Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-18
WORLDS METHODIST.
STEADY FLOW OF ELOOuENcE FOR
INTELLECTUAL GIANTS.
A Spirited Rivalry Between tho John
Bulls and Brother Jonathans-Ad-
miration OF tho Britishers.
Correspondence Of tho R,c,mo, >, n,s,,,c,

miration of tho Britishers.
correspondence Of tho Richmond Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. October 1.-THE
hrst week OF this great Conference has
more than fulfilled the promise of its au-
snicious opening. II ~ the unive, sal tes
timony that Methodism. familiar as il ~
with big meetings, never saw it on this
wiso beiore-Ecver so much enthusiasm,
never such an assembly CT intellectual
giants, never such steady flow Of clo-
quence. never such display OF theologi-
cal learning, and, what Is better than all
else; never conference in all the history
OF this much-dIyided household which has
taken the practical steps this has to-
ward harmony and final union One
thing which has given perennial interest
10 tho proceedings of this body 10 tho
presence III 1t OF SO many celebrities from
abroad. The listener feels all the time
That In some sense the representatives of
Two great Dationalitics are in forensic
combat with each other. 1t is inevitable,
100, That tins same feeling must be shared
10y the speakers, the English swayed by
laJdable ambition to appear at their best
before the Americans. and Uncle sam being
equally determined to make as favorable
an Impression as possible upon the mind
oi John Bull.
Viewed from the physical standpoint,
these Englishmen are splendid specimens
OF manhood. Most Of them have not only
the rublcund faces common to their coun-
trymen, but MI the other marks of good
living for which their race is noted. They
are not so tall as the Americans, nor so
broadly framed. but for rotundity of out
line, and for that physical quality called
octiness, they are far ahead OF them. In
attire the majority still affect both the
clerical vest and the white stock. but there
is an obvious revolt from this strait
laced custom, for some are rs far removed
Ill their make up from the ideal gentleman
or the cloth a. are any of their brethren
| III America. With the GIFT of speech they
are endowed to an extraordinary degree.
70 be sure many of them have the Glad
stoneian. habit of drawing out an occa-
sional monotone while waiting for the pro-
per word to occur to them, but even these
say what they start out to say IN the course
of time. while those who are free from this
habit speak with an ease and precision
which are really charming. and for the
most part. their Engiishisms. which are
constantly apparent, only add to this
charm.
ENGLISH YOU KNOW.
OF course. some things in these English
ORATORS are constant source Oh ulFtlSlOD
to Us. IL seemed very funny to hear VII
liam Arthur call the Charman's gavcl
ga-vel. with a broad accent on the 4. and
lust as much so 10 hear DR.. Stephenson
make two sentences out of the word
saved -; but this is English. we know.
and hence though 1t CRATES on our ears.
we can readily excuse II. We can also
forgive the gentleman last named for re-
timing evil into evil, with very mild
sound of the vll. When. however. he APP
plies this refined rule of speech 10 MethO-
dism's old-ume enemy. and insists upon
ealing his Satanic Majesty the devil.
still giving yery soft and long-drawn
sound to the last syllable as though ne
might he fearful of giving offence TO the
person designated. We cannot help protest
ing. Constantly. too. are we diverted by the
Engllsh Hear. hear" which Is Ohm Bulls
way of informing speaker that ne mas
bit the nall on the head: for the solemn
and emphatic way III which usually. with
no change of countenance-exceptln
| perhaps. a more intent stare toward ne
platform and a tighter compression OF the
| lips-he Diurts out his English form of en-
! dorsement. leaves the novice uncertain az
times whether be approves or disapproVes
ana makes It a question whether. instead
OF the prOverb.al nail having been hit on
the head. Mr.. Bull himself has not SUI
iercd such en experience. Sun, Its Ing
[ ".
the same expression from prominent dele
gates on the American SIDE OF the house,
and really. who snail say that the break
iun out among the American brethren Oi
q mild form Of AnglophOoia OF tins KIND
NAV not be another slgu that Methodist
union Is a. hand:
THE RIGHT OF WAY.
But with all their recularIties who can
help admulng these sturdy representative
Of British MethOdIsnf ihe tact Is they
! have taken the Conf renee by storm. Tor
some reason. the Americans have SO lar,
mctaph, really speaking, taken back
seal I'm tnjs conference. Not only have
they shown less eagerncss than usual 10
get the floor, but they have shown less
| than thor usual ability when the posses
sion OF the floor Las been accorded them:
Thus. tho English nave hal IL" rl.nt OIL
way. and candOr cJmpels the statement
tnat they have travelled tins way III
rapid and even startling gait. WIN rare
exceptions all their speaker nave done Wen
and most Of them have sustained their
parts admirably. The leaders on the British
side are Arthur. Stephenson, ana hughes.
The urst o. TINS gifted trio IL regarded by
the Conference with feeling OF abso!u'e
v-ner.;On lie l. q kind OF father 10 the
brethren. His words Iail on thelr ears llSe
the utterances of some sacred oracle lie
sDcaks al nearly every session: always.
too. bv unanimous cOnsent-tOr no one
else WISHES the floor when william Arthur
rises-anl there Is always IN what ne says
the hapuies' conceivable blending OF con-
seryati,ln and progresslveness. An oid man
with one of the youngest OF hearts, he sun
10 never so weak rs to subvert Judgment TO
feline. nor 20 welded 10 the past es TO stliie
feeling by the preconceptIOns OF a long cA-
rerieuc.. On the subject OF Methodist
iniou ha feels and speaks like one VINO
has evidently looked at all sides OF the
question. II is quite apparent that ne sees
Inc difficulties in the way and equally 40
that be does not despair OF the flnal re-
moval of these obstacles. lake care,
axe care he says. that In your eager
ness after union, you do not sacrlhce no
ertv." On another occasion he declares,
All these Methodist divisions represent
deep convictions ana stu again. my
grcar enemy Of unity has been the search
alter uniformity
A LEADING PLACE.
Hugh Price Hughes holds ieading
Mace i'm the Conference by vlrtueot quail
lies directly opposite from those Tor when
MIR Arthur is distinguished. He young:
dashing. tremendously aggressive, fuli Oh
nr,rn-Iasm Ills one watchwOrd - reform.
he enters the arena of debate Ike
mined knight. If we were sure no one
would put into the comparison more thah
IL intended. we should cal HIM the James
G. Blaine of Methodism. There, IS some
tLlns about him which appeals 10 the
nopujar fancy. He is such spectacular
iioure-wIthout. perhaps. intending 70 oe
vn-that he daZzles even when he lalis 10
convince, and WIS the love OF th3u-
L.. sI. IL