The Newnan weekly news. (Newnan, Ga.) 189?-1906, November 24, 1905, Image 1
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NEWNAN, GA., FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 24. 1905.
NO. 33
VOL VI. =, v
Newnartv. + ends Hearty Greetings and Welcomes the North Georgia Conference
METHODISTS ARE HERE
IN ANNUAL ASSEMDLY
Concerning Annual Confer
ences and their Work.
At 9:30 o’clock on Wednesday | All the ministers, he stated,were
unorningthe 39th annual session of ardent workers and nothing against
N r ortli Georgia Conference was
jailed to order by Bishop William
Wallace Duncan, of Spartanburg,
S. in the superior court room
of the Coweta county court house.
Attendance at first session was
larger than usual, the room being
N almost tilled with clerical and lay
' delegates.
Bishop Duncan ascended the
judge’s stand and lined hymn No.
’’'221 in the Methodist Hymnal. The
hymn was sung in a spirited man
ner by the assembly and was fol
lowed by a fervent prayer offered
by the Bishop.
Bishop Duncan then delivered
his opening address to the Confer
ence. It was spoken in his usual
forcible style, and was freighted
with sound advice to his brethren
and words of love and encourage-
' ment for . their edification and in
spiration. The scripture lesson
used by the Bishop was the 3rd
chapter of John’s First Epistle.
The Bishop’s address was fol
lowed by the roll-call and election
of a Conference Secretary. Dr.
John W. Heidt, who has been
Secretary for 35 years, was unan
imously re-elected. He selected as
his assistants, J. G; Logan, J. S.
Jenkins, W. B. Dillard, H. jy.
Davies, J. F. Yarbrough, H. C.
Emory, S. A. Harris, W. S. Rob-
i (son, W. A. Maxwell, G. M.
Elliott, T. A. Seals, A. E. Saus
burn.
It was decided that the Confer
ence sessions should be from 8:30
to 11:45, a. m.
Reports From Diitricb.
The first called for was the Ath
ens district, and the report was
made by Rev. J. S. Bryan, the
presiding elder of that district.
He stated that his district was in
fine shape and ready to continue
a the good work next year. Four
| * ew churches had been dedicated
1 ml a number of other improve-
lents made. The collections were
‘ irger than usual, and all paid up
jj heir assessments in full and some
/n excess
The Atlanta district report was
the second called for, and Rev. J.
H. Eakes,in his usual strong,clear-
cut way presented the facts in re-
\ yard to this district, which were
most encouraging in every way.
‘ ■> He pointed to the opening of the
. Wesley memorial hospital, which
^ is the first hospital ever establish
ed by the Southern Methodist
/ church, and which is in prime
condition and crowded so that it is
7 V impossible to accommodate all the
any of them, except in the case of
Dr. Wadsworth, the details of
which appear elsewhere. He stat
ed that the committee which had
tried Dr. Wadsworth had acquit
ted him.
For the Gainesxille district,Rev.
W. L. Pearce, made a most pheno
menal report. His statistical re
port showed seven hundred and
ten additions to the church rolls in
a year; three churches were finish
ed during the year and ten more
are now in course of erection.
Dr. Glenn,of the Griffin district,
reported twenty-live additions and
no complaint whatsoever against
any of the preachers of the district.
He said the work in the Griffin
district, while not what they de
sired it to be, was growing every
day.
Dr. Allen reported the LaGrange
district was in good shape and no
complaint against any preacher in
the district.
Dr. Christian, of the Marietta
district, reported 339 as the num
ber having joined the churches of
the district. He stated further
that the work in the district was
in fine trim and that the good ef
fects of the conference meeting
there last year was still being felt
Dr. Heidt, of the Oxford dis
trict, reported the finest condition
in years. He said everything was
in splendid shape for a great work
in the next few years in that sec
tion.
S. B. Ledbetter reported for the
Rome district splendid progress
over last year.
Dr. Wadsworth's Case.
The sensational feature of the
opening session of Conference was
the appointment of a committee to
investigate charges of immorality
preferred against Dr. W. W.
Wadsworth, pastor of the church
at Hartwell. Many years ago Dr.
Wadsworth was in charge of the
church in Newnan, and during his
residence here he was editor of one
of the local newspapers.
Charges against Dr. Wadsworth
were developed by the report of
his presiding elder, Rev. J. W.
Quillian of Ellierton district. In
making his report Elder Quillian
stated there were no charges
against any of his preachers, with
one exception. He did not name
the preacher referred to, but stated
a committee had investigated the
charges against him and this com
mittee’s report would be made to
Conference.
After Rev. Mr. Quillian ceased
Among the jieople in this coun
try there is almost universal inter
est in the religious meetings known
among the Methodists as Annual
Conferences. The members of the
other Christian Churches have
more than a passing concern for
these yearly gatherings, while a
large per ceut of the people who
have no denominational affiliations
watch the proceedings of an
nual Conference with undisguised
attention. The
ference is concerned, has equal
representation with another pre
siding elder’s district having a
half hundred churches or more.
