The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-13
THEMETHODIST CENTENARY.
Large Audiences, Liberal Hospitality,
and Harmonious Feeling.
The Great Day When Bishop Cranberry
Presided-HOw Bishop Foster Played
the Role of Gay Deceiyer.
Special to tho indianapolis Journal.

can be trusted; essays and addresses of the very
highest literary merit; the greatest enthusiasm,
and the brightest prospects for the remaining
days Of the gathering, we'll as for its practical
results-such is the story briefly told of the Cen
tennial Methodist Conference, which opened
here ON Tuesday evening. In welcoming the
the body, Bishop Andrews, of the NJ E. Church,
spoke of Maryland as the State within whose
bounds we hold that the first American
Methodist sermon was preached, the first Metho-
dist society organized, the first Methodist chapel
built and the first Methodist conference held lin
1884, the first Methodist school founded, and
the first Methodist preachers, both local and
itinerant."
He added
eve welcome you to Baltimore city, not The
same as in the days of Coke and Asbury, with
its population less than 10000, plainly built
houses, and as plainly kept Then no monument
had arisen to Washington, the father of his
country; no Fort McHeury, within whose Dor
ders the immortal "Star Spangled Banner was
written To-day it is a city of $50, 900 population,
seventh in magnitude of all American Cities first
in proportion of its native born population, and
first in morality and religion"
The chairman of this open meeting, Mr.. Ger
man H. Hunt, gave detailed statement of the
conveniences which the conference would enjoy
at Mount Vernon Church, where the regular SEES
sions are held, Mail, Geographic and telephone
facilities were specially emphasized, and the point
was facetiously made that these accommodations
would compare favorably with those enjoyed by
the Christmas Conference of 1884. In replying to
these greetings Rev. DR.. McFerrin, of the M. E.
Church. who is regarded as the patriarch of the
conference, was exceedingly happy. He was
now he said, in his sixty-ffth year as Method
ist, and in his sixtieth as an itinerant Methodist
preacher The venerable Doctor then
INDUCED in some humorous illusions
to the conference held here
hundred years ago. A great deal Of attention
was paid, he said, to the little oil stove, which
was the center of heat, and some considerate in
dividual 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 dinners, heard fine choirs and splen-
did organs and were entertained at palatial resi-
dences. What contrast, he exclaimed, be-
tween now ana thenl In referring subsequently
to the creed of Metbodism, which he declared to
be finished and complete, DR.. McFerrin grew
very eloquent anu IdlIly CHpllNAbcu bllc LuIHShoo
audience. DR.. Price, of the A. M. E. Church,
who had been chosen to speak for the
colered delegates, pitched his address in
too ambitious a key, and hence did
not strike fro like the writer saw him do at the
London Ecumenical Conference three years ago.
Color by the way, has it's representation in all
departments Of the conference, and the dusky
hued brethren are holding their own admirably.
DIR. B. T. Tanner OF the A. M. E. Church. is one
of the secretaries, and presently, no doubt, some
dark face will beam upon us from the chair.
The men who, in addition to DR.. McFerrin,
deserve special mention as connecting links be-
tween the present and the past, are DR.. ]. NJ
Trimble, of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and Drs. Evans and Boring, of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South This aged quartet were
all members of the conference which, in 1884, re-
suited in the separation of the Southern brethren
and the formation shortly afterwards of the
Church South. DIR. Evans is the most vigorous
looking but the others, though feebleF 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 the four-Trim
BILE and McFarrin, are hoping for practical Fl,
suits from this gathering, looking toward orgaDio
union of the separated bodies.
Mount Vernon Church, where the conferener
met for the first time on "Wednesday mornir :,
is a magnificent Gothic structure. 1t faces
Washingtons monument. and its spire ruIs a
rather close race with that in seeing
where heaven is supposed to be located. Archi
tecturally it is one of the chief beauties of this
Monumntal City, and its interior appointments
are the very farthest removed from the simple
ity of early Methodism. If John Wesley should
drop down on the gathering he woul be sur
prised whether delighted or not. A singular
coincidence marks the convening OF the Cen
tennial Methodist Conferenoe in this church, IN
the fact that the day upon which 1t opened wit
messed the decision of The courts here Of q suit
brought by the trustees to recover from the
bondsmen of a Jacent sexton 1he amount of
some pew rents lie had collected and failed to
pay over If Providence had anything to do
with this conjunct on of events it was surely in.
tended rs an object lesson in the progress of
Methodism. From pine benches to elegant
pews; from free pews to seats sold to the high
est bidder! Then still tending upward, sexton
Nth bondsmen behind him, and finally, as the
GROWING proof that Methodism is up with the
times, sexton who pockets the pew rents!
A great day was Wednesday. Bishop Gran
berry, of the Church South, presided. This
bishop is episcopally about three years old-not
long enough at the crib 10 feef his OATS and
should certainly think. from his present over
modest demeanor, that he will remain simple,
kindly, brotherly chief pastor to the end.
Centennial Conference would naturally bring
relics to the front, and so about the hrSt thing
we had John Wesley's Bible introduced.
A roguish church editor at my
side remarks that John Wesleys Bibles
are becoming quite common, but
the pedigree of this was so fully announced that
no one could doubt its genuineness, and my
friend subsidized for the time. Other curiosities
presented for use in the exercises were an old
Bible bought by Francis Asbury in Augusta,
Ga, Nov 81 1905. and small gavel made from
the wood of one of the logs OF the fist Methodist
meeting house in this country. If Bishop Har-
ris had only been present to hold before us
plaster bust of Wesley, and expatiate eloquently
upon its merits and history as he did at the last
General Conference Of the NJ e. Church, this
part of the exercises would have been rounded
the relic worshipers nothing to desire
Bishop r. S. Foster, Of the III. e. Church, had
hean announced for the opening sermon. In bis