The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-13
METHODIST MATTERS.
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
8f Tho First Methodist Conference.-The
rnsrlnrsi.s h OF tho soet---Isl,hopy yF'ostur's
I AIitdres.-Notes Ith''' ON the Meeting.
~ A Very HScly Debate.
speial. Correspondence Of he Ilie,Iioeuetr.,

perfect harmony OF feeling, so inr as out
ward indications can be trusted; essay!
and addresses Of the very highest litcmr,
merit; the greatest enthusiasm, and tn,
brightest prospects for the remaining day,
OF the gathering, as well as for its practi
cal results-such is the story briefly tol,
of the Centennial Methodist Conference
which opened hero on Tuesday evening
In welcoming tho body, Bishop Andrews
OF the NJ L. Church, spoke Of Maryland a.
the State within whose bounds we l.olt
that the first American Methodist sermon
was preached, tho first Methodist society
organized, the frs. Methodist chanel bull,
and the first Methodist conference hclI
lin l7S4), the first Methodist school
founded, and tho first Methodist preach.
ers, both local and itincrant, ordained.
lie added: IS-' -
eve wclcomeyou to Baltimore city, not
tho same us in the days OF Coke and AS.
bury, with its population less than 10, 900,
plainly built houses, and us plainly kept,
Then no monument had arisen to Wash.
inStpn. the father OF his country; no Fort
Alctlenry, within whose borders the I'M
mortal "Star Spanglcd Banner" was writ
ten. To-day it is city OF $50, 900 popl,la-
ton, seventh in maguitudeof all American
cities, first in proportion OF its native
born population, and first in morality and
religion" y ~ /. y
OPENING ADDRESSES.
The chairman OF this opening meeting,
Mr.. German II. Hunt, gave detailed
statement OF the convoniences which the
Conference would enjoy at Mt. Vernon
church, where the regular sessions are
held. Mail, qelegraphic aud telephone
facilities were specially emphasized, and
the point was facetiously made
that these accommodations would com.
pare favorably with those enjoyed by tho
Christmas Conference Of 1851. In replvinp
tothese greetings, Rev. DR.. McFerrin, of the
N. i. church, who is regarded rs the pa
triurch Of the Conference. was exceeding
ly happy. He was now, he said, in his
S5th- year Us Methodist, >and in his Goth
rs an itinerant Methodist preacher. The
Doctor then indulged in some
humorous illusions to, the Conference
held here n hundred years ago. A great
deal OF attention WIS paid, he said to the
little oil stove, which was the centre of
heat, and some consderatc individual was
kept busy repairing the backs Of the
benches to prevent the delegates from
breaking their spines. They met now in
their broadcloth, with starched collars
and polished high hats. They. ate fat
heard fine choirs and splendid or
glns, and were entertained at palatial res
idences. What 4 contrast, he exclaimed,
between now and then! q
METHODIST CREED.
In referring subsequently to the creed
Of Methodisn,, which he declared to be
finished and complete, DR.. McFerrin grew
very eloquent and fairly captivated the
immense audience. DR.. Price, of the A.
NJ. L. Church, who had been chosen to
speak for the colored delegates, pitched
his address in too ambitious key, and
hence did not strike fire like the writer
saw him do at the London Ecunlenical
Conference three years ago. Color, by
the way, has its representation in all de-
partments OF the conference, and the
dusk-hued brethren are holding their own
DR.. Tanner, OF the AM. E.
Church, is one Of the secretaries, and
presently, no doubt, some dark lace will
beam upon us from the chair.
CONNECTING LINKS.
The men who in addition to Or. Nc
Fcrrin deserve special mention as con.
meeting. links, between the present and
the past, are DR.. ]. NJ. Trimblc, OF the
Methodist Episcopal church, and Drs.
Evans and Boring, OF the Methodist Epis-
copal church South. This aged quartctte
were all members OF tho conference
which, in 1881, resulted in the separation
OF the Southern Brethren and the forma-
ton shortly afterwards of the Church
South. DR.. Evans is the most vigorous
looking, but the others, though feebler
and older than they were sixty years ago,
are still in the arena and take their part
as active participants in the contest. At
least two OF tho four-Trimblc ond Nc
rerrin, are hoping for practical results
from this gathering, looking toward
organic union Of the separated bodies.
Mt. VERNON CHURCH.
Mount Vernon Church, where tho Con-
ference met for the first time on Wednes-
day morning, is. magnificent Gothic
structure. 1t faces Washington's Monu.
mcnt, and its spires run n rather close
race with that in seeing which shall get
nearest to the place where heaven is sup.
posed to DO located. Architccturally it is
one of the chief beauties Of this Monu.
mental city, and its interior appointments
arc tho very farlhest removed from the
simplicity Of carly Afcthodism. If John
Wesley should drop down on the
gathering he would be surprised, whethe,
delighted or not. A singular coincidence
marks the Gonvening OF the Centennial
Methodist Conference in this church, in
the fact that the day upon which it opened
witnessed the decision in tho courts here
Of q suit brought by the trustees to recover
from the bondsmen Of n recent Rexton the
amount OF some pew rents he Ind col
lected and failed to pay over. If Provi
ucuCC llnu aiil tht'B ~ wv WIN sillo COil'
junction OF events it was surely intended
as an object lesson iu tho progress Of
Methotlism. From pine benches to elhgan,
pews; from free pews to seats sold to the
highest bidder Then still tending up,
ward, sexton with bondsmen behind
him. and finally, us the crowning proc
that Methodism is up with the times, 8
sexton who pockets the pew renlsl [,
| \ GREAT DAY,
| a great day was Wednesday, Bishop
Cranberry, Of the Church South, presided
This bishop is episcopally about tire,
years old-not long enough at the crib t,
feel his cats; and should certainly think
from his present oYer-modest dcmeanor
that he will remain simple, kindly
brothcrly chief pastor to theend. 4 Cen
tennial Conference would naturally brin,
relics to otho.front, md SO about tho frs
thing We haG John Weslcy's bible Intro
duccd. A iropuIsh church editor Mt m,