USA > North Carolina > Historical papers of the North Carolina Conference Historical Society and the Western North Carolina Conference Historical Society > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
The only reason that I know why this honor should fall to me is that I have been a member of the Conference longer than some of you. So I am not responsible for being here, neither am I responsible for my subject.
The best way I know how to open the window, and let you look into those other years and see the furthest back, is to take you with me to my first Annual Conference. The Conference met in Fayette- ville, in November, 1872, just fifty years ago next month. I was a boy 18 years old. on my father's farm two miles above Saxapahaw Cotton Mill, on Haw River, in Alamance County. And I had a con- suming desire to see the Conference in session, for I had determined one day to be a member of it. Money was scarce in reconstruction
* Address before the Western North Carolina Conference Historical Society Meeting at Monroe. N. C., Tuesday evening, October 17, 1922. .
159
HISTORICAL PAPERS
days following the Civil War. But by strict economy I had succeeded in accumulating the sum of $5.00. That would not take me to Fayetteville and return by way of Raleigh. Taking two horses and a boy to bring them back, we came within three miles of Pittsboro, in Chatham County, by noon. Sending the horses back I walked from there to what is now called Cumnock in Lee County, the terminus of the railroad to Fayetteville. A return ticket cost $1.00,leaving $4.00 in my pocket. Reaching Fayetteville, walking up Hay Street, and providentially stopping in front of a store, and engaging in conver- station with the proprietor, brought me face to face with a man who had been reared in my neighborhood, and years before had been a school-mate of my father. A good home was opened to me on Hay- mount for "auld lang syne." There was not a more punctual or atten- tive attendant upon that Conference than the almost unobserved boy from Alamance County. After the Conference was over, and return- ing to Cumnock, the thirty-five mile walk home was filled with high re- solves, as the memories of the great leaders of our Conference still re- mained in my vision and more than once the resolve was repeated to myself-"Ed Thompson, if there is the making of a man in you, it's got to come." That Conference was an inspiration to me. If I were a painter, I could paint it now. Let me see if I can show it to you. In the chair sat the venerable Bishop Robert Paine, in age and feeble- ness extreme. At the Secretary's table was the big brained Braxton Craven, founder and president of Trinity College. Near the front and often on his feet was Dr. William Closs, with scarcely a hair on his head, but plenty of brains inside. Near by was a bearded face, that wold attract the attention of any one who loved modesty and purity, Numa F. Reid. On the end of the pew, sat a man, clean shaven, round faced, carrying a smile and a gentle word for all, Charles F. Deems, only recently moved to New York, now on a visit to the Con- ference. Close to Dr. Deems was another, about thirty-five years old, R. S. Moran, also a returned visitor from New York, where he had gone to spend his life in retirement, study and enjoyment of his wealth. E. W. Thompson, a South Carolinian, tall, with black flow- ing beard, was stationed at Fayetteville that year, if my memory is correct, but died at Morganton a short while after, while seeking health, and was buried just behind the old Methodist Church. Marquis L. Wood had recently returned from China, where he had been during the Civil War, having gone out with Young J. Allen in 1859. It was my good fortune to dine with him at a Mrs. Cain's, and that day began a friendship between us that lasted to the end of his life. He had buried his wife at Shanghai, China, and brought back to America his two little boys, one of whom is C. A. Wood, Superintendent of the Children's Home at Winston-Salem. Dr. Wood was my first Presiding Elder, licensed me to preach, carried my application to the Conference at Wilson, N. C., in 1879. May we linger for a while and look at these men a little closer?
Bishop Robert Paine was born in Person County, N. C., Novem- ber 12, 1799, of intelligent, educated ancestry, but not church people. While in school a room-mate expressed infidel sentiments, to which young Paine replied, "These infidel sentiments of yours are intolerable
160
HISTORICAL PAPERS
to me. I cannot room with an infidel," and changed his room. At fifteen years of age he with his family moved to Giles County, Tennessee, where he was converted, licensed to preach, and joined the Tennessee Conference at Nashville, October 1, 1818, the Conference being held by Bishops McKendree and George. After preaching in Tennessee for some years he was transferred to Alabama and Mississippi, where he served as pastor, college professor and college president, and was elected to the Episcopacy with William Capers, in 1846, at the first General Conference held after the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He died at the age of eighty-three, October 19, 1882, at his home, Aberdeen, Mississippi.
