The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-10-19
BROADBRIM'S N. Y. LETTER.

When a couple of years ago the Metho-
dists met in national conclaye at the Metro
p0litan Opera House, I thought them the
finest body of men, lay or clerical, that ]
had ever seen assembled under single roof
In any part of the world, have seen many
great assemblages, both here and in Eur
ope, where the imposing symbols of official
dignity lent light and color to the occasion,
but up to that time do not recollect ever
seeing any public body hat compared with
the Methodist National Convention.
This week has been marked by an as
semblage which, for distinguished ability,
piety, dignity, intellectual culture. has
never been surpas sed and hardly equalled
on this side of the Atlantic. To be min
lister of the Episcopal church is no small
honor; to arrive at that distinction involves
long years of patient study and self-denial
and intellectual culture much beyond the
average of his fellow men. To be selected
as bishop from sIch q conclave as this
argues superlatiye qualities among body
of men intellectually above their fellows.
Assembled in St. Georges church we're all
the bishops in the United States, with very
few exceptions, and in addition to these
were hundreds of distinguished clergymen
and laymen, to whom Episcopal honors
could add neither dignity or power. 1t was
grand sight and one that will be remem-
bered as long as life remains by those who
were privileged to see it. The sermon of
Bishop Whipple of Minnesota, was worthy
of the occasion. and not a word of 1t was
lost on that vast and distinguished assem-
bly,. Never in any Episcopal body before
was there such broad and catholic spirit
displayed as in this. There was not a
single dissenting voice when the venerable
bishop exclaimed, in voice almost
drowned with tears: Zone of the great
hindrances to the speedy evangelizatlon OF
the world is the division among Christians,
and the saddest Of all this Is, that the
things that separate us are not necessary
to salvation. There are blessed signs that
the Holy Spirit is deepening the spiritual
life of long separated brothers." And
again he exclaimed with fervor: "Denun-
citation will not silence unbelief. and the
name of infidel has lost all its terrors."
The only inference TO be drawn from Bish-
op Rhipple's magnificent sermon, and the
unstinted praise with which 1t was re-
ceiVed, is that henceforGh the Episcopal
church will welcome with open arms assist
ance from every Christian source, that
can aid the propagation of the gospel of
Christ and the evangelization of the race.
If this be the end and aim Of the conven-
tion it will 60 forth from our city with q
nations benediction, and not only the
Episcopal church but all Chrlstendom will
have occasion to rejoice that the ancient
barriers of prejudice and conventionalism
are broken down and the Christian church
no longer bound by the mere shadows of
form and creed, marches onward as a
nnited army to the accomplishment Of the
great work where Christ is all and all. It
is hardly necessary to say that the bishops,
the priests and the lay visitors were royalty
entertained. Our richest families mostly
belong TO .he Episcopal church, and New
York has building specially provided for
Episcopal entertainments. the gift Of the
sain ted Catherine Wolfe. Trinity church.
too, Is one of the richest church corpora
tions in the world. 50 that there was no
lack of anything. The centennial cslebra-
sion Of the founding Of the Episcopal
church in the United States Of America
has been success in every respect.
Sunday was a red letter dAY in ali the
Episcopal churches, every pulpit being
graeed by bishop, and the attendance
was the largest seen In New York for .
asasraasa. Besides the bishops there