RELIGION WITHO.UT BIGOTRY; ZEAL WITHOUT FANATICISM; LIBERTY WITHOUT LICENTIOUSNESS Volume XXX. SUFFOLK, NLA., FRIDAY, JANUARY S6, 1877. Number 4. < ^ontriiufors. MINUTES OF THE DEEP RIVER CHRIS TIAN CONFERENCE. HELD WITH THE CHURCH AT SHADY Grove, Montgomery County, North Carolina, October 5th, Otii, and 7th, 1870. The Deep lliver Christian Confer ence assembled at this place to day ia its twelfth anneal session. llev. A. S. Nelson, President of last session, called Conference to or der,'and led in religions exercise t. 15y order of the President, tl’r*y 'M--., Hip c-lirir tiers oi uoni®rcnce wei>, which reunited as follow A Bidets present.—A. Sj t5. Lawrence, W. M. V. W, B. Brown, no member shall spe..'* tbau I tifteen minutes at one 110. “'' | subject; and that this be adu. t0| the Buies of Order. On motion, ltev. A. S. Nelson was chosen to deliver the annual address to-morrow at 10 o’clock A. M., in the place of Rev. P. P. Umble, who is ah- j sent on nccouut of sickness. The Church at Bear Creek, was, on motion, received as a member of this Conference. On motion, Conference meet at 9 o’clock a. m. ; dismiss for refresh ments at 11J o’clock A. m. ; meet at 1£ o’clock p. m, and adjourn at will. • Tlia Chair appointed Bros. E. C. IMartin, Adam Browui and John VV. Moore to constitute a Committee ou •Religious Exercises. On motion, Conference adjourned meet to-mo.row morning at 9 o’ciAok. Re/igious services by Bro. J. A. Scot t. (SBCONJJ DAYiJ Conference" Convened. The Presi dent in the OB »ir. KeMnious exercise* by Rev. M. L. Hurley. .Minute* of yesterday were wad and approved. On motion, the address was not v*®' livered until 11£ o’clock A. M. Rev. W. W. Lawrence arrived and took his seat in Conference. ' "On motion, the Committee of three on Home Missions was continued. The letters from the churches were handed in and redd by the Secretary. On motion of Rev. A. S. Nelsuu, a It ■Committee of three wus raised by ^ouference to draft a Constitution for the organization of a Home Mis sionary Society in the bounds of .this Conference. In pursuance Of said motion, Con ference appointed brethren E. C. Martin, Adam Brown, G. W. Parks to constitute that Committee. The Secretary was added, to the Commit tee. » On motion, Conference adjourned for refreshments. During intermission, ltev A. S. Nelson delivered the annual address from the words ‘‘Cod is love,” first John, 4th chapter, ]U(J» voiso.* Thu address was delivered with much earnestness, vtnd was interesting and io attractive. •l''1 air« .■ - JBNOON SES.SieuyTl lent in the Chair.—Iiov. y arrived. dent announced the fol initlees (Kith Schools.—[I, A. Al fV. G. Brady and Joseph J. I , Temperance.—W. W. ft>, S. II. Way and Lewis Law lirady. ►ymatistrcs.—s. A. Hayworth, J. M. [Stinson anil Westward (Jox. Education.—A. S. Nelsoh, YYr. It. Brown, W. \Vr. Lawrence and H. A. Albright. Home Missions.—.IA, Scott, G., W- Parks and N. Nalls, Periodicals.—W. 0. Brady, 15, S. Scot t and W. M. Craven. On motion, Bro. S. B. Klapp, bib lical member of the North Carolina and Virginia Christian Conference, was invited to a seat in Conference as a deliberative member. Bro. Klapp advanced and took his spat. On motion, Kev. John S. Lawrence was appointed fraternal messenger to attend the North Carolina and Vir ginia Christian Conference in its next session. * • On motion, Conference will meet in its next annual session with tlie .Church at Pleasant Jlidge, Randolph county, on Thursday, ]2 o’clock M., before the second Sabbath in Octo ber, 1877. On motion, ltev. YV. YV. Lawreuee was appointed to deliver the next annual sermon or address. Bro. John A. Scott was appointed alternate. On motion, Conference adjourned to meet in night session at early can dle light. [Night Session.] The President presiding. The Committee on Temperance made their report as follows : REPUIJT, Your Committee on Temperance would respectfully recommend to the churches composing this Conference: To try to keep the chinch nioililiprs as far from intemperate habits of all kinds as possible. No one will deny that an intemperate member always brings grief to ins best friends and disgrace to the religion which we