When Bishop Paine was a pastor in Aberdeen, Mississippi, a young preacher of another church and of the whang-doodle per- suasion, had an appointment made for himself at the church of his denomination for Sunday night. Walking down the street hunting for his church, he was told that it was just down the street a short distance. Coming to a large, well lighted and well filled church, he walked in, mounted the pulpit, congratulating himself that his repu- tation had brought out such a large congregation. After he had begun the services, Dr. Paine, the pastor, walked in, and taking in the situation, took his seat in the audience, and heard the young brother through. He said he could never decide whether he had sung. a sermon or preached a hymn.
Braxton Craven was the creator of Trinity College, and I use the word "creator" advisedly. From a small beginning he laid the foundation of our great Trinity College, almost alone, with limited resources. If the little boy's standard of greatness be true, then Craven deserves to be among the immortals. The boy thought Robinson Crusoe was the greatest man he ever heard of. When asked why he thought so he said, "Robinson Crusoe hustled when there weren't nothing to hustle with." Craven worked when there was but little to work with. At a social meeting in Washington City of the, North Carolina representatives in Congress, the question came up, who was the brainiest man in North Carolina. The con- sensus of opinion was that Braxton Craven was the man. He was preeminently a mathematician. No one received the A. B. degree without Analytics, Mathematical Astronomy and Calculus, which are now optional in our colleges. In the year 1870 there was a total eclipse of the sun just before sunset. The government's nautical almanac gave the eclipse to go off a few minutes after sunset. Dr. Craven said it would go off a few minutes before sunset. They both made their calculations for Raleigh, N. C., and sent representatives to watch from the top of the Insane Asylum. The government as- tronomers had failed to take into consideration the law of refraction of light, which holds the sun apparently above the horizon, when it is really below. The eclipse passed off just at the time Craven said it would. Another contest he had with the government and their nautical almanac and also the calendar of the Episcopal Church, concerned fixing Easter on a given Sunday. Craven said it was a week later. If the moon fulled five minutes before midnight or even one minute before midnight Saturday night, then next day would be
161
HISTORICAL PAPERS
Easter. That was the contention of the government authorities. If, on the other hand, the moon fulled after midnight on Saturay night, Easter would be the next Sunday, and that was what Craven claimed. He had just won that victory when I entered Trinity College. The government offered him a large salary to leave Trinity and go to Washington. But, his reply was, "I would rather stay at Trinity and make men than go to Washington and make money." But he is in Washington today in the men he trained, Senators Simmons and Overman, of whom Trinity College and North Carolina are justly proud.
Dr. Numa F. Reid, son of "Uncle Jimmie Reid," one of the noted men of North Carolina Methodism, was one of the best loved of men, frail in body, but strong in head and heart. A preacher of the type of John the beloved, he died at Wentworth, North Carolina, June 6, 1673, and went home to God. "Uncle Jimmie" Reid took his two boys with him on one occasion to a camp meeting. Some one came up to the arbor and told him that his boys had bought out the ginger cakes and cider of a colored dealer down at the spring, and were doing a retail business on their own account. He soon dis- posed of the stock on hand, took the boys to the bushes-talked to them-prayed with them and whipped awhile-talked, prayed and whipped. After the repetition had become monotonous, in despair the old man exclaimed, "O Lord what shall I do?" Young Numa said, "Father, let's look to the Lord for his blessing and be dis- missed."
Dr. William Closs was a unique character and often on his feet at the Conference. A fine debater, a strong preacher, he had but few equals at repartee, and a natural wit. Perhaps more witticisms have come down to us from him than from any of the other preachers. He was reared in the western part of Virginia, joined the Virginia Conference in 1843, was assigned down East where he spent almost his entire ministerial life of fifty years. On his way to his first appoint- ment he stopped with other travelers at a country tavern for dinner. Tradition has placed it in upper Iredell County, N. C. There is where occurred the incident of the "coffee" of which you have all heard. He was tired and hungry. The lady of the Inn set a cup of coffee at each plate, then proceeded to fry ham and eggs and serve the large company as fast as she could. But it was quite a while before she got to the young preacher. He sat there sipping his coffee, and soon the cup was empty, but still nothing to eat. He called for more coffee. That disappeared and still no ham and eggs, while others had been helped. He called for another cup of coffee. Telling of it he said, "I was hungry and mad." When the third cup was brought, he was told, "Young man, you are fond of coffee," to which young Closs retorted, "Yes, madam, but I have to drink so much water to get a little coffee."
