The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-18
METHODIST CENTENNIAL.

Assembling of the Methodist Centennial
Conference at Baltimore, Md.-The Open
ing Meeting-words..o Welcome by Bish.
Op Andrews and Response by DR.. McFerrin
ofNashviIle. 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 AG-
uocate; Rev. G. r. Cooks, of Drew The
! illogical Seminary, Madison, n. j.; Rev.
Daniel Curry, of New York, editor of the
Methodist Quarterly Rerie,0; Rev. Samuel
h. Cox, of Washington; Rev. d. Dor
chester, Natick, Mass; Bishop J. c.
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; snd
many other Bishops, college professors
and theoloSians.
The lay delegates are somewhat more
tardy than their clerical associates, but
tle most of them have arrived also. Gov
ernor Robert E. Pattison of Pennsylvania
was among the arrivals yesterday. Hon.
A. Holt, of Texas, and Judge Z. L.
Fancher, of New York, are also in the
; city.
The houses of the leading Methodists
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 Nj. Z. Church, corner Charles
and Fayette. The church was comfortably
filled, but not to overtlOwing, 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
blessing not only to MethOdism but to
mankind? May it be the advent of glori-
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 a 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..
Gardner offered prayer.
Bishop f. G.. Andrews, of Washington,
was then introduced. 1t devOlved upon
him to make the address of welcome to
the delegates 10 the Conference. He
said:
Honored brethren, delegates to the Cen
tennial Conference: In the year 1873 the Gen
eral Conference OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church South first started the agitation of
holding Centennial Episcopal meeting in
Baltimore in 1851. In the year 1881 the Amer
lean delegates to the Methodist Ecumenical
Council at London united in favoring the
holding of such u conference. We therefore
welcome you to this State, within whose
bounds the first Methodist ser
mon was preached, the first Meth
Conference.-The Christmas Conference of
l7sf-held. For your own sakes, as workers
i'll Gods vineyard; for the fathers sake.
foundations of that largest and greatest OF
Episcopal churches in America, we greet
you; We hope the work will be rich with
"reminiscences of the past. May the Great
Of 81, 10
semblage. L cannot welcome the delegates to
THE CHURCH IN LOVELY LANE.
This church, however, is its lineal success
sor. The little handful of Methodists OF one
hundred years ago in Baltimore has in
creased to 100 Asbury found more Meth
Odists in Baltimore i'll proportion to its size
than in any other cityn America. The same
is true to-day.
ing the past one hundred years in this cOun-
try, ne said that the 1900 members had be-
come 100000.
..HIack Harry, the coIored attendant of
Asbury,' continued the Bishop, ''has come
down 10 US alone III history a colOred pri-
mary of the gospel. When we consider now
many Successors Black Harry has, we pray
that God may hasten the day when they may
be inspired with the Apostolic JUNCTION Ot
Asbury, to pierce the DARK continent and
flood that land with gospel light.
We bid welcome, too, to those who repre-
sent the Methodisln of the fatherland. None
are truer to the doctrines an1 the spirits OF
the Church.
We 10 not meet to discuss philosophy OF
dOgmatic theology. We meet to study the
training and personnel of the
early fathers of our Church, so that we may
learn TO value our organization, our unique
Episcopacy pre- -eminently scriptural.
Bishop Andrews perOration was an
apostrophe to the spirits OF
Bishops Simpson and Pierce, the former
the late senior Bishop of the Methodist
Church, and the latter the late
senior Bishop Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South.
The reply to the welcome address was
made by Rev. Jno. B. McFerrin, of Nash.
vile, Tenn. In the course of his remarks
DR.. McFerrin said:
eve have no gilded or jeweled miters; we
nave no pageantS, we Will have no gorgeous
we have only came to sing and
pray. and shout, and get happy. We do not
come up here TO legi5!ate, We have no Sug
gestionS to make in regard to a new creed"
The celebration of the Sacrament OF
the Lords Supper was then observed.
The sessions of the Conference will
commence at Mt. Vernon Church this
The wild West Meath the wild Wave.
VICKsBURGH, MISS, December 9.
The steamers Captain Miller and ". P |
I,e oh