pro fess. Whenever Me find onr mem bers making, buying, selling, or using as a beverage anything that intoxi | cates, we should meet the evil with aj kind but prompt rebuke, and use all | proper means to exclude the same en- j tirely from our midst. Let iis, therefore, set an example] that may lie safely followed by all. Respectfully submitted, YV. YV. Lawrence, S. H. Way, Leyvis Brady, " Coiiiittniee. T'bereport was discussed with much enthusiasm by Kev. M- L. Hurley, who took a boh} stand against intem perance, followed by Bro. John A. "•-•ott, Kevs. H, X, Albright, A- S STelson, I5ro- S’ H* Wa*’* W, ,y Lawr,"ic*> W- G- Bra'lJ. J- S wrei.ee and »• **«>»». •The question wa' called for, i’.(id die vote taken, which re'uHe;* in ll“° idoption of the report. On uiotiou, Conference adjourn^ till 9 o’clock to-morrow morning. ; Religions services conducted by Kev. 1 YV. M. Craven. [Third Day.] Conference convened. President presiding. Religious exercises conducted by Rev. A. S. Nelson. Thomas Brown, delegate from Bear Creek, arrived and occupied his seat in the body. The Committee who veiG appoint ed to draft a Constitution for the Mis sionary Society, reported the follow ing as suitable for its organization and government: Constitution. 1. This Society shall be known by the name of the Missionary Society of the Deep River Christian Confer ence’ IHidit8 fuiula 8',a'l ho used to aid in u^wlonary work *» said Con ference. a. The officers this Society shall be a President am* Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Execu tive 'Committee Jof five—o.*' whfch committee, the President and V'co President shall form a part, -^4 3. Jt shall he I lie duty of the Presi dent to preside in all the meetings of the Society, and in case of his absence the Vice President shall preside. , 4. The Secretary shall keep a faith fid account of all the doings of the Society recorded in a hook provided for that purpose. 5. The Treasurer shall take charge of all the funds-of th8 Society, after giving bond and security, and pay them out as directed by a vote of the Society, or by a vote of four-fifths of tlic Executive Hoard. 0, It shall he the duty of the Exec utive Committee to credit all accounts of the 8 iciefy, see that dues are col lected, procure signaftires to the Con stitution, and in every laudable way exercise vigilance in promoting the interest of the Society. 7. The Society shall hold the right of determining how and where* its funds shall be applied, provided it be conformable tf^tho object specified in Article II. 5. Any person ot good diameter shall be entitled to membership, on subscribing to this Constitution, and paying annually the interest on the amount subscribed, and the amount subscribed shall not be less than five dollars. Any subscription from tbat sum mid upward shall constitute ti jif e member. 9. The Society shall hold its meet ings annually, and at the same place at which the Deep l(iver Christian Conference shall meet, and on the second day of the session of said body. 10. The Executive Board shall meet upon the call of the President and Secretary. 11. The officers of this Society shall be elected annually and shall bold of fice until their* successors shall be elected. 12. The Constitution may be alter ed or amended at the annual meeting of,the Society, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. ltespectfuliy submitted, E, C. M R’f\N, Al»A>r Brown, (I. w. Parks, H. A. Albright, Committee. After remarks by many of tlie brethren, the report was unanimously adopted. On motion, Conference suspended business for the purpose of organizing a Missionary Society. ORGANIZATION OF MISSIONARY SO » fclETY. ltev. John S. Lawrence acted as fbesiifent, pud flov, H, A. Albright >s Secretary. The following are the naiTies of those who joined the Society; also the amount subscribed; the amount subscribed making a lifp ineinber: M. L. Ilprlej- #50 ; S- H. Way #15 ; ly. B. Way #15; G. W. Stout #15; tV. B, Brown #10; A. L. Needham MO; J. W. McCoy #10; \y, M. Cra. ren #10; II. K. McLeod #10; J. S. Lawrence #10; E. C. Martin #10; f ho mas Brown #10; W. G. Brady M0; II. A. Albright #10; Joseph J. A-llen #5; B. F. Cox #5; G. W. Parks M0; 1). B. McLeod #5 ; It. F. Brown 'tii; Adam Brown #5 : Tlios.W.i aw ence |fj ; W, W. Lawrence #5; B. S. ■icott #5 ; George Cochran #5 : S. T. tioffitt #5 ; B. F. Hayworth #5; Miss Mary Deaton #5; Catharine Vipicannon #5; J. A. Parks #5; S. tV. Day worth #5 ; Westward Cox #5 ; \. W. Leonard #ij; A. S. 2foison #5 ; [sham Cagle #5; Monroe Brown #5 ; tV. A, Martin #5; Jacob Vatican non ia; James Kyuoid #5; Z. rf. Bird #5; tV. M, Cgglp #5; John Dunlap #d ; linocli Dathhffi #o; J. M. Stinson #5. After some discussion the members idnpted the Constitution recoin men led by the Committee of Conference, iiid proceeded to elect permanent ifficers. Elijah C. Martin was elected Presi lent. Adam Browu, Vice President-. S. A. Hayworth, Secretary. Rev. John S. Lawrence, Treasurer. The President, the Vice President with Revs. H. A. Albright, VV. R. Brown, and G, W. Parks were ap pointed the Executive Ooipnjittpp, Elijah 0. Ma«xin, President, S. A. Havwobth. Secretary. Conference resumed business. The hour for refreshments having arrived, Conference adjourned therefor. During the intermission, Rev. \V. R, Brown preached an interesting ser mon" from the words, “Get thee bonce, Satan.'’ Matthew 41 10. [EveniV^ Session.] Conference assembled. The Presi dent presiding. ltev. David Wright, of the Mission ary Baptist Church, was invited to an honorary seat in Conference. Bro. A. W. Leonard asked leave of abseuce for the remainder of the sea 6400. He was granted leave. The Committee on Periodicals made their report: Your Committee on Periodicals, after duly considering the subject, would recommend the ! Christian Sun, the Organ of the Christian Church, edited and pub lished by our esteemed Brother, ltev. W. 15. Wellons. We would further call to your favorable consideration the interest of Christian Union among all believers in Christ. Respectfully submitted, W. (5. IJRADY, i 15. S. Scott, > Cotn’tee. w. M. Craven, ) Tho report, after lie vs. SI. L. Hur ley, \V. G, Brady, and other brethren had urged the great need of our peo ple reading the Church paper, was adopted. Brother I). 15. McLeod was grant ed leave of absence for the remainder of the session. J he Commit toe oil Sabbath Schools reported the following : Your Committee to whom was re ferred the subject of Sabbath Schools desire to report: That the subject before us is one of vast magnitude to the church. It forms the nursery ground for the planting and rearing up of religious material prepared fin the building of the church. It opens the way for the reception of gpsfe! truth and for the inculcation of holy thoughts of the Deity; of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners ; of the great and incomparable plan of sal vation ; of bur holy religion. The object ol the Sabbath School is second only to the preaching of (he word. Indeed, it may be said to pre cede, and also, follow the gospel. The young minds are here prepared and opened to receive the teachings ol the gospel. The mind is filled with the holy impressions of religion ; the fallow ground of the heart is thus broken up. Hence, we see, in sec tions in which these schools have been conducted with success, thP young, the lit tip boys and girls, the young men and women, and also, the aged, brought to the door of the church of Christ; yea, we see them brought to the Saviour hjmxelf. And again, the Sabbath School follows the gospel. When the gos[{ Com’tee. Remarks were matin ou the report by Revs. A. S. Jfelson, M. L. Hurley, H. A. Albright, gud Brother S. B. j Klapp, after, 'hick it Was unanimous ly adopt ml, , Rev. H. A. Albright, Standing Secretary, tendered the resignation of that office. He was, on motion, re elected to the same ollice. The Committee ou Home Missions j made their Report as follows : The j Committee on Home Missions would j submit the following : After consult ing with the'delegates of the church es composing this Conference, the eharchps will be supplied with minis terial labor as follows: Pleasant Grove—W. G. Brady and 8. H. Way. Union Grovy—John 8, Lawrence and 8. H. Way. Shiloh—W. K. Brown. Pleasant Ridge—W. R. Brown nud II. Jk. Albright. Parker's Cross