The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-05-15

whose merits would otherwise secure his
promotion, will be badly left when the bal.
; lots are counted, and few who fall to vote
for him will make any secret Of tho fact
that they arc afraid Of his ad'
vanccd union sentiments. These are
straws which show which way the
wind Is blowing, and iiany doub! that they
arc true pointers, these dubious souls
should havc been ut MKendriek Church
I Wednesday night, when Dr.. Ridgaway de-
livCrcd his iraternal address. There they
would have ascertalned the disec.
ton of the ariel currents as to the
question OF organic union by the evidence
OF their own senses The Doctors elegant
address was "fcclcr' oil this subject, and
! II Is prcsunMblc that ut its close no one
present had Il keCner sense OF tho adverse
attitude OF the vast majority oil the audience
than tho genial Doctor himself. The pco-
plc OF both sections owe DR.. Ridgaway a
debt OF gratitude, not only for tho noble
sentiments he uttered, but for tho oppor.
tunity afforded them by his bold stand In
favor OF union, md the effect 1t produced
on the conference to measure correctly the
lenth and depth OF the Southern feeling on
this subject. That the decision was "for.
nehst' the Doctor was only his misfortune,
not his fault. lfyH4 "'i5ht5
An ominous little circumstance occurred
in connection with DR.. Ridgaways intro.
dueiion. as all who know him arc aware,
the Doctor is gcntili,y personiied. Ills &C.
tons In public address are us smooth and
graceful us his flowing rhetoric. One can
readily believe that next to serious moral
lapse nothing would grieve his innermost
soul so mitch asa breach OF etiquette,
How unfortunate, therefore, that when
bishop AfcTyctre said, If have now the
pleasure OF introducing Rev. DR.. Kidga.
way" the Doctor should have risen, and
after making bow to the audience which
would have gladdend the heart OF u Lord
Chesterfield, should have extended his
hand to the presiding officer Just when
that individual was busy looking in m op.
posite direction This was not intentional
on the part Of bishop McTyeire, but II
must have been very embarrassing 10 the
polite Doctor, and, on reflection, il seems
significant OF the fate OF DR.. Ridgaway's
subsequent union utterances, II not pro.
phe,ic, indeed, OF the reception oil North.
err propositions for union will meet with
for many years 10 come. E'|
DR.. Ridsaway had many advantages as a
lraternal delegate 10 this body. lie was
born in Maryland, and cradeled, rs he ex-
presses it, in the old Baltimore conference
His name, too, was in his favor His
father, he had told them, had heard man
preach who had SO delighted him that he
came home and said with reference to one
OF his boys ale shall no longer be called
John Wesley, but Henry B4scom," and
Henry Blscom Ridsaway It is to this dav,
Pleasant allusion to these and other iaris
gave the Doctor good scndoG in his adj
dress, and with tue two single exceptions
OF having to use manuscript largely. and OF
getting beyond the mass OF his hearers on
| tho union question, the effort can be put
down rs one OF the sraudes, oratorical tri-
umphs OF his life. Ills bold position on
the question OF organic union was an
nounced gradually, and in his first
illusions to it he showed all tho
tact OF the most consummate orator. Il
seemed to Il disinteres,ed listener as though
he was taking soundings OF the sentiments
OF lis hearers on the subject. Ii be finally
concluded that he had solid ground to
stand upon, the result showed that he was
greatly mistaken. Tho probabilities are,
however, that az he advanced he felt the
ground slipping but was determined
to commit himself Mt NIL hazards, trusting
Tor his vindication 10 the developementso OF
the future. That he did brave thing none
will question, and it must also be admitted
that he did it wisely and cleverly, for he
distinctly announced that he spoke for him.
self alone, not for his church, and so we'll |
were his points made that even those who
studiously withheld audible applause for |
fear OF being understood as iavorins union
were frequently heard. after telling eli.
max. to whisper one to anosher, swell,
that's grand, any way"
II, as Shakespeare says, 'all's well that
ends, we'll" then Ill :ras well with DR..
Ridgaway's iraternal address, for in his
closing utterlI,ces on he subject OF union
lie carried the conference BY storm. lie
was aware, he said, that it was very han.
TO knock apples from. Il tree while they
were green, and when they had been
knocked of they always proved 10 be very
sour. When ripe, however, they would fall |
of themselves, and then were delicious to
the taste. BY end by the apple OF organic
union would be ripe. Then everybody
would want it, anu children cry Tor It.
Loud applause.l The doctor also referred
10 the difficulty experienced in building
the great bridge which spaaS the river be-
tween Cincinnati and Covlngton. The
weather was cold and the irons would not
meet. A messenger was dispatched to the |
place where the irons had been made. In
his absence spell OF warm weather so dis
tended these irons that the workmen were
able to lr!n. them together, Instantly
a dispatch was sent to headquarters,
"rhey have met" the reply being flashed
back, CLAMP them" By and by, |
said the doctor, under the warm rays OF
the sun OF righteousness their two separated
AIethodisms would meet, and he ielt sure
that when they did all would be in favor
OF c!amping them. This aud the con,pari.
son he drew in aNothcr part OF Ills address |
between the Methodist itineranoy and Ike.
kiel's vision OF the wheels were the Doc.
tors two happiest hits. At the close OF the |
address everybody was on tiptoe OF curiosity
to hear what the Chairman Bishop Nc
Tyere would say, His response was short
but very happy, the little catch in it raus-
ing the audience to shake its sides with
laughter. "The conference" said the Bisp.
op, "will send representatives 10 your Gen.
efal conference ~ 4aat, 10 assure your
Church Of our good will and love- Indeed
We will not wait that long-we will send
these by You. Meanwhile" he said, tive
will nnite with YOU adding, alter signif-
cant pause, sin singing m old fashioned
hymn, 'rhe Old Ship Of Zion.'"
Such in brief is the record OF the presen.
conference OH the subject OF fraternity and
union. 1t is very little compared to the
large things some had expected, but when
compared in the Light Of The bitter paat ii
is great deal. Indeed the progress OF The
last twelve years is almost Incredible. It
Is one Of the maryels, all things remember.
ed, oithis marvellous age. The next quad
rennlum will witness advancement on
these questions still more rapid, for In De-.
cember OF 1851 the different branches oi
American Nethodism will all unite in n
grand conference and centennial celebra
ton OF the first organisation OF Methodism