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E. H. AULL, EDITOR. WELCOME TO THE METHODISTS. We welcome most heartily the Methodist Conference to Newberry. The town will be theirs this week. We shall strive to make their stay among us a pleasant one, so that when they go away sweet memories may linger with them of the homes and the people of Newberry for many days to come. Many of the members in coming to Newberry will feel that they are paying a visit home, for they have been here before and know some thing of the hospitality of the peo ple of this good old town. Some have never been here before. We will make them feel at home soon after they arrive. But their coming means ouch more to us and to them than this. They come as the representatives of one of the largest and most influ ential denominations of Christians in this State. They come to delib erate and legislate on means and ways to advance and promote the highest type of citizenship-the Christian citizenship of the State. Not only that, but their work is the elevation and salvation of the human race-the grandest and no blest work which can command the hand and the mind and the earnest thought of man. The presence of these consecrated workers will set in motion influ ences for good which will go on working silently until time shall be no more. It will be an inspiration to the Methodists of Newberry and helpful to the entire community. The Conference met here in 1853 with Bishop Robert Paine presiding. The white communicants in this State at that time numbered 33,212. Another session of the Confer ence was held in Newberry in 1864 with Bishop George F. Pierce pre siding. The white membership then reported was 4',950. Again in 1878, with Bishop Wil ~liam M. Wightman presiding. The membership then reported was 44,435 whites. At the present ses sion it is estimated that the white membership reported will approxi mate 8o,ooo. The growth from 1864 to 1878 was not large, but from 1878 to 1902, a period-of 2.4 years, it will be observed that the membership has nearly doubled. Between fifty and sixty of those who were members of the Confer ence in 1878 are still living, the re mainder having passed to their re ward. The Conference now num * bers nearly or quite three hundred. There have been many changes in Newberry since the session of 1878, as well as in the Conference. *.The business sessions were then held in the Baptist church, the au ditorium of the old Metho.dist church not being large enough. Now the last vestige of the old church building is gone and the ses sions will be held in the hanidsome and modern brick and granite struc ture which adorns the town. The Herald and News extends to the Co'nierence welcome. May your coming prove a benediction to the people of this community and help ful to you as well. THE PRESIDFIITS M4ESSAGE. The President's annual message, * which was sent to Congress yester day, is published in this morning's issue of The Herald and News. It is a lengthy paper, containing no startling recommendations or suggestions, and every line is in strict accord with the doctrines of the, President's party. That it is an able and well written document, even though it ontlines no definite policy and seeks to shape none, even Roosevelt's bitterest enemies, political and . personal, will admit. The President congratulates the country upon the unbounded pros. per.ity, which of course he attrib utes to the policy pursued by the Republican party during its admin istration. Post hoc ergo propter hoc,--"undoubtedly the laws un der which we work have been in strumental in creating the condi tions which made this prosperity possible." The President's recommenda tions and suggestions as to trusts and the tariff have been looked for ward to with the greatest interest. It is a matter of comment that with regard to these questions he holds practically the same opinions as he did a year ago. That Theo dore Roosevelt, the versatile, should be consistent in anything, much less that he should make a recommendation in his annual mes sage in the least similar to one that he made twelve months ago, will cause a great deal of surprise to his Southern friends. But he has done it. He still holds to the view that "corporations, and especially com binations, should be managed tin der public regulation." "A fun damental base of civilization is the inviolability of property ; but this is in nowise inconsistent with the right of society to regulate the ex ercise of the artificial powers which it confers upon the owners of property under the name of corporate franchises in such a way as to prevent the misuse of these powers." Thus far, good. The President believes that a re duction of the tariff as a means of reaching the evils of the trusts would be wholly ineffective. "To remove the tariff as a punitive measure directed against trusts would inevitably result in ruin to the weaker competitors who are struggling against them." At this point the message is weak. In fact here it is nothing but a con glommeration of meaningless words which read smoothly and well. Why "weaker competitors" can live, struggling against the trusts, creatures of the protective tariff a tariff which has practically shut off foreign competition-and could not meet this foreign competition if the high tariff were removed, the President does not even seek to explain. As was expected, in view of the recent strike in the anthracite coal fields, a considerable portion of the message is given to the discussion of the relations of capital and la bor. The President opposes feder ations neither of capital nor of la bor, but only that which is evil in each. In view of the rapid multi. plication of questions affecting capital and labor, he earnestly rec ommends that a secretary of com merce be created with a seat in the cabinet. Several other