The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-08
FOLLOWERS OF WESLEY.
SAMUEL wBsLEY'S BIBLE USED BY
TIE CONFERENCE.

The Presiding Officer Sitting in the
Chair to Be Used by the Presidents
of the New American University.
The Days Proceedings Opened With
Long Devotional Exercises.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE second ecu
menical Methodist conference met this
morning in the Metropolitan Methodist
Episcopal church. This edifce has a larger
seating capacity than any other Methodist
church in the city. There were no tempo-
beauty of the Gothic interior and the only
change made in the interior Arrangement
was an addition to the platform back of the
pulpit to afford the necessary room for the
distinguished guests. Seated on the plat
form were Bishop Bowman Of st. Louis
Bishop Hurst Of Washington, Rev. DIR. Ar
thur of England, DR.. A. Carman OF Canada,
Rev. DR.. Stephenson, president of the
British Wesleyan conference. of London :
Rev. DR.. Joseph Ferguson of Leeds. Ene-
land, president OK the Primitive Methodist
church; Bishop Keener of New Orleans.
Bishop Wayman of Baltimore, Of the
African Methodist church, aud Rev. s. f.
Huestes of Halifax The body Of the
church was nearly flied with delegates.
nearly 500 being present, and the galleries
and aisles and all the available space was
filled with spectators.
OPENING OF THE SESSION.
The morning session was opened by
Bishop Thomas Bowman OF st. Louis, who
read the S22d hymn from the Methodist
hymnal, beginning Jesus name high over
all il he'll or earth or skv, angels
and mon before it fall and
Atr
sembly rose and sang the hymn to the
accomnaniment of tine great organ. Bishop
j. G. Keener CT New Orleans was called
upon for prayer and made a fervent ap-
peal for the divine blessing upon the laoors
OF the conference, closing with the Lords
prayer.
Following prayers the assembly recited
the Apostle creed, lead by Bishop
Wayman OF the African Methodist Episco-
pal church of Baltimore. DR.. Huestes of
Nova Scotia read the sixth chapter Of
Isaiah.
When he closed Rev. Dr. Arthur OF Lon
don read the 955th number Of the hymnal,
Come let us anew cur journey plrsue,n
which was sung by the entire assembly.
DR.. Arthur, rising, expressed his regret that
the failing of his voice wou not permit
the sermon which he had prepared TO open
the council, and he rendered his thanks to
DR.. Stephenson, president Of the British
Wesleyan conference, who had kindly un-
der,aken to read it for him DR.. Stephen
son then proceeded to read the sermon.
At the close Of tho sermon Rev. DR.. Ste
phenson read a number of scripture selec-
tlons, the audience sta ding and joining in
the reading. At It's conclusion the sacre-
ment of the Lords supper was admins
tered, Bishop Foster reading the service. A
recess was chen taise4 nat 2;So p. IN. -
FTHs UNIVERSITY CHAIR.
When the conference re-a seem bed the pre-
siding officer, Bishop Keener. took his seat
IN the chair which is Intended as gift to
the proposed American university. The
chair had beea brought into the church
during the recess. II was constructed from
two oak beams taken from Old City Road
chapel, Londoa the ooraersstone of which
was lail by John Wesley. II is OF massive
proportions, solid and firm in design and
makeup. Surmountng the back OF the
chair is an American eagle with outspread
wings, having against It's breast the starred
and striped shield of the United States
appropriately colored. Beneath the eagle
and shield in carved crimson letters 1 tne
motto "E pluribus unum." On one side of
the eagle Is the figure Of lion bsaring the
royal arms Of Greal Britain On the other
side will be put a corresponding figure O a
lion supporting the heraldic devices of
Canada aud her colonies. immediately be-
low the national bird AID national
motto is a very finely carved me
dsllion of .TohA Wesley, on the
right and left side of which IS
the quotations; "Unite the pair SO long dis
Joined, Knowledge and vital piety." The
arms of Christ Church College OF Oxf5 5rd are
painted on an oval shield on one upward
continuation of the chair arm aud opposite
Is blaak shield on Hhicl will be painted
the arms of the American university The
arm rests are like the remainder of the
wood work of solid oak, carved to represent
winged lions; above these are palms. EN-
hlematic of peace. On the front OF the
fra ming beneath the forward eige of the
seat are carved the figures "l69l.n The
seat and back Of the chair are upholstered
In garnet-hued embossed lsather.
USING wEsLEY's B'BLE.
The Bible used during the conference is a
copy of the scriptures known as the "Ep-
worth Bible.n 1t was used by Samuel Wes-
ley. the father Of John Wesley, in the church
at Epworth. aud by the clergyman WHO
the c1nference hy Rev. DR.. ". H
Boole of New York. The presiding
officer, Bishop Keener, cpened the afternoon
session by reading the Psalm Xxi and then
the Sllth hymn: "High on his everlasting
throne tue AiDg OF Saints bis work sur
veys." was sung by the assembly.
Rev. Dir. William Mast, q venerable Ger
man clergyman from Cincinnati. offered q
short prayer and then the council pro-
ceeded to the election of officers
The business COMMITTEES through the
general seer etary, Rev. DR.. King of
New York, reported list of officers for
the council and they were elected without
division. They are as follows: Permanent
chairman of the busintss committee. Bishop
]. f. Hurst of Washir rgtOn; first secretary,
Rev. j. M. kiog of New York: second
secretary. Rev. DR.. z. B. Ryckman Of
Ottawa; third secretary. Rev. John Bond
of England; fourth secretary. T. F. G. Shape
of England.
Thursday. Oct. Is, was fixed as the time
fov the reception Of fraternsl delegates from
other churc aes.
The delegates were then welcomed by
Bishop Hurst.
WELCOMED TO WASHINGTON.
Mr.. President, brethren of the second
ecumenical Methodist con vention, - said the
bishop, lin the name of the citizens of
citizens IN particular, | bid you cordial
welcome. We have had misgivings lest we
should fail Of that full MEASURE of conven-
ieuce 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
the best we have Is yours. We thank You
for coming; we are honored by ycur
presence. We shall De blest by your service
here. nay, our common AethOdism, ex-
tending from this church which opens 50
heartily its doors for your entertainment 70