Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-07
Bishop Hurst's Welcome.
the conference.

The Afternoon session Of the first day of the
ecumenicaI conference was devoted almost en-
tirely to the delivering of addresses of well
come and to the responses. The principal ad-
dress of welcome was the first on the program,
the one by Bishop John F. Hurst of this city
on behalf Of the Methodist Episcopal church
Certain parts of his address were intended
more especially for the French and the Germans,
and these parts the bishep. who is a skilled lin
gust, delivered in the native tongues of those
to whom he was speaking more particularly.
Bishop Hurst said:
Mr.. President, Fathers and Brethren Of the
Second Ecumenical Methodist Conference:
In the name of the citizens of Washington in
general, and Of its Methodist citizens in par
ticular, bid you q cordial welcome We have
had misgivings lest we should fail of that full
measure of convenience and entertainment
which becomes this august occasion and the
personal merit of the 500 leaders and heroes of
the vast Methodist army now gathered from all
the continents on the worlds map. But such
as we have-the best We have is yours. We
thank you for coming; we are honored by your
presence. We shall be blest by your service
here-nay, our common Methodism, extend
ing from this church, which here opens SO
heartily its doors for your entertainment to
the farthest missionary chapel on the farthest
island Of the farthest sea, will be aided to a
larger faith and a more heroic endeavor by the
work which, through the divine blessing, will
be done in the fortnight which lies before u.s.
WASHINGTON A YOUNG CITY.
Washington is q young city. We have no spa
cious palaces; no ancestral, ivy crowned cas-
ties, fragrant with legends: no minister like
that of Strasburg or York; no ruins of pyramid,
colosseum or temple to fascinate by ancient
memories andSwealth Of curious art In fact,
America is so young as yet that it has not been
able to produce even a thoroughly respectable
graveyard, much less historical abbey, which
may tell the story and embalm the memory of
our illustrious dead. Our edifces are new and
have grown out Of the simple necessities Of the
nation, but, given a few centuries more, when
electricity or compressed air will be the
worlds motive power on land and
sea. when two days will be ample
for the Atlantic ferriage, and the COM
mon railway speed will be at least 100 miles
an hour, there will be different scene, far
more to satisfy the taste for art and archi-
lecture in the year Of grace 5000. when the dele
gates Of the ecumenical Methodist conference
shall meet in Washington to hold its one
hundredth session. But no century can ever
come when the welcome will be more cordial,
the presence more highly appreciated or the
remembrance more grateful The hour viii
never strike when representatives OF the great
Methodist family will be received with deeper
love than We now give with open hands and re-
toicing hearts
TIE PRODUCTS OF THE REPUBLIc.
In the old world the nation has generally
been the product Of its central city. Out Of
Berlin were shaped the Duchy Of Brandenburg,
and later the Prussian kingdom; out Of Vienna
has grown the Austro- Hungarian empire; out
of Paris, France. But Washington reverses
this historical order. II IL the product Of our
republic. We had no fixed capital at first
Other places competed for the honor and IL Wa
only by . scanty majority Of three votes over
other competing places, such - Philadelphis
and New York, that our Senate located the
capital here on the bank Of the Potomac, which
floats our political elfervescences and our na-
tional prejudices downward to the go, and within
view OF the home Of him whom al nations love
- teacher Of liberty and the father Of thi1
Anelo-6axon country. Il Il the capital, thsrs-
eight seatss and g. 600. 900 people.