NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE.
REV. ALFRED CONNET.
This Conference, organized two years ago at Raleigh, held its third meeting with Bethany Church at McLeansville. The churches were all represented. Rev. Islay Walden and his delegate, Deacon Potter, together with three others, came fifty miles in a one-horse wagon to attend the Conference. One of the party, Mrs. Hill, now a widow, has had twelve children, forty grand-children and twelve great-grand-children. She had never seen the cars nor heard a railroad whistle till she came to the Conference.
The opening sermon was preached by Rev. David Peebles, of Dudley, from John vii. 37. On Friday the Conference organized by electing Rev. G. S. Smith, of Raleigh, Moderator, and re-electing Rev. David Peebles, Clerk. The morning meeting for prayer and reports from the churches was a precious season.
Rev. Mr. Peebles discussed Church and Sunday-school Singing and Pictorial Preaching; Rev. W. H. Ellis, Children for Christ; Rev. G. S. Smith, the A. M. A. Work and National Council. The sermon Friday night was by Rev. Islay Walden; text, the first Psalm. Saturday afternoon the Conference held an experience meeting, in which some very interesting and touching reminiscences were given, particularly that of the death and burial of the martyr, Rev. Mr. Luke, related by Mr. Peebles. While this was in progress, Mr. James Gilmore, who sold the A. M. A. the grounds for this mission, came in, was made an honorary member, and sat, an interested listener, until the close.
Saturday night, the Conference held a rousing temperance meeting and took strong ground by a unanimous vote in favor of total abstinence, the use of unfermented wine at communion, and in favor of prohibition, as submitted to the people of this State by the last legislature for their ratification next August. The leading temperance speech was made by Deacon Jones, of Raleigh, whose grave was gratuitously dug for him at Chapel Hill some years ago by the Ku Klux, but which he declined to occupy. He tells us the Congregational Church at Raleigh is known as the prohibition church.
On the Sabbath the Sunday-school occupied the hour from 10 to 11 a.m. Sermon at 11 by Dr. Roy on the Great Commission. Text, Matt. xxviii. 18–20. In the afternoon one infant was baptized and nine persons received into the church, the pastor, Rev. A. Connet, officiating. Communion was administered by Revs. G. S. Smith and David Peebles.
Sunday night was devoted to the cause of Missions. Rev. A. Connet, for ten years in the employ of the A. H. M. S., presented the cause of Home Missions. Rev. G. S. Smith presented in earnest and eloquent words the cause of the A. M. A. He was followed by Rev. J. E. Roy, D.D., who gave a clear outline of the discoveries and missionary operations on the continent of Africa. He told us how the Christian world is looking to the colored population of this country to evangelize the “Dark Continent.”