St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-28
GATHERED TO DO GOOD
Opening Session of the Mime
sofa State Methodist Con-
ventiOn.
Central Park Church Crowded
to It's Capacity With Earn
est Workers.
Hon. ]. T. Wyman, Of Mime
apolis, Is Unanimously
Chosen President.
Summary Of the Exercises Of
Last acknowledgements
for To-Day.

John Wesley's heart would have over
flown with pride could he have been
present last evening at the opening ses-
sion of the Minnesota State Methodist
convention,
The handsome Central Park church
was taxed to its capacity by the large
audienc, present, and even the little
children, of whom a considerable num-
Der were present, took deep interest in
the opening ceremonies, which were
free from the conyentionality
usually attending similar gatherings.
The platform was occupied by
the speakers, and looking to the
left was another body of ministers of
the gospel, all eager for the good work
to begin. After the singing of a Metho-
dist hymn, Rev. J. F. Force, of Mime
apolis, proposed the name of Hon. j. T.
Wyman. also of Minneapolis, for presi-
dent of the convention, and he was
unanimously elected. Rev. S. Sherin,
of ST. Paul, was unanimously chosen
secretary.
''Ladies and gentlemen and brethren
of the convention" began Mr.. Wyman,
E'you can see how great surprise
this is to me from the manuscript
/ hold in my hand. L am somewhat in
the position of the doctor, whose wife
wishing to say something regarding
his ability, said that he had just
cured a very severe case
of convalescence. Every true Method
ist believes in the divine origin of
Methodism. The reformation which
swept over Europe in the sixteenth
century under the leadership Of Martin
Luther and his coadjutors had come to a
standstill III the beginning of the
eighteenth centuty when John Wesley
was born at EpWorth, Lincolnshire,
England, June II, 1903. Destined to be-
come the leader of a great reformation
and the founder of great church ma
ture endowed him with peculiar qualifi-
cations for the work he was to perform.
With all his accomplishments he was
but man with a mans weaknesses and
shortcomings. The Methodist church
has been accused of
WORSHIPING JOHN WESLEY.
eve love him as a man and brother,as
under God, the founder of Methodism,
but farther than this our love does not
go When Wesley laid down his work
NLethodlsm lost his earthly leader and
founder. Scarcely less do we revere the
memory of his gifted brother, Charles
Wesley, whose work for the Christian
world i'll the composition of Christ
ian songs. cannot be measured
by the ordinary standard of man. Few
modern hymns compare with Charles
Wesley'S best ones. Compare "A Charge
TO Keep Have and some of Wesley's,
with such hymns as i Long to Be
There or oh, to Be Nothing The
idea OF healthy man or woman with
good appetite, singing L Long to Be
There, or one with ambition, intellect
and ability singing oh, to Be Nothing
Any one who enjoys singing such
hymns
Is ABOUT AS NEAR NOTHING
as a human atom can get. Before Isaac
Watts began to compose hymns many
of the hymns used were of low order,
such as:
We monsters of the briny deep,
Your Savior's praises spout;
Up from The sands ye coddllngs creep,
And way your tails about "
Mr.. Wyman followed with a general
review of MethodiSm and its great good
and progress throughout the world. His
address was exceedingly interesting.
Mr.. Wyman then called upon Hon.
William p. Murray to deliver the adj
dress OF welcome to the visiting clergy.
ION my way home this evening"" said
Mr.. Murray, II was met by the mayor.
who called my attention to this conven-
ton. He wished to be represented, al
though not member of the church, and
requested me to represent him,
business of Importance demand
ing his presence elsewhere. For
forty years | have known the
history OF the church in this city from
the time the first one was built, OF
through the occupancy of the old Jack
son street church, and finding that
grand specimen of architecture INSULT
cient, we built this handsome one. l
remember also the time that when the
conference wished to get rid of a
preacher. they
SENT Hun TO MINNESOTA.
You. gentlemen, are the ones to take
charge OF the morals OF the state. Some
think the law, but we know better, and
glory in the great good you have ac-
complishcd. l bid you hearty, kindly
welcome to the city"
REV. f. l.. Eaton, of La Crosse, Wis.
was called upon and responded
briefly: Il am a good deal
s'who stated that his subject
was divided into two parts, one to tell
what was in the text and the second to
tell what was not in it, and he thought
he would begin on the second part first.
In reply TO Brother Murray, | will say
that as soon as preacher became the
best in Wisconsin he was sent to Mime
Sofa" The speaker gave an interesting
account Of the progress of Methedism
In Wisconsin.
Rev. c. Z. Shannon, of Duluth, gave
a short talk ON the state of MethodiSm
i'm Northwestern Minnesota. He could
only speak definitely of st. Louis
county. and said that the condition of
Methodism there was
FAIR, BUT NOT BOOMING.
A year ago. when the real estate
boom was at its height, it was as
serted that the boom had entered
the churches, and that one of the
that it was sin the north half of the
northeast corner of section TO-" He
told of the increase in one church from
$50 members to $50, and that a very in
tereSting series Of revival meetings had
accomplished great good. He thought
there was going to be concentrated
attack on the pocketbooks of Methodism
80 meet the demands of the large influx
of people that will soon occur.
Rev. II. f. Gilbert, of Winona, gave
pithy. Interesting talk on the condition
of MethOdism in Southern Minnesota.
This reverend gentleman's voice is
heard above all others in the hymns,
and he was unanimously chosen the
leader Of singing during the convention.
Rev. A. q. johnson, of st. Paul, re-
viewed the Swedish Methodists and
the condition of the creed amongst the
Swedes of the state and city. He told
how hard it was for the Swedes to get
into position after reaching America
whereby it was possible to build places
of worship. He said they were pro
.-,o..;,,er 81, h,t curalu ood acka6