Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-11
METHODISM'S CENTENNIAL
IMPRESSIVE WORDS AT THE
BALTIMORE CONFERENCE.

Bishop Foster Makes EI0Q uent Allusfon
to the Deaths of Bishops Pierce and
SimpsOn-Glimpses of the Early Days
of the Church I'm this Country.
BALTIMORE, Dec. I0.-The Centennial Con-
ference of Methodism assembled this morning
at Mt. Vernon Church, one OF the most beau
tiful and costly church edifces in the land,
located on Mt. Vernon square, under the
shadow of Washington monument. A very
large number of delegates were present, and
the church was crowded TO its utmost extent,
many having been unable to gain admission.
Bishop Andrews, Chairman of the General
Executive Committee, called the Conference
TO order, and on his nomination Bishop Gran
berry was chosen p resident of tO-day's session.
The venerable DR.. Joseph Cummins read
scripture lesson from Isaiah, chapter 62.
A centenary hymn composed for the occa-
sion by Rev. 5. X. Cox, ID D., of Washington.
was sung by the entire body of delegates, the
audience uniting. The singing was followed
by prayer, concluding with the Lords prayer.
Bishop Andrews announced that the Bible
from which the lesson had been read was once
the property of John Wesley.
After the appointment OF Committee on
Credentials, il was decided that vacancies IN
delegations and in lists of substitutes be flled
by the Bishops.
THE OPENING SERMON.
Bishop Foster read the second lesson for the
day from the 18th chapter of st. Johns
Gospel. He then delivered the sermon ap-
pointed for the opening day. He said:
"Brother Delegates: A common bond draws
us together for the hundredth anniversary of
our life as church. We must ponder on the
past, prepare for the emergencies of the
present, and plan for the coming century A
shadow has been cast over the conference by
the recent death of two of our bishops, who
were appointed to participate IN this days
proceedings. This hour, which was TO have
been one Of brightness, is eclipsed Our
two great standard bearers are absent.
They looked forward to our assembling. They
even formulated words for our welcome, The
platform is empty of their presence-Geor
Foster Pierce and Matthew Simpson. Their
fame shone for forty years. Bishop Pierce
was born In February, 1911, Bishop Simpson
four months later. Each made mistake
In choosing a profession. Pierce turned
to the law and Simpson to medicine. Both
were delegates TO the conference of 1886.
Simpson was made Bishop in 1852 and Pierce
IN 1854. They were appointed respectively as
speaker and alternate to make the opening
address at this conference. We cannot doubt
that In whatever world they are to-day they
are deeply interested in humanity. They may
be assigned to new duties, but they cannot
but be our fellow workers, not for to-day but
for all time.
PRESSING ONWARD.
1--WE cannot linger at the graves. We must
renew the work which they bequeathed to rs,
grid ourselves with courage and hope, and
advance to renewed work. We know what
their command would be-'CIose up the ranks
forward. They would speak from their
pulplts IN the sky IN tones OF solemnity. The
programme arranged for the coming days of
the conference confines my duty on this oeca-
sion to close field. We are here not so much
for remembrance as for counsel, not to cele-
brate victory, but to grid our loins, to devise
wise and skillful methods to be strong, to
meet the demagogism Of our age as our fathers
tury is time for thought InfidelitY then
then stalked abroad unrebuked. Christen-
dom seemed to be fading in 1884. The OPEN
ing OF the 1854 Centenary, if not as
dark, is dark enough. The conditions
of home and society are being revolutionized.
Ancient, time-hOnOred theories are being ex-
ploded, sacred institutions are put to the
strain OF great tests. We are in the grip of a
great combat for the final dominion of the
world. The false and groundless will pass
away. The fortress of lies has kept the world
in slavery. There will be conflict, but Zion
will be left with no rent in her foundation
and no breach in her wall.
TRUTH TO BEGET VICTORY.
Progress will be slow but will be founded
on eternal truth. The church abides forever
Individual churches have no such promise.
The only hope of any church is the
fact of the truth it possesses and ability to
cast out unsound. The permanency of
any church is dependent on an
its creed. 1t is its sheet anchor and its life
blood. Our creed will bear the test of the
most intelligent criticism"
pit, and said: To-day there is a vast amount
of endless and spiritless preaching. The
greatest need is revival of the pulpit in all
Professionalism, and more than all in the
Methodist Church." The Bishop made an ap-
peal for temperance, after which the Hallelu-
jah Chorus was sung and the session closed
with benedictiOn.
EIGHTEEN YEARS WITH sACRAMENTs.
A t the afternoon session Rev. James Gardi-
ner, of Canada, presided. Rev. John Wiley,
Of New Jersey, read an essay on the work of
"Christian Conference He said that all the
first Methodist societies while under the care
of faithful and beloved pastors were without
sacraments, and this for Is years was their
anomalous and trying state. He then gave %
history of the difficulties of the church on
this account, and the appeals that were made
TO w esley to provide sacraments for his suf-
fering children in America. On Dec. 2, !7S4,
DR.. Coke, with letter OF testimonial from
Wesley setting forth his ordination as Super
vened in Baltimore for that purpose.
The formal organization of the church
was the work of the conference.
A few years later another Episcopal church
was organized with Protestant as a specific
term. Thus there were two Episcopal
churches, the First Methodist Episcopal
Church, then the Protestant Episcopal
Church, the latter no more so than the
former. The Methodist people, rightfully or
ganlzing themselves into a church, instituted
an Episcopacy. and they are greater than the
Epscopacy. Thus the Christmas conference
organized an Episcopal church, with the min
isterial orders OF Deacons, Elders and Bish~
ops.
Rev. Henry B. Ridgeway, d. D., OF Illinois.
read an essay on the personnel of the Christ
mas conference. He said that from New
York and Baltimore American Methodism
took its rise and grew rapidly to fair proper
tions. The Christmas conference was COM
posed of 60 preachers. Thomas Coke was
present. He was present at the
foundation of the first Methodist college
in America, and he had called on Gen. Wash
ington to pledge the loyal support of all Meth
OdisUs to the government. He also spoke Of
Thomas Bassey, Richard WhatcOat, William
Black, Freeborn Garretson and others.
Tonight there were meetings in eleven
churches, including four of the oOlored Metho-
dists, at all of which the subject of missions
was discussed. The general feeling was that
deeper interest should be taken in mission
work and the spread of the church in foreign
lands.
DANDRUFF
Is Removed by the Use of Oocoaine,