Smyrna times., 1878-05-22
The Rishons in Wi1mington.

ing OF bishops IN that city. Their dellOera- /
tiOns are not public, the object of the .
entire board in one place being to arrange |
their Episcopal labors for the coming year
Bishop Scott by right of seniority presided. |
reception was held on Friday evening at
Grace Church, where the people came and
mingled socially with the Bishops for sew
eral hours. Rev. Mr.. Stevenson delivered
an address of welcome on behalf OF the
people which was responded to by Bishop
Simpson on behalf Of the Bishops. He
spoke for about half hour and said he
thought there was no filter place to indulge
in q few "reminiscences of MethOdism than
in Delaware and the Peninsula which is
literally the cradle of Methodism in
America.
He could not overlook the fact that one
hundred years ago, Bishop Asbury and Coke
found that refuge in Delaware, in Metho-
dist families, from the prosecutions and
troubles of the times which they could
find no where else, and it was in an humble
| little chapel in Delaware where they met
and laid the foundations for the future
growth of Methodism. Then, they wor-
shipped in ten by twenty churchs and halls,
and were glad to get them. Then there
was but one Conference in America and
now there are ninety three Conferences,
embracing not only all America but all
quarters of the inhabited globe. He al.
luded to the recent return of Bishop Mer-
rll from Mexico, Bishop Andrews from
India, Bishop Wiley from China, and
Bishop Haven from Africa, and bringing in
good news Of the spread of Christianity.
The world was the Bishops parish, and
over these reports brought, the Bishops
had to make calculations for carrying on
the great work. He was glad that the
Peninsula still kept the advance in Meth
olism, not only in spirit, but in church
architecture, which has given to Whining
ton one of the finest churches to be found
in America. He then referred to the work
of his ten colleagues and leaving himself
out he thought that there could not be
found ten more devoted men to the cause of
Christ.
lie (Simpson) though not much farther
advanced in years, was one of the three
elder Bishops, (Scott and Ames being the
other two,) but as he looked around upon
the younger ones he had to say that he was
not ashamed of his ''boys."
lie then feelingly referred to the increas-
ing years and inlirmites OF age which were
gradually growing upon some of the
Bishops, and drew Il beautiful picture OF
the rewards that awaited them when they
had closed up their earthly pilgrimage.
DR.. Stevenson then informed the audi
!; ence that the evening was theirs to spend
in social conversation and introductiOns TO
the Bishops.
On Sunday morning the pulpits were oc
cupied as follows Asbury, Bishop Peck
st. Paul's, Bishop Bowman; Union, BishoI
Wiley; Scott Bishop Merrill Grace, Bishop
f Foster; Brandywine, Bishop Andrews
| New Castle, Bishop Scott. Bishop Havel
e went to Washington and Bishop Harris t.
New York.
On Sunday evening instead OF meeting,
at the churches, there was a grand meeting
at the Opera House, which was so full tina
o many could not obtain admission. On tn,
u stage, in full view of the vast audience, sa
: the seven bishops. Bishop Merrill delivere
$ the first address, giving an account of hi
visit to Mexico. The population, he said
was perhaps 100000 persons, one tentl
:. Of which were white, three millions wer
If of mixed nationalities and about six mil
:. lions were Indians. lie briefly indicate
q the intelligence Of the inhabitants Of tn
l. country by stating that only one sixth {
is them know how to read or write, and tn
h Roman Catholic Church was to blame fc
that lack of intelligence. He then spok
of the great difficulties which were me
y with in introducing the protestant religion
|
n with heavy debts and taxes and the Who'll
y were as far from advancement as were til
t, Egyptians. After describing at length tn
to degradation and superstition OF the inhab
I'd tants he spoke of the advancements whic
id the Methodist missionaries have made. The
had organized II congregations, had Sa
bath Schools and I missionaries and !
10 native preachers. While everything of
'u political nature is n farce the influence
'h Methodism is beginning to be felt and I'll
a, prospect is cheerful.
es Bishop Andrews was next presented an
ne spoke of the work in India. After briefl
re describing the country which was 30 tim
nc the size of Pennsylvania, and had 240,O0C
re 600 of inhabitants, he contrasted its como
ton few days ago with that of the presel
rd day. The FIRST missionary work was cor
". menced in 1856 but no grsast progress W
is made until later years. VIM. Taylor's VOL
ed in 1872 was an important feature of Il
to missionary movement. He established
to or 80 ministers who had converted ov
tic 1000 persons. The work has advanc,
en- rapidly and is still going on and increasin
ire Other denominations are doing much go
and none of them conflict against en-
other.
NJ. Bishop Wiley had just returned fro
Ors the missions in China and Japan where t
W. Gospel has advanced faster than in a
ms, other heathen country. He said I'll
II. China was the most venerable nation
sr; the globe, and ten times larger than @
lie own, and form ed onethird of the hum
IN; family. Thirty years have elapsed sin
b. the missionary work first began in Il
On country, and now along line 1000 mi
in extent we have missionary stations
y, cl ose together that you need not go mig
IL Ii without shelter beneath christians ro
at on,Ions o;tv in tha ,rorld ,,o - ll'
on P,a ,,,;ss;onar;os Ua sroI,o "c ~" ~ =
e..' visit to that country and gave a sketch
W the formation of the first NJ. L. conferen,
&c, c. He said that the body was organized W
III lp 35 members, who worked as orderly and
,nJ Systematically as the workers do here
the Wilmington Conference.