Charles F. Deems was for a number of years a member of the North Carolina Conference and at one time Professor at the Uni- versity-also was President of Greensboro Female College. Being a northern man he had returned to New York and had founded the "Church of the Strangers," the building being given by Commodore
162
HISTORICAL PAPERS
Vanderbilt. He was a visitor at the Fayetteville Conference and preached on Sunday at the Presbyterian Church from the text, "Casting all thy care on him for he careth for thee." 1 Peter 5:7. That sermon has been a great help to me for these 50 years. He wrote a life of Jesus entitled "The Light of the World." Dr. Deems was not a great spread eagle orator, but a fine talker. He just talked to his congregations. Dr. Closs was bringing a young man into the Conference and, as usual, was recommending him very highly. Dr. Deems in his bland way said, "Bishop, I was professor of Literature at the University, and had an appointment in the country one Sunday, but couldn't go, so I sent this young man in my place. They had never seen either of us. I heard the next week that Professor Deems preached a most excellent sermon at the country church last Sun- day." Dr. Closs was on his feet in an instant and said, "Bishop, I would have you to know that that young man has improved very much since then."
Dr. R. S. Moran was of Irish extraction and he ,too, had come from the North and having returned to New York, he was on a visit to the Fayetteville Conference. He preached Sunday night in the Baptist Church from the text, "Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and opposition of science falsely so called." 1 Timothy 6:20. He was a wealthy, haughty, bachelor Irishman-would spread his handkerchief on the pulpit floor where he knelt to lead the congregation in prayer. While traveling through the country he had a servant to drive his two-horse carriage. He spent the night in a country home, lighted by a tallow candle. He said to the good woman of the home, "Madam, your candle just gives light enough to make darkness visible." While Dr. Moran was pastor at Front Street, Wilmington, he had a parishioner who felt called upon frequently to shout. Moran told her if she didn't quit disturbing public worship, he would have her taken from the church. The next time she shouted he had a police- man there, and told him to take her out, which he did. She laid her complaint before Dr. Closs, the Presiding Elder. After hearing the case, to her astonishment he said, "He served you right, madam." and then added, "Anybody who could shout under Moran's preaching ought to be taken out."
In 1879, at Wilson, North Carolina, once again it was my privilege to see an Annual Conference in session, for it was there with seventeen others that I was received on trial into the traveling connection.
Bishop W. M. Wightman was in the chair, with keen eyes, jet black hair, heavy brow, broad across the forehead, broad mouth-a great ecclesiastical statesman, educated and cultured according to the best traditions of the old ante-bellum Charlestonian aristocracy. It was said that Bishop Wightman put kid gloves on all the young preach- ers, and Bishop Duncan came along and took them off. Dr. Craven, of whom I have already spoken, was at the Secretary's table.
Jesse A Cunninggim, "Uncle Jesse," as he was familiarly and affectionately called, was pastor at Wilson. He had a fine physique, tall, dignified, clean shaved, exuding piety all around. It was
163
HISTORICAL PAPERS
facetiously remarked that he was guilty of but one sin, and that was pride-he was proud of his piety.
Robert O. Burton, thin faced, aquiline nose, pouty mouth, erect as a soldier, with an antagonistic expression, a defender of the faith against all comers, who boasted that he was "born and reared on the classic waters of the Roanoke." Bishop Kilgo always reminded me of Dr. Burton in personal appearance and voice.
John R. Brooks was rising into prominence, and was stationed at Newbern. He was large in body, big in brain, sweet and gentle in his spirit life. From his pen came the book, Scriptural Sanctification, which had much to do in settling the question, and stopped the news- paper controversies ( which at that time showed lack of grace) then under discussion. Dr. Brooks thoroughly enjoyed a good dinner as well as a good book. When pastor at Fayetteville he was invited by W. S. Chaffin "to eat a poor dinner with a poor Methodist preacher." The Chaffin family lived on a good farm while Brother Chaffin travel- ed his circuits. Dr. Brooks knew he would have a good dinner, so with the invited guests he wended his way at the appointed time to the Chaffin home, with a good appetite. In due time the guests were invited to the dining-room. The table was bountifully provided with a large dish of collards, with an ample piece of fat bacon, a plate of corn bread, baked in the orthodox way, and a pitcher of water. After the Doctor had eaten all the hospitable Chaffin could induce him to eat, they left the table but through another room. And when the door opened, there stood a table loaded with everything that goes to make a good dinner. The others had been notified to touch the collards lightly. But what was he to do? It has been an unsettled question as to how many doctors he had with him before morning. He has always claimed there was but one.
