The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-12-13
METHODIST. CENTENNIAL.

Assembling of the Methodist Centennial
Conference at Baltimore, Md.-The Open
Ing Meeting-words.of Welcome by Bish-
OPP Andrews and Response by DIR. McFerrin
of Nashville. Tenn.
BALTIMORE, Md, December 10.
Many delegates to the Methodist Cen
tennial Conference arrived in this city
yesterday by the various railroad and
steamboat lines. Among the prominent
.clergymen who figure in this Conference
may be noted Rev. Anthony Atwood, of
Philadelphia; Rev. j. NJ. Buckley, of
New York, editor of the Christian i'd
vocdte; Rev. G. r. Cooks, of Drew The
illogical Seminary, Madison, N. j.; Rev.
Daniel Curry, of New York, editor of the
Methodist Qucrterly Revielo; Rev. Samuel
X. Cox, of Washington; Rev. ID. Dor
chester, Natick, Mass; Bishop J. G.
Keener, of New Orleans; Bishop Isaac
Lane, of Jackson, Tenn; Rev. James A.
McCauley, President of Dickinson Col
lege; Bishop S. NJ. Merrill, Chicago;
Bishop Mcintyre, Nashville, Tenn; and
many other Bishops, college professors
and theologians.
Lie lay ucIcSdltS are SOlleMHdt llOlC
tardy than their clerical associates, but
the most of them have arrived also. Gov
ernor Robert L. Pattison of Pennsylvania
was among the arrivals yesterday. Hon.
A. Holt, of Texas, and Judge E. l..
Fancher, of New York, are also in the
city.
The houses of the leading Methodsts
of Baltimore have been thrown open for
the entertainment of the delegates, and
some of them are being taken care of by
citizens belonging to other communions.
The ministers are quartered in every Sec
ton of the city, and but very few are
stopping at the hotels. Last evening the
reception of the Conference took place in
the First M. L. Church, corner Charles
and Fayette. The church was comfortably
filed, but not to overlooking, as admis-
sion was by ticket, instead of being gen.
| eral. Mr.. German Ii. Hunt presided.
In opening the meeting, Mr. Hunt said
| is was unfortunate that there was no
| public hail, which could be secured that
| is adequate to the requirements of as
| sembling of such body. Mount Vernon
| Church had been secured. Mr.. Hunt
| concluded by saying: "May we not hope
that this centennial conference may prove
a blessing not only to Methodism but to
mankind? May it be the advent of glorl-
Gus day when, united in faith and love, the
world may join to crown Christ Lord of
! ALL"
Rev. James Gardner, of Canada, was
then introduced, who announced and
read the hymn:
"See how great flame aspires,
Kindled by spark of grace"
The large congregation Joined with the
choir in singing the hymn to an old famil-
lar tune with fervor.
When the hymn was concluded Mr..
Gardnr offered prayer.
Bishop +. G. Andrews, of Washington,
was then introduced. 1t devolved upon
him to make the address of welcome to
the delegates to the Conference. He
said;
Honored brethren, delegates to the Cen
tennal Conference In the year 1878 the Gen.
eral Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South first started the agitation OF
| holding Centennial Episcopal meeting In
| Baltimore in 1884. In the year 1851 the Amer.
lean delegates to the Methodist Ecumenical
| Council at London united in favoring the
holding of such n conference. We therefore
welcome you to this state, within whose
bounds the iirst Methodist s Ns ser
odist Church built and the first
Conference.-The Christmas Conference OF
|
in Gods vineyard; for the fathers sake
Whatcoat Asbury and others, who laid the
foundations of that largest and greatest Of
Episcopal churches in America, we gree
you; we hope the work will be rich will
"reminiscences of the past. May the Grea
Head of the Church preside over our as
semblage. L cannot welcome the delegates &c
THE CHURCH IN LOVELY LANE.
This church, however, is it's lneal success
sor. The little handful of Methodists OF one
hundred years ago in Baltimore has IN
| SaI N ASh fnund Meth,
odsts in Baltimore in proportion to its size
than in any other city in America. The same
is true o-day.
Speaking OF the growth of Methodism dur
ing the past one hundred years in this coun
try, he said that the $1,000 members had be
come 100000.
"Black Harry, the colored attendant o
Asbury," continued the Bishop, has come
down TO us alone in history rs colored pr
many successors Black Harry has, we pra!
that God may hasten the day when they ma.
be inspired with the Apostolic JUNCTION o
Asbury, to pierce the DARK continent ant
Hood that land with gospel light.
We bid welcome too, to those who repre-
sent the Methodism of the fatherland Nom
| are truer to the doctrines ana the spirits
| the Church.
we do not meet to discuss philosophy o
dogmatic theology. We meet to study tn
experiences, training and personnel of tn
early fathers of our Church, so that we ma.
learn to value our organization, our UNIQUE
Episcopacy pre- .eminently scriptural.
Bishop Andrews peroration was a
eloquent apostrophe to the spirits o
Bishops Simpson and Pierce, the forme
the late senior Bishop of the Methods
Episcopal Church, and the latter the lat
senior Bishop of the Methodist Episcopa
Church South
The reply to the welcome address wa
made by Rev. Jno. b. McFerrin, of Mash
vile, Tenn. In the course of his remark
DR. McFerrin said: