Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-06
around this city and capital. Many OF
tnem fell In the field OF strife upon our soil.

around this city and capital. Many o
'nem fell In the ieid OF strife upon our soil.
SLEEPING THE SLEEP or DEATH:
- Near US there arc sleeping In our lowell,
Oskwood and Hollywood many OF ou
nrave ones. who are sleeping the sleep o
ueath. / am not surprised, Sir. President
.nat gathering OF this sort on our terri
.ory should be q matter OF great interest to
the people OF Richmond and that we should
welcome you 10 our hearts and our homes
We have looked forward with great In
ttfest 10 this occasion-the ascent ping Oh
comingof this great body Of representative
Men-leaders In our host from different
paris of our fielc-.omiug here to legislate
with reference to the interest OF the Cnurch;
coming to devise plaus looking TO the de-
Ne'opment and accomplishment OF the
Grand missions OF our Church. We bnye
ieli mat while you are accomplishing tuls
your presence and deliberations would also
be pleasant 10 us as q Church here. and
we believe that from this focal centre
wnere there Is gathered the experience.
| the wisdom. piety. and faith OF these
men OF God. we shall be permitted to
father new inspiration for our work. ana
snail be permitted 10 light our torches anew
81 this great altar and go fJrwardiD In virginia
| gathering new strength and courage for the
accom- plish ment OF our work" He reloiced
| thatthe Church has reached so high towards
| The mountain. top OF sublime achievement,
| but that there were yet loffier mountains In
| Inc Promised Land inviting us TO stiil
grander endeavors. achieve meuts. and VIC
tories than have ever yet been accom-
| plished.
| HospTrABLE WORDS.
| " In behalf OF our committee. and In be-
| nall OF the people OF Richmond-l might
say The entire State-I extend to you q
| hearty welcome. Thrice welcome-weli
| come to our homes. welcome to our hospi 9.
! tally end our city. welcome because OF the
| Church 10 which you are devoted. welcome
becsuse as ministers and Isymen you are
| coDSerra1ng yourSeives 10 the grand Work
| Of the Mssfer. Now. Mr. President. von
| viii ALLOW Inc, In conclusion. to reie Ia
| the fact Peat as stand here In this presence
| and glance over the appearances here he
| fore me, / am reminded ol the fict
| that some OF our chief shepherds ami
| bishops who were accustomed TO meet these
words OF welcome are no longer mere. tour
! OF our chief pastors have Hni5ned their
work end gone To their reward. They are
| not here with you 10 receive these words of
| bIotherly greeting but we feel that they yet
belong to us. They are here IN spirit. Their
| experience, their wisdom. are vouchsafed as
| Iart OF our heritage. They have finished
| their work and have only been transferred
| 10 higher and grander spheres OF glory.
While they are not here 10 receive this
welcome, they have been We coined In the
temple aboy e from the lips OF Hin who says
Well done, good and faithful servant
Bishop McTysire's Response.
After Mr. Bledsoe resumed his seat
Bishop McTyeire rose and said:
In the name OF the General Conference
thank Sou for your hearty and eloquent
welcome TO Richmond and TO Virginia go
welcome among a people proverbItl fOr
hospitality and in a city SO Ticn In historic
associations OF the Church as well az OF the
stale. Virginia first heard tho Gospe.
according TO Metbodism from that II oirl
missionary Robert Williams. ! wish
M. HffH IRA 20 ntsin n a
n monument over IL. Bishop Asbury de.
lighted 10 visit Brunswick aud Amelia and
be Impressed with the great reviyals thar
were conducted there. In this very city of
Richmond seventy years ago he preached
his last sermon. he had To be carried in
chair 10 the place OF the pulpit. lie sat on
table and preached his last efmOn In Rich
mond. Virginia gave us Jesse Lee, william
McKeDdTee, and Others, clerical and lay.
who retained good report through faith
through Methodist faith"
Tie bishop then spoke OF those VINO hal
left Virginia aud become success(ul aui
ptOmincnt i'm other Stats and in TINS cOu-
nectiOn he said Virginia Is good state
TO be born IN. ard not n bad state To g.
away fiom. In all my travels have never
found man who was not proud To say Ia
w6s non Nirginia
ToGarnnd, to smith, TO Duncan. and 10
Henuett he paid high eulOges for their ef.
fOiIs in advancing Randolph. Macon CO..
lege. The alma IiufeT Of so many distiu-
tory Of this venerable institution Of learn
ing and. continuing. said " think, bTOtu-
er OCOkiDg at i'r. bledsOe), your mem ",
and mite do not agree Hnen you say thi,
j. tie INST time we have ever met in Nlr-
ginia'
The Bishop then feellngy alluded TO the
wonderful gIowth OF the Church and OF the
labCTs Ol some OF the most conspI cuOus
workers In tho Masters vineyard, and COZ
ciudeG 10y say ing "i pray God that there
n ay return TO Virginia n revival OF that
spirit that laid the foundation OF that
MethOdism IN Virginia tnat has sent out It's
blessings 10 all parts Of our country. Again
! thank you. brethren and good people q:
Richmond, for this Kind and hearty vel
come. May God bless our coming to you
and 10 them"
Bishop McTyeire announced that the
address " the bishops was ready, snd
would be read Whenever the Conference
wanted to hear it.
A motion was made that the address;
be read at once, which was agreed to.
Bishop Keener then came forward
and read the quadrennial address. The
following are the most salient points /:
Bishops Address.
We greet you. brethren beloved In the
name OF our common LOrd-each OF you a.
of YOU, az body created by the Holy Ghos,
Knit togetner in love. having Christ as IT,
head. living Church. truly representing
God upon eaftn the chosen OF our Israel.
both OF it's ministry and laity, co. o.workers
with us in the Kingdom and patience OF our
Lord Jesus Christ.
We meet at the beginning OF the second
century OF Episcopal Metnodism IN this
years has been concluded. without abate
ment the Divine Hand which placed IL IN
the armament still uphods IL. Its radiant
holiness has come To be admired IN all
them that believe. Framed by the Spirit.
standing full upon Tedempt Ons orbit, We
cannot but gloriiy God In the history OF
q ose noble men whose lives and labors are
written in the walls OF It's foundation.
Give unto the Lord. o ye sons OF the
mighty,
Give unto ihe Lord glory and strength;
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto Ills
name.
one hundred years ago there were but
leo travelling preachers and 1000 mem
beTs IN the United states: now there are
within the several Methodisms25 ,239 itine-
rant preachers, 80 9O7 local preachers. and
3,7l63ls members. These figures speak q
great history, and 10 the eye OF faith q
grea Ter prophecy. Let ~ be our care To
conserve the forces which they represent.
The centennial oGerings OF our Church for
st375. 600. nearly all OF which was given
for local objects. only a small sum was
conkecTated tO the foreign miss onary worE.
The college OF Bishops therefore suggested
in view OF the state OF the missionary trea
sufy. that centenary offerings should be
extended through the year 1855, and be-
confined to foreign missions and TO Church
extension.
This occasion may not be lost, which -
ftly presents Itself, for leaving upon oar
records description OF IntucrSdt NeihD-
disBi, as gathered by the Centennial Con
ference. MethOdism for all the world az
gTegatcs "a ee9 travelling preachers. H.
{ 80 local preachers. aud 5,3l9.493 commu.
nicanls when would make the number OF
It's adhefents 10 be about equal TO the pre-
sent pOpula tion OF the British Isles.
During the four years Just passed our own |
total membership has increased from $780,
III To 890,994, our itineiant preachers |
nom oil TO 400. and the local ministry |
from $500 TO . 9iS. the largest total quad
renDial increase since our equalization |
lSO277.
In the full sfati1tical statement OF the |
General Minutes OF 1885 10 Will he seen that |
our colored membership has gone down u !
527 persons.
THE CoLoRED METHoDIsTs.
The providence OF God. which for years I
placed the negroes largely In our care. aud 7
" hich biessed our labofs 10 their instruc- ,
tion, conversion, and elevation. has turned /
them away from vs.. II Il no longer p) )ssl 4
bic Tor US o provide pastors or TO exercise
discipline in cOlored churches. They are
not willing TO receive one or the other from
the bands ola white minister. Ii Is doubt
ful lffbere IL one single colored cougregt
lion OF any church In the south served
regularly by white pastor OF their owa
election. \ white presiding elder may be
by colored Conference, or q
"A hifa biglOn nanrh OverSi4lt briugs with |