The lay delegates in an Annual
Conference have all all the rights
and privileges that the clerical
members have, save in mutters
touching ministerial character.
The laymen can serve on all com
mittees or boards save the commit
tee on trial of a traveling preacher.
. | He can speak or vote on all ques
tions coming up save on such as
CONFERENCE IS IN
MIDST OF LIVELY SESSION
daily press, that
not altogether
misleading indi
cator of what
the masses wish
to read, are tak
ing more and
more care to
have in their
columns some
account of the
doings of
“Zion’s cavalry-
men.” The
truth is, the
eyes of a large
per cent of Geor
gia’s two and
one-half million
of population
will be on the
published pro
ceedings ofthese
representttti ve s
of Southeru
Methodism
while they are lh
session at Newnan and Americus.
This fact should give us all pause,
lest we do some thoughtless some
thing; it should likewise give us
all poise, lest we do some rash or
hurtful thing.
Its Compoiltlon.
The Discipline defines the mem
bership of an Annual Conference
as follows: “All the traveling
preachei's in full connection with
it, and four lay representatives—
one of whom may be a local preach-
from each presiding elder’s
district.”
Simple as that definition looks,
it suggests some features of the
composition of an Anuual Confer
ence unlike any other deliberative
or religious liody in the world.
The clerical membership is self-
perpetuating, the clerical element
electing those to membership who
i>.*
BISHOP W. W. DUNCAN.
involve ministerial character.
There is, so far as we know, no
deliberative body analagous to
this. And yet it works admirably.
We have gone for years without
friction on this account, and to the
credit of the laity let it be said,
that the admission of them into
the District, Annual and General
Conferences came from no demand
on their part. They were satisfied
to let the composition of these
Conferences as originally ordained
lie composed of ministers only.
Our people have never chafed, as
some have supposed, under priest
ly or ministerial control of the
legislative function of the earlier
Methodist ministry.
The Work of a Conference.
patients. He also called attention j speaking, Dr. Wadsworth arose
I to the erection of Grace Methodist i and asked if he was the man refer-
.church, which is in progress, and re d to. Rev. Mr. Quillian replied
i which, when finished, will be the j that Dr. Wadsworth was the man
[equal of any church in Atlanta. j he referred to. Then the fight
Two new parsonages have been j W as precipitated.
erected and the St. Paul church | Dr. Wadsworth said he thought
has in formulation plans for a new the proceeding of the presiding
^building to be located at a better elder in stating the matter to the
site. ! conference was unkind and unusu-
The Augusta district was the a l. He said the presiding elder
third called for, and Dr. John B. j knew the committee had found
Robbins gave the report as presid- him not guilty, and that there was
ing elder of the district. He said no reason for him to do other than
they had paid up all their assess-' report that no preacher in his dis-
ments in full and that the condi- trict had anything against his por
tion was tine in Augusta. He said sonal character or life,
he had the finest lot of faithful Dr. Quillian stated that he
workers in his district in the coun- thought he followed closely the
try. Methodist law in proceeding as he
' Dr. McRee reported as presid- had,but that if the Bishop thought
ing elder for the Dalton district, otherwise, he would be glad to
which, he said, was iu good condi- correct himself.
£j on j Rev. D. C. Brown, of Hartwell,
Rev. J.W. Quillian reported ■ f ose at this juncture and asked
^ , . . I for anew committee to go over
for the Elberton district, and stat- a g a j u ^e charges against the
ed that about 400 or 500 had teen ! character of Dr. Wadsworth
received by all the churches of the j
district during the year. ' (Continued on page 8. j
Few people have any just con
ception of the amount of work
done in these meetings within a
week. A visitor does
not see by any means
all of it, for much of it is
done in committees and
by boards, and the re
sults and conclusions
only are seen by the
public.
Just think of it! At
t Newnan there will lie
something like two hun
dred and fifty pastors.
Each of these must re
port additions to the
membership he has serv
ed, both by certificate
and on profession of
faith, the number of in
fants baptized,the num
ber of adult baptisms,
full Sunday school sta
tistics, Epworth League
memliers, etc., and a
full and itemized state-
come into it, and this membership | ment of all money raised by his
is perpetual during life, save for | people for a number of good causes,
immorality or the voluntary with- and these reports must all be ag-
drawal of the member from the gregated and reported before the
body, while the lay element is Conference adjourns,
elected annually, by laymen and Besides, the Conference must
only for the session after their consider the missions within its
election. bounds—where new ones should
Furthermore, the lay member- be established should be continued
ship is fixed irrespective of the or raised to self-supporting
numerical strength of the laity charges, receive reports in detail
within the bounds of the Confer- from all who have been dependent
ence. A presiding elder’s district upon its funds, and make to the
having ten churches in it, so far as Conference before it closes its ses-
the lay element of an Annual Con- sion a full and accurate report of
DABNKY .JUNKS,
Who preached the first sermon in Newnan in 1827
what has been done, and of what
is proposed for the ensuing year.