N. H. D. Wilson was one of the towering men of the Conference then and afterwards. But time would fail me to speak of John Tillett, the father of Dean Tillett of Vanderbilt University and Charles W. Tillett, a great lawyer of Charlotte. If John Tillett ever went to a charge, they never forgot he had been there. True to the doctrines and the policy of Methodism, as was John Wesley, he fought and condemned sin, when it was not popular to do so.
There was W. H. Bobbitt, for thirty-five years a Presiding Elder, popular wherever he went, and a heart in him like unto that of his Lord, good in the pulpit and fine in the social circle. He was fond of telling of an old negro who belonged to his church. Soon after entering upon his work he called on "Uncle Ben" to lead in prayer. "O Lord, we thank thee for our new preacher, and though he seems weak in the flesh, yet he is vi-gorous in spirit. Bless the truths he has told us, and if he has told us anything that is not the truth, do Lord attribute it to his ignorance."
H. T. Hudson was modest and retiring in disposition. He gave the church The Methodist Armour and The Shield of the Young Methodist. He was living at Shelby, North Carolina, while I was pastor there. He had written another book entitled The Golden Lamp. I think it was. Coming into his wife's room one day, he laid the manuscript on the table, remarking, "I have finished my book." In
164
HISTORICAL PAPERS
a few days it was discovered that his nervous system had given away, and his mind was going with it. It fell to me and his son to take him to the State hospital at Morganton, and 1 buried him when he was brought home. The manuscript of that new book was never found.
Shockley D. Adams, father of Justice Adams of the Supreme Court, was not considered a brilliant preacher, but he was of sterling worth and his counsels were eagerly sought and followed.
L. S. Burkhead who held many of our leading appointments in the pastorate and district, was brave as Julius Caesar. At the close of the Civil War in many of our churches the membership was com- posed of white and black members. In some instances, notably New Orleans, Wilmington and other cities, the negroes outnumbered the whites. The federal military authority ordered the church property turned over to the negroes. Dr. Burkhead was stationed in Wil- mington. He took his stand in the pulpit, a company of U. S. troops marched into the church, and he was ordered to get out, which he refused to do, but told them to "shoot," and they marched out leaving him in possession of his church. President Johnson countermanded the order as soon as he heard of it.
W. L. Crawford, a gentleman of the "old school," was always wel- come in the best pulpits, and most cultured social circles.
James E. Mann looked more like a Senator than a preacher.
E. A. Yates, wiry and quick in his movements, was metaphysical in his preaching.
J. W. North was recognized as the best Bible scholar of the Con- ference. He was preeminently a man of one Book. I visited him on his farm near Shelby in his last sickness. He was unconscious. His wife told me that she was reading the Bible aloud, sitting by his bed-side. She made a mistake in the reading. He corrected her and gave the right reading, and relapsed into the camatose state from which he never rallied. This passion for the Bible was strong even in death. He was at his best in the pulpit at camp meetings and at country quarterly Conferences like we used to have. He re- ceived the degree of D. D. from Trinity College. I must not omit reference to Dr. J. P. McFerrin's visit to the Wilson Conference. He was the great money raiser of our Church. He was then raising money to save our Publishing House, which was bankrupt. On one occasion while taking a collection a brother arose and interrupted him by saying, "Dr. McFerrin, when you die I want to write your epitaph." "And what would you write?" inquired the Doctor. "I would write, 'And the beggar died.'" "All right, if you finish the sentence, 'and the angels carried him to Abraham's bosom;' next, who will give me a hundred dollars?"
