Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-18
THE METHODTSTS.
CENTENARY cosFsaxscEEs0ED
TIE Lass Tar - the ssskevsss- Isserssins
Payers Hsss- Pastoral Lssssr sf she Bish-
eps-A Lsse.Fcass.

ops-A Lofr.tc21s
fIy rels.aph 10 tnr f,ssratcksi
BArrfuegs. December f7.-Rev r. II.
Henarix. Of Missouri. presided over the
deIiberaflons Of the Centenary Conference
this morning. and Rev. W. r. stowe. Of
Chicsrc opened The session with prayer.
Thu being the sst day OF the Conference.
the residing and correction Of the roll occu-
pred sn hour sud 4 hail. great care being
taken that no mistakes may be found In the
published records OF the Conference.
Rev. Or. MeFtrrin offered resolution OF
thanks for the personal interest that had
been shown IN tie Conference. Ans,so the
spiritual profit that bad ben SiEused
among the delegates. speaking on the
resolutions, be said that one year ago be did
not expect TO attend this Conference and -
live to sign such a paper. lie believed that
the Methodist Episcopal Church was ou
equal grounds with all other branches OF
Meihodism. but be would live ard die in
iull fellowship with the great body Of
httbodismin an is brane3es.
Bishop Harris hoped that permission
would be granted 20 add in addition 10 the
names already attached TO the paper the
name OF the repre-, OF each branch
% MethOdism in the Conference. Permi.-
'tNh " a. LldIttG TIT ItIEl ilUUlru.
The first essay % the dsy WIS by Rev.
J. VI. Buckley. ID. D.. on What Method
ism owes 70 woman Woman. he slid.
il naturally more disposed to piety and de-
votion than man. They are more confidiny
and less liable 10 doubt. They are more
responsive 10 music aud Oratory, and they
are the principal supporters Of religion.
true or false. They arc the most uniiring
servants Of Romanism. and though they
are not az inilueniial in Protestansism.
they are stu very strong and powerful.
They were the last al the cFossand the first
at the sepuleme. Methodism owes much
to woman- The iirst woman worthy Of
mention IN connection with MethOdism.
susannah Wesley, il credited with having
nuTtured in the miLd of her ION John
Wesley the great ideas he afterwards;
gave 70 the world. The next. perhaps.
y sarah Crosby. who possessed great
powers as en- exhOTter. and was
complimented by the great Wesley
on the good work she had done. Methoa-
ism Is greatly indebted 10 John Wesley's
sbrtwish wife, Though it has been said by
some that she Vas Of unsOund mind. John
Wesley himself said that IL his domestic
lie had been happier than il was, and his
wife more amiable. be might bave been be-
guiled into pleasing her whims. and have
bis mind drawn away from the great work
OF saving souls. The women " American
Mothodi.m are fully a. deserving rs their
sisters on the other side OF the water.
Rev. u. II. Walker was expected to pre-
sent paper on The Place and Power %
Lay Element in Methodlsm." but be was
not present. and the COMMITTEE on Busi
ness was instructed 70 have prepared a
suitaI le paper on that subject. TO be priat-
cd in the CENTENNIAL Volume.
TIE pastoIa al address OF the bishops read
I Il the closing Of the Conference this after.
noon j. christian cOngratulatioa on the
/ stsfe OF the Church. 4 review u its doe
! iIine ard future mission. IL is addressed
/ sS follows:
To me Methodist People in re United
/ States md Canada: Beloved in the Lord. -
I The bishops. minister, and delegates in
I the Centennial Conference Of Episcopal
I Meihodism, IN session IN The city 81 Balti.
I NOE. Md. December l., lssi. greet you 1s
| iellow-disciples, and rejoice with you and
! the grace Of our God, which has mIde u.
/ people who were not people, and in The
/ spiritual blessings which have come to u.
/ through the Gospel, rs well a. the unpar.
/ alleled achievement wrought upon this con.