Roads—Wtn. R. Brown. Shady Grove—John S. Lawreuce aud D. B. McLeod. Sew Providence—John 8. Law rence. Oldham’s Grove—W. G. Brady. Brown’s Chapel—Joha S. LawJ rence. Cool Spring—Johu S. Lawrence, New Center—VV. W. Lawrence and S. H. Way. * Mount Zion—W. W. Lawrence. Salem—VV. G. Biady. Bear Creek—VV. It. Brown. ltevs. A. S. Nelson, VV.M. Craven, ana I’, P. Umlde, are without assign ment at their requests. John A. Scott. > O. VV. Parks, [■ Com’tee. N. Nat.t.s, ) The report was adopted. Oil.motion, the present Conference Committee, Kev’s. VV. It. Brown,.!. S. Lawrence, H. A. Albright; Broth ers II. T. Moflitt, and II. C. Vestal, were re-appointed lor t!ie next Con ference year. On motion of It*' A. S. Nelson, the thanks of Conferee jo are hereby ten dered to the offieeiV of this-scssion for the efficient manner in which they have discharged their duties ; and al so to the brethren and friends for the very kind arfd hospitable manner in which they hawesupported this body. On motion, Conti rence adjourned to meet in night-session. [Night Session.] Conference convened. The Presi dent presiding. The Conference Committee made the following report: We, the Conference Committee, •onnd it necessary immediately after flie close of last Conference to confei ordination on Pro. P. P. Urnlile, which was done on the second Sabbath in December at Shiloli, Randolph coun ty. W. It. 11 It OWN, U. A. alhrigiit, % Committee. Conference approved the action of] the Committee in the ordination of Bro. Umble. On motion of Rev. W. R. Brown, t lie ! license of Bro. S. II. Way was renew- j ed for,twelve months. The Committee on Education re-j ported that nothing had come before them. The ministers made a report of I heir labors as follows : W. li. Brown preached for tbed churches at Pleasant liidge, Shiloh, j Bear Creek and Brown’s Chapel. Preached several funerals, all to- j gether about CO sermons; received! 23 members into the Church, received I about 850. W. M. Craven preached about 30 sermons. A. S. Nelson preac/ied in connection ' with Bro. J. S. Lawrence. S. H. Way, assisted Brother nib ble at Union Grove, aided in live pro tracted meetings, preached Ibify ser-j mens at ,various points; feel greatly ! blessed. W. G. Brady had the charge old 1’lea.saut Grove and Oldham’s Grove; preaofecd monthly at both places. Re ceived s3.no H. A. Albright, labored with the church at Pleasant Ridge and at oth er points; assisted in five protracted! meeting ; preached four temperance ! sermons, in all forty-one sermons.— I Received 83.S5. J. S. Lawrence, had charge of the churches at Shady Grove, New Pro vidence, and Parks's Cioss Roads, preached about one hundred sermons received about 8(3.00. W. W. Lawrence, had charge of New Center and Mt. Zion ; preached thirty-six sermons, one funeral, uiar-j ried two couple, received fifty-two! members iuto the church ; lifty-three conversions in my charge. To God he all the glory. ( P. P. Uiuble, had charge of the church at Union Grove, poached at [ither points; in all, preached eighty sermons. Received 811.23. Tit? Committee on Statistics made the following report i Pleasant Grove—Expelled 4, died 3, total number of communicants 17(1. Shiloh—Received 7, expelled 1, died 2, total number ofcoiumnuicants 11G. Pleasant Ridge—Received 1, with drawn 9, died 2, total number of'com nuinieants 97, Parks Cross Roads—Received 2, died 2, total nnnt’oer of communicants (iS. Union Grove—Received 3, expelled 2, died 1, total number of communi cants 71, Shady Qrove—Received 1, died 1, total number of communicants 46. New Center—Received 39, with drawn 4, total number of comwuui cants 1.12, . Oldham Grove—Received 1, remo ved 1, withdrawn 1, total number of coraMtiulcatits 9. Crown's Chapel—Total number of communicants 32. Salem—Total number of communi cants 31. Cool Spring—Total number of com municants 16. New Providence—Received 6, re moved 1, died 1, total number of com i muttieauts 30, Alt. Zion—I’ecoivc'1 expelled 1 [total number of communicants it!. Hear Creek — Iteeeived' 11. tufa imiiihe.