Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

Yesterday was the second day Of the ecumen-
zeal conference that was marked by three ses-
sions- The morning and afternoon sessions
were given over to the discussion of social
problems, the church in relation TO labor and
capital and the church in relation to the con-
dition Of the people Missions occupied the
attention of the conference during the evening
session, which began at 7:3O. An unusually
large number Of invited addresses were de-
hvered in the evening, there being four such
addresses in addition TO the chief essays. which
were upon the two subjects, Missions in
Heather Lands" and Missions in Christian
Lands"
The afternoon session began at $50 o'clock
with brief religious exercises. conducted by
Rev. DIR. W. V. Tudor, Richmond, Va, of the
Methodist Episcopal church south aud Rev. L.
r. Fiske, DID, Albion, Mich, of the NJ. L.
church. As usual the delegates we're very slow
IN getting together for business and not more
than one in ten of tnem was present when the
presiding officer, Bishop w. w. Duncan, DID,,
Spartanburg, 5. C.. of the III. E. church south,
sessions the delegates do not arriyein any con-
siderable numbers until after the devotional
exercises.
Prominent among the visitors yesterday and
among the first to arrive was Postmaster Gen.
ersi Wanamaker, who occupied a seat in the
out most of the session and was one of the most
Interested of ali the spectators of the proceed
ings-
REV. PETER THOMPSON.
There are few men who are as well qualified
to speak of mission work among the poor in
great cities as Rev. Peter Thompson Of the
London mission, Wesleyan Methodist church.
For years he has lived and worked among the
lowest classes in some of the lowest quarters of
London, where, rs he said himself yesterday,
one house in every thirty nine is licensed to
sell liquor and where As per cent of the adult
population die in the work house. Rev. MIR.
Thompson was the first speaker yesterday after
noon There no business session and i'm
mediately after the reading of the Scriptures
he was introduced to deliver the essay upon
Obligations III the Church in Relation to the
Social Conditions of the People" As he
mounted the platform he was loudly applaudsd
BIZ those IN the audience who were familiar
with the class OF work he has been called to do
He Is nne-iooking man with waving gray hair
and bushy black beard that is only lust
touched with gray. He has an air of great
earnestness abou. him that attracts close atten-
ton 10 whatever he NAV have to say.
The paper that he read yesterday was one of
the most remarkable that has been presented
SO far before the conference. There was no
guesswork or surmise about II. but II was filled
with practical Suggestions learned IRON years Of
experience In tine attempt to ameiiorate the
conditions OF the classes among the slums. In
his opinion the cause of mos; ot the misery of
the masses is the liquor evil and the key of the
siiuation lies in the hands of the church, and
there alone coaid be found the remedy tor the
EXISTING state of affairs In his paper MIR.
1honi.' son, among other things, said:
IEx LIQUOR TRAFFIC RESPONSIBLE.
must repeat what has been said strongly
and repeatedly that the liquor traffic is the
Ianin and truthful cause of all this terrible
life Many Of our difficulties would at once be
removed II this could be thoroughly and eff
fectually dealt with. The church holds the kew
To the situation. Let the church become united
ard earnest for the destruction of the liquor
tratnc and 1t will cease to exist But all who