recommendations are .made and other matters pre sented to the attention of Con gress. The paper will repay a careful reading. GREATEST EVENT IN -HISTORY OF THE RACE (Continued from First Page) Last at the cross, and earliest at the grave." If she was first in the evidence of sin, she was the first in the evi dence of the resurrection that brought justification unto life--life greater than that which was in Eden lost. The women were pres ent in the ten days prayer meeting next preceding the day of Pente cost, and they received the infilling of the Holy Ghost and the bap tism of fire with the rest. They took their part in declaring Jespxs and the resurrec tion. They assisted the apostles and the evangelists in their Christ given mission. Lydia, the seller of purple was the first to accept Christ in all Europe. Soon after the apostolic age the appearance of woman began to wane and the night of obscurity again gathered around her. While here and there conspicuous examples of her influence and usefulness ap peared, she in the main was a pro script. Even in the church she in a measure lost her true place, de signed for her in creation, and re newed to her in redemption. Then, after centuries, came the aurora of the returning day of her power, which brightened more and more until the middle time of the 19th century. For lack of space and time, we must pass over these years of darkness and returning light to speak of the third Epiphany of recent times THE THIND EPIPHANY. Dr. Oliver Holmes has said: "I have been ready to believe that we have even now a new revelation, and the home of its Messiah is womnan." The Duchess of Southerland' wrote: "Were it not for the never silent voices of the past, one might imagine that the last decade of the 19th century bore the honor of the invention of woman." The civilization and the evan gelization of the world have tarried in their highness and fullness be cause the world has been slow in appreciating the true relation and efciency of women in this high :alling. The heathen idea of wo man lingered too long for the good >f the race. But the time of the renaissance has come. She is now stering upon all lines of work for elf help and for the betterment of iumanity, and she is proving her ~elf conspicuously useful. There s no line in life which she is not1 ouching with the best results It s said that not less than 4,000,000 vomen in this country "earn their ~wn bread". Of this number 250,- ~ 0oo are teachers, exclusive of 35,. ooo teachers of music; 1o,ooo are artists, 1,145 are clergymen, 888 are journalists, 2,725 are authors and literary persons, 208 are law yers and 16o are chemists. A wo man manager of a California in surance company, it is said, receives a salary of $ro,ooo a year. The most of the successful book agent! belong to the same sex. There ar skilled women doctors. In fact a; the intelligence of the world broad ens and prejudice disappears th field for woman's successful employ ment is enlarged, and her possi bilities become limitless. It is witi reluctance we pass over many brigh names and brilliant deeds of wo men, which come within the perio< of which we are treating. But w< must limit the period and abridg< the field of observation. This re view, however, consisdering the oc casion which calls us together would be incomplete if the nami of the "Mother of Methodism' were left out. Dr. Adam Clarke said of he "Mrs. Wesley had read much an< thought much, thus her mind wa cultured. Greek, Latin, Frenc1 and both logic and metaphysics ha< formed part of her studies. Shi had a strong and vigorous mind and undaunted courage." I hav been acquainted with many piou: females. I have read of the live of others, but such a woman taki her all in all, I have not heard of I have not read of, nor with he: equal have I been acquainted.' To vwrite her biography would b to write the wise and fruitful be ginnings of the Church founded bi her son, John Wesley. He owe< more to her wise and inspirinl counsel than to any other humai influence! - The consecrated Christian wo man in the home has proved : matchless power to save and con serve'the salvation of hLman kind A pastorate will never fully appr_ ciate what they are to the wife an< Mother of the Manse, until thi judgment shall reveal it. Nor wil they fully understand until the se crets of all hearts shall be madi known, how much the failures which they so bitterly charge< against their pastor, were mori due to her, who should have beei his help-meet, than to him alone Woman's power in the Churci is in evidence. Fully two thirds o the members of the church ari women. As the pastor looks froti the pulpit to the pews he sees mor, bonnets than bare heads. In thes latter times she is first in the ser vice of song, in ,which divin truth, praise, prayer and interces sion are set to music-music tha moves the heart to devotion, con viction and conversion. While in calculable good has been acconm plished by the service of song, th organ loft controlled by unruly an< undevotional spir'ts has cause< .much evil. But let us magnify th, good and avert the evil. In the prayer meeting, she, fo the most part, is the sponsor fo the Church. Let her heart grov cold, and her lips silent in the se cret place of the sanctuary, and th< cry of the Psalmist will comi again: "Yea the sparrow hat] found an house, and the swallow nest for herself, where she may la' her young, even thine altars, C Lord of hosts, my King and m: God." In the Sunday School she i: largely the god-mother for the hos of children who frequent ther< from Christian and unchristiax homes. Unnumbered thousand; have heard from her lips for th< first time of God, their Creator,. o: Jeus, their Redeemer, of the Holy Spirit, their Sanctifier, and o Heaven, the peaceful abode of the blest. Here she takes them througi the kindergarten of