- of'ooiiimnnicuiits 11. S. A. HAYWORTH. I .1. M. ST INson, [■ Coiirteo Westward Box, 'i 3 i Tire report was adopted by moti m | ,Oii motion of Hev. W. II. Brown | Conference adjourned to meet «u! the ehtirrli at Pleasant Bldne. m Thursday lit (.'dock. M., Ire ■’ ne tor 'second Sabbath in Ocjober, 1 ,S77. Closing religious sej'viees euiidnrt ml lry Bev. A. S. Nelson. John S. Lawebnc rre.suj.eiit. W. 11. BROWN, Vine I’.e.s. II. A. Albright, Secretary. S. A. Ilay worth, Asst. Sec. OUR WASHINGTON LETTER, That Burning Planet in tiie “Swan”—A Visit to the u. 8. Naval Observatory—An In stitution that has Escaped Notice by the Press.—“(Jamp Hill” and its History—The ‘•Greenwich” of the United States—Beginning of an In teresting Sketch—etc,j etc. f From oar Itegolar Correspondent.] Washington, D. C., Jan. 1 7, 1877. The recent discovery of, an “explo ded” planet in the constellation of the Strati lias set tlie astronomers to thinking and speculating upon the possibility of a similar catastrophe happening to our own mother earth. Frojjj the published reports, it ap pears that most of the eminent as tronomers of the present duyjboth in this country and in Europe, opine that we are in no immediate danger, and that if such a calamity should happen, it will probably be some 8,000,000 years before it occurs ; and a .great many others (among whom the eminent astronomer and scien tist, Professor Ihvrkhuust) think that the peculiar condition of v.Pairs now witnessed in that remote 5flar are the same ns those to whip. our own pla net was subjected while in a gaseous stale, and before it assumed its solid form, lie this as it \ lay, the fact re mains that phenomena of aingxtraor dinary nature have recently been ob served in the celestial spheres, which are now the subject of diligent inqui ry anil examination in almost every astronomical observatory in the world. Not that these phenomena are of a recent occurrence, for it pro bably took the light some thousands of years to travel from the distant planet to the earth ; but it is not un til now that (in that particular in stance) they have been observed and studied, and nowhere with greater interest than at the United States Naval Observatory in Washington. That Observatory being the oifly “na tional” institution of the kind in the United States, it is not to be won dered at tiiat its officers take a special interest in the matter, and are anxious to contribute their quota to science. It was thts reflection which caused your correspondent to make a trip out to the Naval Observatory on “Cauip Hill,” despite the rain and the slush. The day was anything hut favorable j dark, dreary, and dismal, and even at night the heavens were clouded so that there was not the re motest chance of getting a glimpse at the coveted star. However, seeing that noue of the usually enterprising correspondents (not even those of the XkW l'ork Herald, World, Tribune or Sun) located at the National Capital, had thought it worth their while to visit the Observatory and interview its officers with 'he view of ascertain ing their opinion on the subject, your correspondent made it a special point to do so, and, takmg_ a carriage, (the Observatory cannot be-approached by any of the lines of street cars) was deposited sale and sound in the mud before its gate's yesterday about noon. Before arriving, it had been my purpose to simply ask soaje questions in regard to the phenomena in the “Swan" constellation; 'but iiuding so much of interest to be seen there, which, as 1 afterwards learned, had never “appeared in print” before; 1 concluded to make a more thorough investigatfon. For, curious to say, while almost every possible subject, from tiie Capital down to the dog pond, in the Nation's Capitol bus been “written tip” at some time or other, the observatory seems to remain an exception ; which is probably owing to tbo fact that it is so disagreeable and diftieult of access—especially in winter. Or is it possible that out "cmvespondcut*” are unaware of its existence i Whatever may be the cause of this ipjustiflable regleet, I atiall, so far as stands in my power, make amends for the slight thus i thrown ^uvohuUarily, duuhtless^up ■r , on a great National Institution in which every American ought to take I n pride, mol will endeavor