The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-13
with an impressivencss that could have
left tic rolic worshipcrs nothing 10 desire.
nisitor royrrn's ,nDuRss

BISHOP FOSTERS ADDnEss. \
bishop II. S. Foster, Of the NJ. J.. church
had been announced for tho opening; ser
. mon. In his Introductory remarks the
Bishop made every ono feel awful What
he had to offer, ie said, would not be q
sermon, but would be a long, tedious md
unpalatablo paper, otwhich, he declared
they would all become tired long before
, It was finished. This, within MI hour ol
dinner time, was too provoking for any.
thing. But some minds can SEQ good In
tho most unpromisng circumstances, antl
my rognish editorial friend piped In again
, with the remark that "if II is not going to
!. DO n sermon 1t will nt least be ncw'-a re.
mark which was intended to be funnyand
which evidently was so, judging from the
way In which another Methodist friend
chucklcd over it. "Well," thought every
!, body, us the Bishop continued 10 tell lis
what an awful thing iic had in store for
us und how little wo should enjoy it.,
"whatare we going to get, 'nny' wayW
] Some looked Mt their watches, and not q
few looked toward the door MS though cs-
timating the length Of time It would take
them to make an exit In case matters be-.
came too hot. Altogether twas time OF
great aud trial. g.st
| cRowNlNG EFFORT OF HIS LIFE.
But now for the sequel Bishop Foster
played the role OF gay deceiver. lie
practiced a. pious imposition upon the
assembly. The address he read was
lengthy, it is true, but far from being te.
dious; il held tho audience spell.bound
from beginning to end. For over two
hours the people listened, and they still
craved more OF the same sort. "What
was t% you ask. Well, really, it was be-
yond description. Methodists must read
it, and they will. The religious world
generally will read it, and all who read 1t
will admire Even those who may take
exceptions to some Of the Bishops state
ments will at least do homage TO his abil-
ity. The browning effort Of his life,"
was the remark on every lip. For timeli-
ness, for logical strength. for grasp ofintel-
lect, for lucidity, for profundity, for pathos
based OH reason, and for convincing force,
Bishop Fosters address has, perhaps,
never been exeeilel iii any religious gath.
| erlng in this country. 1t WAS plea for
the modern spirit OF inquiry, which is
testing the foundation OF the Christian
faith. 1t was an argument showing that
growth and adaptability to changed cir
cnnstanccs and to new facts, were essen
tlal to tho continued existence OF the
Christian church. 1t was Il mastery dis
QUESTION upon such topics rs, allow shall
tae church reach the masses and how
may the efficiency OF the modern pulpit
be increased" 1t was all these and much
more.
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.
Referring to the. creed OF ATethodism,
the Bishop held that it was as nearly per-
feet as any creed could be. In the most
concise and eloquent terms he stated this
creed, winding up with the doctrine of
"an- eternal hell" "Amcn," said DR..
Evans, ofGeorgia, as the last words fell
from the speakers lips, and to have seen
how some Of the older brethren around
shook their sides with laughter ut the
hearty manner in which this venerable
Southcrner endorsed the doctrine OF ever
LASTING pcrdition, would have made Old
Nick himself smile.
We nil have our mental perpicxities;
and one which bothcrs yonr correspond
ent is TO know why Methodist preachers
are generally prone to give away to levity
when in conference debates any enthu.
siastic brother lays special: stress upon
this doctrine OF eternal punishment!
Rev. DR.. Miley, Of the NJ. Z. church, in
an able essay, reviewed "Thc Work OF the |
Christmas Conference" discussing prin-
cipally the organization OF the Church ut
that time. The Doctor contended that
the Methodist Episcopacy is not simply
IN office, but an order. H.
SOME DEBATE.
His argument was very elaborately
drawn, and doubtless, 10 the doctors own
mind, was overwhelmingly convincing.
But in holding this view he is out OF har-
mony with the highest authority OF his
own church, for the last General Confer
ence, decided, by considerable majority,
that tho ,Episcopacy, rs. the Methodists
have it, is an Office, not an order. This
morning the opposition was heard from
on this subject, DR.. Edwards, of the Erie
Conference NJ. +. Church, calling the
essayist to account, and making tho three
points: first, that John Wesley, who set
Church distinctly stated that tho or,icrs
of nreshvtsr and bishnn were ~ ono % ond " ths
samr. secondly. tint Dr. Cake WIN Who tt inv.
Imred Ashnrv into tho En;sconocv hold
and exnrosscd similar yiews ta WnsleH. =.
and I tL;rlIv That thc cbisi NtetboJist % H.
torian tori moi Of America DR. Dr. Stevens '. altar ii,e
thorni,ch examination ni the i' s,,I,'iee, H, i,
;is bistoric asnects. was NJ NJ I tho samr uor on;m.
ion m With With these .disiin%n;shed mon % of St the
nast mas J" wa ~ ,."e''l''''> 20 '''i'U0 : ''' u 't'e
prnSoyyEl @ or TIE CHRISTMAS CONFERENCES
-n n.,...,. ,n, n'
no, nj Tho Christmas Conferoncor wos II,
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