I tinent through the fundamentally - on,
/ forms q doctrine AID word. And We also
sincerely invoke 10 your behalf the con.
tinUance Of that special mercy II Our
! Heavenly Father which shall build YOU up
/ in faith md knowledge. and make you 10
abound in all wisdom and rio hteousne,s
The uumsrou. paper.
| read before this Conference. and which
will be given 70 the public. 50 tuiiy record
/ the lessons a our history. and with such
/ force end clearncss that nothing remain,
| ioru. hut to exhOrt You to give such PRAYER.
] ful consideration to those faithful repre-
-enfaiiOns Of the marvellous tokens u Di
1 vine favor " bich have marked the steps Of
cur Advancement through a century 4 the
I vital interest involved VIII both justify
I snc demand. Permit Us, however, 20 r.
mind YOU. dear brethren. while we extend
Z hesr1y congratulations upon the success o.
3 The past and express the prOf0uudest con.
I viction that even uohler snf graudai
aehifytments await us in the future. thar The
mission given us By proyiicntial allotment
i rot yet accomplished. We enfreat YOU
brethren. that hitherto Meth0dlsts have
been distinguished by the emphasis they
have given 10 the essential doctrines Of
I Cbri.tianifv. In All the wears OF our his.
/ LNiN the tlitAl@ ItlIklu- - AruN. 10 ilAHAA
Government, 20 immortality. TO eternal
+ re'Iiluiicns. have been sacredly mairtIIned
ard asseIted WITH great distiUctuess: and
that we have held. in common with ai
Christian people. 20 the Inspiration and
/ Divine authority u the scriptures, tbJ
I Divine origin II the Church. the vocation
/ II the ministry. the value Il the Sacra
ments. and The iud.speusaheues- O
N. N.rs.u 70 D..
/ New-TesiamCnt standard: and that ye
/ Leyond an these points we bny'
made conspicuous the beinOusness 0f >in
/ the nece ssify Of atOnemenf. The uniytrsalit,
Of provisional redemption, the freedom o
Will. and be ireeress Of grace. Not one
/ Of these can be discarded or distorted
without maTTing The schrne 81 salvation
revealed In he Gospel. But even these
/ foundation truths. however emphasized
viii not meet The demands ~ the soul anc
/ never could have produced the pheuOmen.
II the Methodist life ana history. There
are other DO times 20 be- emphasized doe
trines which relate 10 salvation. applied a.
: we'll - provided: doctrines which under
I lie the exucrienccs a the sOul In H. emer
reule ont - The darkness and death % siT
+ mo b. ht aud he in Righteousness. The,
I other doctrines have been The railying CrE
of Ne,hodi,m In The p,lsi, and must be ir
the future. They are repentance. faith
justification. adoption. willingness OF
spirit. modification. and Christian periec'
+ tiCu. out II these come al our eype
renee. al our iOys anG hopes. our inspi
ration and zeal: md upon these are bulil
40 4 our special forms and meats o
/ grace. or CHARITIES, our Deney0iences. and
( our connects nal Institutions. These doc
Z irjnts. above al others, have gwen ton,
and share sud spirit 10 the organization
+ ara determined IL work ana place in Ill.,
. icTv. Take from Me,hOdisn these doc
/ irines q experiences, or even the empna
/ is Given them. or Oyeriay them VIII
Hleless forms ard ceremonies OF mar then
by tumau specullti0ns concerning he
I mode u cIYine procedure IN them. or con
I fuse them by any conceivable Departure
ftcm ,leir simplicity. 80 that they -hlil BE-
+ cone only doctrines II creed. unYerined 10
/ me .oul IS ihe very essence u salvation
ard then our gicrY wi depart forever.
We ihuefore plead WIKI Won. brethren
- YOU yalue tue purity ~ the Church anl
H. rowerto convert the people and slre1l
I scriptuTal h0liuess. 10 hold fast these doc
! frirrs asthey come from the fathers. - they
/ sprear in the scriptures. -Ed ashley hay'
1 ietn aifesicd hy The experience OF th'
| ChuTC h IN past ages.
TIE address urgts the mliutenance %
! family religion. Toe hottest sanctuary on
| earth il I hrisiian home. Neither Church
/ nor sunday school can do tie work 81
/ BON. or become 40 adequate substitute ioi