in the course of two or throe let tors, to furnish some account of the growth, purpose, ■ ami operation of this most interesting institution. To “begin with the beginning,’’ then, the so called Naval Observatory is located on an eminnenee in the son tic west part of Washington, : known as ‘•(’amp llill.’i This • name was attributed to the hill in question : iron; the fact that it was occupied by • • the American, army, as a camping ground, in the years 181,'! and 1811. deferring to some old tiles of the Na tional Intelligencer, I find that on Au gust IMd, 1811, a brigade of militia, including Stull's and Peter's riflemen, and a batallion of troops from Alex andria, having ramped on this hill 'on the evening of August 22d, ad vanced the following morning on , .LSladenxburg, for the def*»:vee of Washington against the threatened attacks of General Ross and Admiral (lockhum. It is, however, probable that the site was known as “Camp | Hillr before this, because of its high ; elevation (it being the second highest election within the boundaries of ' the District ol'.( olumliiii) would na turally suggest it as an ii»]M>rtunt military post. Indeed, the earliest I trace on record identifying “Catffp Bill,” appears to be in connection with General Braddock’s inarch against ! Fort Duqnesne, in the early part of ! the colonial wars. By reference to : a volatile of •‘Braddook’s Expedition,” i by Wmthrop Sargent, in the Con gressional Library, I find therein Hie | | following entries : ‘“April 11, 1755. | Four companies of the forty-fourth i regiment, under command of Lieu | tenant Gage, and a detachment of sailors from Alexandria, landed this day from the boats of the Sen Horse and tiie Nightingale, and pitched ' their tents on a high elevation on the : borders of the Potomac, a short dis tance east of ltock Creek.” No ether elevation than this coo Id possibly ho i referred to. But besides this, the published letters of General Wash ingtonis-Stfw conclusively that he, op severavtiMP*"is, for strategic pur poses, /®5ped his forces on this very hill. So much for the early history of the site where the Naval Observatory is now located. “National” Observa tory it used to be called formerly, and with more propriety; for although under the immediate control and su pervision of the Secretary of the Navy, the observatory is national in character and in the scope of its op erations, and is confined to no one sphere of action, nor limited to any one Department. As for the obser vatory Kself, its history is along and interesting one; but time and space forbid a reiteration of it here. Suf fice it to say that the observatory had a hard time of it before it came to life, struggling all the weary years bet ween 1804 and 1S42 for existence, for it was not until the last named year that a bill finally passed Con gress, providing for its permaupnt establishment on the pteseut site. Uence, we find as we enter the modest gateway leading into the inte rior, the following inscription over the keystone : Founded A. D. 1844. JOHN TYLER, President of the United States. ABELP. UPSHUR, Secretary of the Navy. In my next letter, I will give some account of the progress of this insti tution down to the present day, and of the work that iias been accom plished there, quietly and unostenta tiously, to be sure, but none the less important. L. B. Fresh Air.—At the laying of the corner-stone of a chapel iu London, a few weeks since, Mr. Spurgeon re counted his effectual way of securing pure air in a church where the win dows were so rarely opened that it ! was found difficult to raise them. “It was so close and hot,” he said, “that I asked every gentleman near a window to smash a pane or two. There was soon a very grand smash, but rheii the beautiful frosh air | streamed iu. I paid the bill after wards like an honest man ; but it was much better to do that than hear the cruelty of preaching in such, an at mosphere, or forcibg people to listen ! when they were more disposed to sleep.” I .* ' A WOMAN often thinks she is re gretting the lover, when she is only regrettiug the love. If the poor man eauuot always get meat, the rich man cannot digest it*