The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-10-22
WASHINGTON GOSSIP,
THE ALL-ABs0RBING TOPIC OF THOUGHT
Is THE METHODIST COUNCIL.
Ono Of the Grandest Bodies Of Men, Fit her
Civil or Religious, Perhaps, Ever As
sembled in This Country-A
Journalists Headquarters.
sDeciol Correspondence to The statesman

body now assembled IN the, clty-the
Ecumenical conference of the world
wide Methodist Church. No such
gathering has ever been known here,
and the aggregation of brain power,
mental culture and spiritual influence
is enough to set the whole country
ablaze. The sessions are held in the
Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal
Church, and it's capacity is taxed to
the utmost. The Rev. William Arthur
of London is the presiding officer, and
each sessions religious service is con-
Quoted by some member of the
council.
THE CHAIR OF STATE,
This is the John Wesley memorial
chair, made from an oak beam taken
from the old City Road chapel, Lon
don, and is the gift $50 the whisper
runs) of the Rev. Thomas Bowman
Stephenson, president of the Wesleyan
Methodist Conference. 1t is richly
carved and massive in proportions.
The seat and high back, reaching
over six feet, are upholstered in dark
garnet leather heavily embossed.
Surrounding the back is that grand
old bird-the American eagle, with
the shield of stars and stripes resting
against its bosom, and underneath,
the carved motto "EPluribus Unum."
On each side of the eagle are the En-
glish lions supporting the royal arms
of Great Britain and Canada. Under
Under the shield is finely carved
medallion of the great founder, John
Wesley, and the quotation:
Quite the pair so long disjoined-
knowledge and vital piety."
On one of the upward arm-rests is
an oval shield upon which the
arms of Christ Church college,
Oxford, are painted, while the
opposite side remains blank |
to be painted hereafter with like en-
blems of the American university. The
winged lions, and palm branches en-
VI pCdCOJ anu III VI UDO
seat are the figures 1891. The foot rest
is similarly upholstered and the two
combined make an elegant addition to
the nucleus of furnishings for our new {
university, to which they are to be t
donated,
A SACRED RELIC.
On the sectern rests the veritable !.
"Epworth Bible,n used by John Wes- ,,
LEWIS father in that little English
chapel more than century ago. Its
leaves are yellow with age, but its
words glow with living light One
can readily discern the interest felt in
this precious book by the hundreds
who throng the chuch daily; they
press it with tender hand, and turn
the pages with gentlest care.
WORDS OF WELCOME.
Bishop John Hurst's opening ad-
dress was in his happiest vein and
was listened to with the closest atten-
tion. To the several branches OF the
church and the nationalitles they rep
resented he addressed special words
of welcome, speaking in French and
German as we'll as his own mother
tongue. This graceful complement
seemed to be highly appreciated by
the foreign delegates, and was re-
ceived with applause, while his refer
ence to Queen Victoria as "queen and
empress. but best of all as mother OF
her people" was enthusiastically ap,,
plauded, especially by the reverend
sons of England. 81
Rev. James H. Carlisle, LII. d., OF
the Methodist Episcopal church south,
followed in a soul stirring speech,
which was full Of true Southern nos
pitality. After welcoming his near
ers to the shores of this newer land,
the last continent that was reserved
nv a far-seeing God for the occupancy
of his children, he said, "Come to
South Carolina, where the cotton bios
SONS are but the symbols of the vast
harvest of souls ready to the hand.
In South Carolina it is tradition
that the cotton and the Methodlst
minister came together, and that both
came to stay. After meeting like
this we should speak more of our con-
cord Than our discords. There was a
time when the Methodists in this
country wrote to their brethren in
ENGLAND that the only division III the
church was the Atlantic ocean. 10,
day even this is not division, and
there should be no other"
THE BLIND PREACHER OF MONTREAL.
Rev. George Douglass, D. d., LII. D.,
was the last speaker, and though the
sense of sight is gone, yet the light IN
his Soul is bright like the sun: HIS
words were eloquent and powerful; he
spoke rapidly, yet held his hearers
spell bound.
RESPONSES.
Rev, FL Stephenson, ID. D., LII.
n president of the Wesleyan confer
ence, was the first to make response,
him as a popular speaker, bright as q
beam of light, and sharp as olade
robbed of it's hurtful power; He had
nrepared a very pretty little speech tSc
pphich he intended to get Of ana tnen
sit down with that feeling of satlsfac-
! fion that comes so rarely to himself
i Ut V 60 frequently to his brethren;