It will be remembered that up to 1870 all this territory that borders on the South Carolina State line was in the South Carolina Conference: Anson, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Stanley, Gaston, Union, Lincoln, Catawba, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, McDowell, Rutherford and Polk Counties were in the South Carolina Conference. The South Carolina Conference met in Wadesboro, North Carolina, in 1850, where
165
HISTORICAL PAPERS
G. W. Ivey, of sacred memory, joined the Conference. And as late as 1867, the South Carolina Conference mnet at Morganton, North Carolina, where S. M. Davis, still living, entered the traveling connection. In 1890 the General Conference united the territory west of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina and the territory of the North Carolina Con- ference and formed the Western North Carolina Conference as we now have it. I will now confine this paper to the territory of this Conference east of the Blue Ridge, leaving the Holston territory to one more familiar with it than I am.
Four districts covered this part of our Conference: Greensboro, Salisbury, Charlotte and Shelby.
The four districts covered the counties practically as follows: Greensboro: Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, Forsythe, Stokes, Rockingham. Salisbury: Rowan, Iredell, Davie, Alexander, Wilkes, Caldwell, Surry. Charlotte: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Union, Cabarrus, Stanley, Anson. Shelby : Cleveland, Lincoln, Polk, McDowell, Catawba, Rutherford.
The Statesville district was formed in 1880 by Bishop Keener- R. G. Barrett, Presiding Elder.
The Mt. Airy district was formed in 1887 by Bishop Key-B. R. Hall, Presiding Elder.
The Winston district was formed in 1890 by Bishop Keener-P. J. Carraway, Presiding Elder.
The Marion district was formed in 1892 by Bishop Hendrix- F. H. Wood, Presiding Elder.
The North Wilkesboro district was formed in 1910 by Bishop Hendrix-M. H. Vestal, Presiding Elder.
We may now look to the development of some of our pastoral charges. I will take two that I am familiar with-Mooresville and Dallas. Mooresville circuit, T. A. Coon, pastor, $600 salary, Salis- bury district. What was the Mooresville Circuit in 1879 is now First Church, Broad Street, Mooresville Circuit, Troutman Circuit, David- bury Station, Mt. Zion Station and they paid last year $9,141 in sal- aries. What was Dallas Circuit, in Gaston County in now twelve ap- pointments including Gastonia, Belmont and Mt. Holly. Gastonia was a small railroad station in the woods, where a narrow gauge railroad crossed the Charlotte and Atlanta Air Line. Some distance down the railroad where the Modena Factories now stand, was the old Shiloh camp ground, and that was the preaching place for all that country where Gastonia now stands.
There was more sacrifice in paying those small amounts than there is in raising the large amounts we are now paying. G. W. Ivey, God bless his memory, when asked by the Missionary Secretary on the Conference floor if he didn't think he could have raised the entire amount of his assessments if he had worked hard at it, said, "I rode eighteen miles to collect 15 cents, and didn't expect but a quar- ter when. I started." That was enough said.
In holding an Annual Conference Bishop Keener kept his finger on the minutes of the past year. Every preacher was required to announce the amount assessed and paid on every item. The Bishop
166
HISTORICAL PAPERS
would compare that with the amount paid last year. If the amount collected fell below what was paid last year, he would often stop him and have him give a reason for the falling off. All the Bishops did not do that, but there is no doubt that Bishop Keener's method had much to do in increasing the collections.
The method of making the financial reports has been entirely changed. The present method of reporting through the envelope system was inaugurated and used the first time at Conference held at Charlotte in the year 1885 and was introduced by J. A. Odell. Previous to that time every preacher made his report to the several treasurers. Tables were placed in the rear of the church, with a treasurer at each table. You would go to the Foreign Missionary table, count out to him the amount you had raised for that cause, then pass to the Domestic Missionary table, count out the money raised for that cause, often the identical pieces of money given, dollars, quarters, dimes and pennies, and thus on through the list. And that would be going on while the Conference was, in session. Such a confusion!
The examinations were all oral examinations, much like an old spelling bee. . In 1895 I proposed to our committee that we adopt the written examinations and they agreed to it. And at the Conference at Reidsville in 1895 we had the first written examination. It took several years to adopt it by all the committees.
The first individual communion service in our Conference was. bought and used by the congregation at Tryon Street Church, Char- lotte. W. S. Creasy was pastor. That was about 1893. The files of the Advocate of that date will show that they were ridiculed most unmercifully and condemned most severely. But the individual cup has won out.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.