the State Convention of the Y.'M.
C. A. to convene this year at Durham.
The invitation wa$accepted, and the con
vention will be held March 9-12. May it
be a great success. .
There. is srood
rt to suppose. tha .,-. ( 1
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