J. E. R.
THE CENTRAL SOUTH ASSOCIATION.
That is now the name, changed from that of Central South Conference, at the meeting held in Rev. William H. Ash’s church at Florence, Ala., Nov. 2 to 5. This change is in order to uniformity of title in the state ecclesiastical bodies. Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina yet retain the name “Conference.” The Central South, which was the original Congregational body at the South, having sent off two daughters, the Alabama and the Georgia, still holds good her title to the name, as she yet represents the central States of Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and a part of Alabama.
The older members said that this last was the best meeting ever held by the Association. Papers were read by B. F. Foster on pastoral work; by William A. Sinclair on the need of cultivating the missionary spirit; by B. A. Imes on Congregationalism; by Mr. Singleton on school work; and the reading was followed in each case by full and animated discussion. President Pope led in a discussion upon the subject of revivals, and also reported the industrial departments of Tougaloo University. Superintendent Roy reported the recent annual meeting of the A. M. A., at Cleveland. One evening was given to a rousing temperance meeting. The preachings were frequent. Revivals were reported at Fisk and Tougaloo Universities, at Memphis and Chattanooga. Two churches were received, one at Meridian, Miss., Rev. J. L. Grice, pastor, and the Welsh church at Soddy, East Tennessee, Rev. W. H. Thomas, where the Welsh are the colliers. Rev. H. S. Bennett, B. A. Imes and William A. Sinclair were elected to the next National Council. Pastor W. H. Ash, who had made ample provision for the entertainment of the Conference, was laid aside through all of the sessions by a severe illness; but the results of his work were manifest to all. A neat gothic church, a pleasant parsonage, and the whole within a tasteful white fence, were the other signs of the work, while the growing membership and Sunday-school, and the day-school of seventy, taught by Mr. Ash and his estimable wife, were the symbol of the intellectual and moral process going on. At the dedication, two years ago, more than fifty of the prominent white citizens were present, among them Ex-Gov. Patton, three or four pastors and as many lawyers. On the Sabbath the pulpits of the colored churches were supplied, and Messrs. Bennett and Roy preached at the Presbyterian church, where Gov. Patton is the S. S. Superintendent, an office which he has magnified for many years. The week before, the Memphis Synod had met in this church, when the appeal of Mr. Long from the Memphis Presbytery came up. By a technicality the appeal did not stand, and Mr. Long was permitted to withdraw from the denomination, to continue his service as pastor of the First Congregational Church of Memphis. The next meeting of the Association is to be with Rev. Joseph E. Smith, at Chattanooga.
J. E. R.
WYTHEVILLE, VA.
Wytheville, Va., is a representative mountain town, situated amidst a rich farming and mining region. Already Northern capital and enterprise have found their way to like portions of the South, where the climate is salubrious, the winters mild, and the rewards of labor immediate and sufficient for the wants of an industrious population. Very much, however, remains to be done for the vast areas of the mountain districts of the South. The school privileges of blacks and whites are as yet quite limited. The people, however, have been distinguished for their loyalty to the Government, and in some portions of the mountain country for their readiness to accept missionary endeavors, regardless of the color line. Prof. C. C. Painter, of Fisk University, and Rev. I. P. Dickerson, one of the original Jubilee Singers, now a missionary in the south of France, were born at Wytheville.