The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-08

greeted enthusiastically. He humorously
remarked that he was under the difficulty
OF having lost his written speech, of having
delivered a sermon already, and OF
being required TO know several Lam
guages The prec ding speakers bad put their
fingers into his pie and stolen his plums IL
was the chief distinction of his life TO be
here and in the capacity he was. The mother
conference Of Methodism most Affection
ately greeted the conference. The foreign
delegates did not need all the elo-
quenoe shown in the addresses of
welcome, as they knew they were welcome.
they were glad to come to Washington.
Inc name was dear to them. III there had
been time when Elglishmen did not like
that name it had long passed. They ad-
mired w ashington's self-sa oriflce and devo-
ton to his country. The influence of such
men men went to make all politics a little
better and little nobler, and "God
knows they need it," said DR.. Stephenson.
Speaking the first conference he said that
IL had done more than its most enthusiastic
advocates had imagined could result. This
second ecumenical conference would draw
the bonds closer. The first had buried
many differences, and, please God, they
would not attend other funerals [Ap,
plausa.l II sentiment had sway, it would
do more than ali the processes of calcula-
tion and constitution mongering.
What Methodism could do in a country
where it had fair field and no favor This
conference ought TO be a great spiritual
power. The earlier Methodist preachers
had met. not for financial purposes solely,
but for spiritual quickenipg. The
supreme want of the churches was
the Holy Ghost. If the dele gates opened
their hearts while here to Christ, they
would go back as burning torches to their
churches. He held in his hand John
Wesley's little Bible, from which he had
read out the text in Gro wds and
mobs, and In his later life
in some fashionable churches
to which he had been invited. That Bible
was printed IN 1855, and on its leaf it bore
the words in Wesley's handwriting, Live
to-day" This was Wesley's message to the
delegates.
THE PRIMITIVE METHoDIsrs.
George Green of Glasgow, representing
the Primitive Methodist church of England.
the next speaker, made brief acknowl-
edgement Of the welcome extended He
said that the English Primitive Methodists
were really the offspring, llneal descendants
OF the American Methodists. Seventy or
eighty years ago there were many
campmeetings and revivals in Am
erica. The echo came over the
water to StaffordShire, and some
WOrkmen there resolved TO hold ono. SO
there the primitive church was bern. They
had had female mi1istsrs, AMI in that wers
great way 1hea1 OF the other Methodists.
This church had sent its delegates here, and
they accepted the cordial welcome held out
60 them. He hoped the
channels OF differencs between
Methodsts would DO worn dos wn some as a re.
suit of this conference, aud as tbs primitive
church he'd given up It's church in Canada
in order that unity might follow, so it
stood ready to make further concessions In
the same interest.
THE LAST ADDRESS OF THE DAY.
Rev. r. Aborcronbie Of Shre wsbtiry.
England, delivered tho last address OF tne
day. Ee said he was a member Of the last
ecumenical conference and knew of the
good thai had resulted from it. He re-
called the uttet ances of wisdo n, en-
couragement and brotherly love of many
emirent American Methodists who
had participated in the deliberations of that
council He represented the United
Methodist Free Church in England, and
said that while their members were COM
paratively few yet he believed that 1t had
added something TO the sum of good
that had been acc onplished by the Christian
church. 1t was essentially an evangeistic
agency. He expressed hope that from this
conference will 20 forth mighty spirit of
influence that shall Q felt throughout the
world and TO the end Of time.
At the close of Rev. Abercrombie's re-
marks the doxology WAS sung and the first
days session CLOSED with prayer by Rev. DR..
Stephenson.