The Board of Education must
take cognizance of all the institu
tions belonging to the Conference,
examine as to their endowments,
indebtedness, if any, and make
such recommendations as it deems
proper. Those items constitute a
very partial inventory of what^m
Annual Conference must do, and
do within a week.
The Passage of Character.
Every preacher’s name must be
called, and his character passed.
The church cannot ailbrd to pre
sume that one of its ministers is
“blameless in life and official ad
ministration.” The presiding el
dor, who knows, or who should
know, is to answer for each man
in his district. And if, from the
presiding elder some minister luus
concealed a neglect of duty or a
blameworthy act, and it is known
to some other memlier of the body,
such member is bound by the most
solemn demands of the closest
brotherhood known among men to
let it be known.
The passage of character is a
most responsible act. However
much beyond accurate expression
the approval of an Annual Confer
ence may lie, it is of great worth to
the man approved. It is also of
value to the church to know that
the man who is sent to them is a
man worthy thuir confidence, and
of judgment sufficient to adminis
ter the affairs of the church. The
“passage of character” should lie
at the furthermost possible remove
from a perfunctory, or a merely
technical act. It should mean
what on the surface it is intended
to convey to the people—a stain
less character aud a competent
leader.
Tht Biihoo'i Cabinet.
Around this unique feature of a
Conference much interest centers
Unprovided for in law,it has come
to Im a recognized feature of every
Annual Conference, uml carries
with it the force of a legally an
thorized part of our proceedings.
The task of this body is to assign
preachers to their appointments—
a task so delicate and so difficult
that one who has never been in the
“cabinet” can form but a very im
perfect idea of it. And well may
uny man shrink from a part in its
work.
Every preacher must be con
sidered—his gifts, his successes,
his experience, his family, etc.;
each charge its conditions, its re
quirements, its needs, as far as is
just, its demands, and its ability.
And this must all be done within a
week! The task is a huge one. But
it is done over and over again, and
when all things are considered,this
plan of supplying the church with
ministerial service has proved the
most efficient the world has ever
known.
We do well to hold to it as a
church, and to hold to it as the
“fathers” handed it down to us.
Our modern conditions demand no
modifications of it to make.it more
efficient. With our higher aver
age of education we have not pass
ed beyond its highest service to
the Church of God.—Wesleyan
Christian Advocate.
eat, timely discourse. At the
evening service the officials of the
church made their final report for
the year. In some respects it was
a remarkable stutment of facts and,
on the whole, is said to bo the l»est
report ever sent up by this, church
to an annual Conference.
The report shows that this con
gregation raised for all purposes
during the year the sum of #5,GOO.
All claims of whatever nature have
been paid in full and there remains
a cash balance to the church's
credit. During the year 131 mem
bers were added to the church.
Rev. J. R. King has closed his
third year as pastor of this church.
He has been remarkably successful
in building up the church. Nearly
500 persons have been added to its
membership during his pastorate;
and all church interests have pros
pered under his direction.
Pastor King has a strong hold
on the Methodists of Newnan, and
is respected and admired by Chris
tian people of all denominations.
His own people and the people of
the entire city.hope Mr. King will
be allowed to remain here another
year.
Meeting of Aid Society.
The first meeting of the Confer
ence was held in the Methodist
church Tuesday evening, and was
the annual meeting of the Widows’
and Orphans’ Aid Society, an as
sessment organization which pays
death benefits to the widows and
orphans of deceased preachers.
Rev. M. J. Gofer, President of
the organization, presided in the
meeting. Rev. H. R. Ledbetter,
Secretary and Treasurer, read his
annual report—pronounced by the
brethren one of the very best ever
made by the Society. It showed
amount of money collected during
the year aud expended in caring
for families of deceased inemljers.
During the meeting some lively
discussions were indulged iu by
the preachers in reference to mat
ters connected with the welfare of
the Society. These little tilts en
livened the evening to an appre
ciable extent, especially when
viewed from the standpoint of the
visitors who were present.
The annual election of officers
resulted in the re-election of Presi
dent Color, Vice President Myrick,
and Secretary and Treasurer Led
better.
Consolidation of Schools
Effected.
Consolidation of the schools at
Turin and Sharpsburg has been
effected, and both of the old school
houses will be sold and a new
school house erected about midway
between the two places, near the
home of Prof. A. 8. Jones. This
consolidation will give Turin and
Sharpsburg one of the largest
schools in the county and will
doubtless result in building up one
of the county's best schools at that
point.
First Methodist Church
Makes Splendid Record.
City Tax Notice.
Tax books of the City of New
nan close Dec. 1st. Let all tax
payers remember this and pay
their taxes on or before that date.
The time itf short. Don’t wait un
til the last day to settle taxes. I
have no alternative but to close the
books on the date named; so let
everyliody pay taxes now.
E. D. Fouse, City Clerk.
The service last Sunday night
closed the Conference year at the
First Methodist church in Newnan.
Pastor J. It. King preached his J. T. Holmes, Real Estate and
farewell sermon to a large audience Renting Agent. Office over First
Sunday morning. It was an earn- National Bank.