The Episcopal churchmen of the three dioceses in Tennessee held a jubilee celebration on the top of Monteagle Mountain Aug. 23-25 and restored themselves in body and soul.

Honoring the 50th anniversary of what is believed to be the largest annual gathering of men in the Anglican Communion, 450 men went to the DuBose Conference Center to listen to inspirational speakers and engage in recreational activities.

The theme of the golden anniversary conference - "The Year of the Jubilee: Celebration and Forgiveness" - reflected the Old Testament story of the time of jubilee found in Leviticus.

"This year, let us forgive each other for any wrongdoing, let us forgive ourselves our shortcomings, and let us celebrate our Anglican tradition," said Terry Allen of Knoxville, president of the Tennessee Churchmen.

The conference opened Friday night in an outdoor pavilion built by the Tennessee Churchmen in 1959. The Rt. Rev. James Coleman, Bishop of West Tennessee, welcomed the men to the mountain. He, along with the Rt. Rev. Robert Tharp, Bishop of East Tennessee, and the Rt. Rev. Bertram Herlong, Bishop of Tennessee, are the only clergy permitted to attend the annual laymen's conference.

Bishop Coleman told the gathering he hoped "in his next life the Lord would let him come back as a layman."

In a poignant moment, participants honored Mercer F. West, III, of Memphis, who died at the 1995 conference after having attended 47 of the first 49 gatherings. A resolution was adopted to credit Mr. West with attending the 50th conference posthumously.

"Mercer was not the type of person that just came to the conference. He was a vigorous supporter ... he loved it. I think God in his mercy let him pass on in this beautiful place," said Howard Golwen, president-elect of the Tennessee Churchmen and a fellow parishioner of Mr. West's at St. Mary's Cathedral, Memphis.

As is the custom, the conference combined learning, recreational activities and fellowship. Speakers were the Rev. Canon Willard Squire, a Volunteer in Mission serving in the Diocese of Haiti, former professional soccer player Kyle Rote, Jr., and Tom Gunnels, a successful manager in the insurance industry and a widely published author.

Participants worshiped at an outdoor Eucharist on Saturday morning and at the closing Eucharist on Sunday at All Saints' Chapel on the nearby campus of the University of the South, Sewanee.

The 50th conference was a catalyst for reminiscing. Charles Wofford and Oris Hyder, both of Johnson City, have attended the conference since the late 1950s and talked about why they keep returning year after year.

"There are two things," Mr. Wofford said. "One of them is the chance to get recharged. It's such a stimulating, wonderful thing. And the second is the chance to perpetuate friendships that we've developed over the years."

"It's an enthusiastic, religious experience for the men," Mr. Hyder said. "It's inspirational. You go home really charged up to be a better Christian."