this theologica seminary to deeper and higher con ceptions and convictions of truth until they are prepared for the full ness of the life in Christ Jesus. Woman's place in the seculai school was once barred, and thetr contested. The appellation, "school marm'' was odious. But here toc she has worked her way up to hon orable recognition. All now admxit that she has special qualifications, when fully equipped, for this no ble service. If true to herself and her high calling, she is destined tc labor as an educator side by side with her brother in the highest de partments of intellectual and moral culture. As a reformer, woman has no su perior in the present age. The great dragoon, drink, has been de stroying more of the human race than wars, famines and pestilences :ombined. Men, for the most part, have looked on with indifference, it least with inactivity, while many have aided and abetted the mon ;ter in its evil deeds For a time, woman look"d on with helpless ~rief and breaking heart, because ;he was restrained from taking an ective part in social or political re orm. The time came at last, when woen felt that they could inaugu -ate a movement that might lessen, f it could not destroy, the evil. ['hey visited drinking hells, and ung and prayed, and used tl.e ower of persuasion to induce bar :eepers to cease their work of irunkard making and hell creating. Vhen driven from dram-shops and ilded saloons of death by rude ands, they knelt on the pavements. Their labors were not without re sults. In some instances "the haunts of the drunkard were turned into places of prayer. rum sellers changed to evangelists., and sots to to saints. The Woman's Temper ance Union, baptized in tears and prayers, has a holy martyr history.'' In the furtherance of the cause they formed "Bands of Hope"; caused to be distributed books, pa pers, pamphlets, and leaflets; made addresses, to turn the public mind against the giant evil. They ap pealed to legislatures, State and National, to abate the curse by law. They secured some restrict ive laws, and laws for scientific in t struction concerning alc'hol in public schools of thirty-five states l and territories; and from the United States Congress simi ar laws for schools over which Congress has - control-the National Military - Academy, and Naval Schools, and schools of the District of Colum bia. Among the States which are lagging behind in the great move ment of Christian civilization, is r South Carolina. When under the I inspiration of our women, our State Legislature was asked for i prohibition against intoxicating liq u uors as a beverage, it gave us the dispensary. At first the gloved harid extended to the petitiouers had the semblance of the hand of humanity, but when uncovered it was in verity the cloven foot of Sa tan. It gave a serpent for a fish a scorpion for an egg. It is enough r to make angels weep, if indeed there can be tears in Heaven, and to make devils laugh, if there can be glee in hell; to see men voting r and using their influence against I their wives, mothers and daugh ters, who in grief and love are striv i ing to save them fromn degredation and ruin. Let us now glance at woman's work in Missions -foreign and domestic. The Woman's Foreign Mission ary Society of the South Carolina Conference, Methodist Episcopal I Church, South, was organized in this city, (Newberry. S C.) De 1 cember 16, 1878. during the session of the Annual Conference. Bishop W. M. Wightman presiding. Mrs. M D. Wightman was chosen presi t dent, and Mrs. J. W. Humbert was chosen corresponding secretary LBoth of these hold their respective offices with credit and efficiency. STheir names are as household words fwithin our conference bounds ad Sbeyond. There are two hundred Sand seventy-three Auxiliary So Scieties, five thousand five hun Sdred and thirty- three members, They contributed during the Slast fiscal year for the work $275.11. Since the beginning, t 1879-1902, they have contri ( joncluded on Fourth Pa2e) EXPOSUR ? BAD ~RED STAR Reliable Remedy. Put up in tablets which fit, into the vest pocket and can be taken anywhere. 25c. & [EEKS, PARTICULAR PHARMACISTS, CORNER DRUG STORE,' Ne~berry, S. C. The Em ;o A CLoTHIN A cordial invi to all members THE G0 to call at Jan Emporium and play. It consic for all occasior of the best tail and splendid fc ation always SE when it comes and Jamieson the prices are E Clothing he sel .A ShoeI presents itself and Jamieson so well as to e stok e.carrie thing desirabli and price. AnD; The finest di anywhere in all Furnishi and these good seen to be admr We again em that the memb should drop in or not they nee line. If they di we will be mor make it to their their purchases Respectfully The Had to r hewIerry. OPPORTUNITY! ation is extended of NFERENGE iieson's Clothing see the great dis ;ts of CLOTHING is made in the art )ring, latest styles, tbric. A consider ittles in the price to buying clothes, guarantees that dlways right on the is. OpportunitU also at this time, can suggest here ~hoes because the s has' in it every 3 in .quality, style portityiJ IN log Good.s splay to be found desirable ings for Men, [s need-only to be ired. :press our desire ers of Conference to see us whether d anything in our D need anything, e than pleased to -interest to make ; at our store. Foot Clothier. Sleautliful Full Line of Christmas Presents For'Young and Old. Fine Watches, Diamond Brooches and Jewelry of Every Description Suitable for Christmas, New Year and Birthday Gifts. Fine Clocks, Kitchen Glocks, Travelers Clocks, Schoolroom Clocks, Alarm Clocks, Sterling Silver Ware, Plated Ware, Rogers Bros. Table Cultery, Fancy Goods, Spectacles and Eyeglasses. Glasses Fitted to Suit the Eyes. Bring your Pre scriptiops. Watches and Jewelry Repairing also Clocks, a Specialty At Old Stand of Dr. Pelham Jeweler and Optician.