Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-03-14

Philadelphia conference u the classic
ground Of American Methodism Il u dis
Einguished a ono Of the earliest and The
most fruitful fields Of labor in the cause
~ having been tho homo and honored By
the confidence and co operation Of tho
most distinguished citizens a. containing
within its territory the meeting ground
and council chamber Of the most illussri-
Gus mon ever known in American history
as having been the arena of the most an.
cient exhibition Of the zeal Of the
fathers Of the church as being
tho field wherein have labOred the most
preachers and rulers Of the
Methodist church. The first of its great
Thomas Webb, who caught the
lirst CLEAN Of religious light from the
apostle Of Meshodism, John Wesley, was
engaged with Gen. Wolfe at the battle Of
Quebec where he lost the right eye of his
body, but the right eye Of his soul re-
mained forever undimmed. Robert
5traw wbridge,a flaming herald Of tho truth,
began his labors within the limits Of the
Philadelphia conference. It was hero that
Thomas Asbury and Whitney thrilled
the multitude with their powerful preach.
ing the most illustrious, intelligent and
refined yielded to their influence and raj.
lied round the standard Of Jesus with IN
of thought and feeling unknown
before. The Philadelphia conference was
the parent source from which New York,
New Jersey, Baltimore, Norfolk and
were supplied with preachers.
Such being the origin of the Philadelphia
conference it might we'll DO termed classic
ground. It was here that was exhibited
aud developed the full fruitiOn Of our 10
ligiOn. Here the sacrament of the Lords
Supper was first observed. Here Francis
Asbury, Richard Watts, Benjamin Adams,
Joseph Henry, Benz. Abbott, VIM. Penn
Chandler. Thos. Webb and q host Of others
as giants labored and
Here is located tho venerable
st. Georges church, which for 113 years
has stood as monument Of MethOdism,
from whose pulpit the most eminent ora
tors have proclaimed the truth and be-
meath whose floors and altar sleep the
ashes of the most blessed saints Of the
church. When he had sat on the platform
Of the conference room of st. Georges he
had said within himself 80 holy spot !!
how can homo, the place in which l have
been hOnored by being allowed to preach;;"
where have lived and labOred Webb and
Asbury, Eziekel Cooper, Solomon Sharpe,
Bishop Scott and host of others scarcely
less eminent. DR.. Roche closed his ad
dress with q fervid per0ration calling
upon those living to show equal zeal in the
cause left in their hands by the iilustriOus
dead.
The managers whose terms expire were
then re elected, making the board consist
of the following persons, the first five OF
each class, clerical and lay, being those
whose terms expired and who were re-
elected last evening
Minister'S. B. Mccullough, j. B.
Hughes. 8. w. Thomas, d. w. Gordon,
7. B. Nicely, G. w. Maclaughin, w. NJ.
Ridgway, NJ. D. Kurtz, j. 8. ]. McCon-
nell. +. 8. Fernley, T. 8. Thomas, W.
Swindells. G. w. Lybrand, T. q. Pearson,
]. r. Taylor Gray.
Laymen-B. G. Hopper, B. Sch0feld,
jr., J. Simmons, Thomas May Peirce, Jos.
Fl. Thornley,. John T. Scott, II. G. Shurt-
left, H. NJ. Reading, H. @. Nicholson, W.
N. West, E. P. Smithers, James McCau-
ley, T. G.. Nesbitt, John Shalcross, L. 8.
Helms, r. A. Miller, ]. A. Thompson, w.
L. Bosnell.
Brother Fernley then took the floor and
spoke humorously and pointedly in bo-
half of generous Methodist collection for
the society. 1t was taken up. Also st.
Georges church, through its minister,
subscribed $40 to make DR.. Roche life
member of the society and a like sum
was made up ~ dollar subscriptions to
make Bishop bowman . life member.
Both gratefully acknowledged the compli-
ment, the bishop. z.l:.s. l-s..s that be had
all the societies in the Methodist church.
"Reminiscences.
Rev. Jas. Neill, retired minister and now
q member of the Pennsylvania Legislature,
closed the exercises by most entertaining
address on Forty Years RecOllections OF
the Philadelphia Conference" He ba,
been a member of the church So years and
knew a great deal about il, but the preced
ing speakers had covered a great deal o
the GROUND. Times have changed and tn,
presiding elder now makes his rounds q
the lightning speed of 40 miles an hour
but the earlier days were not without
their advantages. The preacher gen.
orally then had the best horse. After
a vivid contrast of the Dimensions OF
Methodism fifty wears ago, as contrasted
with to day, the speaker indulged in Z
series of "reminiscences of the old days, tn
old ways and the old preachers to which
nothing but literal reproduction would d.
justice. His own first circuit was 20(
miles around and his entertainment con.
sisted one evening::of sour buckwheat cake
and sage tea, and the next of saffron To-
and buckwheat cakes. Mission collection
were not cent where they are now dol
lars. After an address which greatly inter-
ested and oftentimes amused his audience,
Mr.. Neill concluded with an xvowal Of hil
utter inability to do justice to the Phila
delphis conference, like the Kentucky
preacher who, in trying to picture Heaven
to his Southwestern audience, summed il
all up with the exclamation: "Well, it,
second Kentucky!"
One of Mr.. Neilps best stories was tina
once, when Bishop Bowman was younl
and heard Brother Neill preach, he threw
his arms about his neck and said "Oh
Brother Neill, wonder if shall ever b,
able to preach sermon like that
Brotl or Neil watched his turn, and whel
Brother Bowman was made a bishop hl
waited for him in the vestibule of tn,
church threw his arms about him and
said ooh Brother Bowman, wonde,
if l shall ever be bishop like you
And then he felt ready to quit even.
With the doxology and benediction thu
audience was dismissed.
oPENIss OF OoNrEKkNOE.