Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-12
A UNIQUE BODY.
THE WORLDS CONFERENCE OF
METHODISM.
An Important and Memorable conclave,
Landmark of Methodistic Progress.
The Old Man Eloquent.
..-sI Corresponaence OF the Gazette.

..r..-rc IS now in session, and for two
,..a.s the focus Of Methodist eyes the
,,.-,-G oyer will be the Metropolitan church
+bfs city. an editice which, US the i'm
,,..Fi,re scene of conclave so important
nd memorable, will be regarded il the
',.a~s TO come as one of the historic
t.,.1rrarl.s Of Methodist progress. 1t
nor AZ Ill inappropriate TO
H Ills Il worlds conference for
g..r.wpAical!y it represents the world, the
'.orates coming. not only from every part
~ Europe and America, but from China
rom India. from Australia, and one even
.arr the island Of Fiji Numerically. also,
ma. il .av claim 10 this broad designation;
.r A. one Of the speakers has truthfully
MD ;ue Methodist faith is hot only
,.yuager than any other on this Western
ointment but it is, with single exception,
-lg.r most numerous Protestant body, among
rrop,c Of English speech, on the face of the
.-rur.
Iu the opening exercises Of such a body
-.g thing, are inevitable. One is sure TO
sa. oI. the platform its leading men: and
ms. As surely. from what is said and done
f-1hrs. leaders, VIII Z fair prophecy be
Afforded the results which are likely TO
euzue from lis deliberations: When interest
M, the opening day was at full tide, there
,,.s turned upon the platform a
..-n Of light which made it posi-
hello take an instantaneous photograph
III -hr scene. Pending the develop
upu' Of that picture. suppose your CORE
suJuIyut. by a few rhetorical flashes,
should offer pencil picture OF the scene
'Il skrtrh it adequately IS out of the qUes-
ion Those who were present felt that II
..as an occasion never TO be forgotten, and
which il would have been almost calamity
20 nave missed
The first TO mount the rostrum is Bishop
Bowman. 10 whom, as senior bishop Of the
Methodist Episcopal church. the honor falls
a. having TO cail This distinguished body TO
order This gentleman, from his dimin-
u'iye stature. his clean shaver and spir-
.,uc!lc features, his thin, compressed lips,
and white. flowing locks. Is SAID to
rrar "a striking resemblance to the
ta'hcr of this numerous family. John NcS-
icy Under the guidance of those who
rave drafted the programme. Bishop Bow
man begins n once TO summon TO their
posts of honor the other Methodist chief
iaius The name 90 Bishop keener is
cgllrd and the gentleman answering to H.,
who IS the senior episcopate of the church
SOUTH IS a man Of middle height, with
somewhat Of pallid countenancc. which,
however. wears an unmiStakabe stamp of
refinement and intellectual strength, and
with a Coward inclination Of the head-that
stuop il We may 50 call it, which is often
found IN those long addicted to study. and
which il "A Vcucran.e pciatc of Bishop
kcruec's years and standing IS rs becum-
Ing as the long. sllilcu hair which seems 90
fal! bac,i. as with IA inclination ut respect,
from his Ncbsterian forehead.
others who find places on the platform
are Bishop Carman ofthe Methodist church
of Canada and Bishop Il. S. Forster of the
Methodist Episcopal church of the United
states The former, like the church he
rruresents. is small and of Il rather self
aeprecutnry bearing. He is more English
than American in appearance very priIn,
very polite. and yet With all his Suaylty,
looking as though he could both take his
ground and keep it if tie occasion should
demand iTmueSs. and being, as those who
know him aver. every inch q bishop. though
his people. from an unaccountable aversion
10 titles waich smack of prelacy, call hlm
only Il general superintendent. Bishop
Poster IS an ideal episcopatc IN all respects.
Ills presence IS massive without being IN
the least gross; his face strong and yet
kindly: his manner diguifed, though with
io suggestion Of arrogance, ami the gllSten-
ing Write hair which crowns his 'ntellec-
lual-luuhing head seems as much in place
ais the sheen of snow on the brow of tow
eriug and mysterious mountain.
TO descend from bishops to common folk
who. however. are only common in the
lack Of the Episcopal title-that large
framed man with bald Uranium. but with
- beard long enough TO quite make up for
-bc hair ne lacks on his head, Is Rev. I. 3.
Stephenson, ID. D.. president of the largest
Methodist body in Great Britain. He IS the
first real live Wesleyan president VINO has
ever been allowed to leave Great Britain
during his Term OF office, and If all who
have filed This Office are as genial and
spark ing and able rs the present incum-
bent we cannot but think that the close de-
1euiiJu Of these gentlemen in their own
'ut.r island is an injustice to Methodism
-.-t. .,t,, Il Ia al IA r.gpN
nemnei Next to DR. Stephenson sits the
IDOL Of The MethOdistic heart in both hemi-
spheres. The sanity, scholarly, seraphic
William Arthur, vOlumInouS and great as
az author. and once 4 flame of ire in the
pulpit, but now, in old age, laboring
uudcr such weakness OF the throat
HAT he IS compelled to abstain from public
address; disability on his part which I'M
fortunately puts the conference under the
disability of having to take his open sermon
II second hand--oP second mouth, to speak
more prupcrly-which is never so good as
SO ca,ch what IS said as the words come
s'eamm- hot from the lips of the man in
whose brain and heart they had their orr
g..
Still, Dr. stephenson. who read this dis
course. did quite well With it, and If one
N,as Very anxious to look at DR.. Arthur
Smile bearing from him, one had but to
: aEce TO the left OF the reader and there he
vas. al understood man in physique, but
~iih an enormous soul: pale, deli
cate and quite feeble looking. but in
i-4cc,ually and spiritually very Hercules;
E-eut. and Yet. As another spoke
d. words, showing such all affiuence of the
cIaturiCal temperament, and such deep
sympathy with the theme and the occasion,
fAat his eyes SpaTklcd and his frame
tFitthed almost rs we should have expected
them 10 do had the noble and inspiring
sentiments been falling there and then
fgm his own lips.
Interest on thiS opening day eliminated
N,.-h the addresses of welcome and the re-
sgouses they brought out. For three solid
D. -rs. with only the short breaks needed
'ulatrGluce the speakers. did that favored
L1li,uce sit literally spellbound at the feet
g these great Methodist orators. There
Ne"e ak speeches, each different from the
,'aprs n both matter and style. each hay
g. some distinctive excellence. al being
hrs; class. and most of them approximating
jo he GRAND aud even sublime. With years
or observation and experience in great
church. gatherings, we do not remember an
occaSion wheu the flow of speech from so
M4uy different Sources maintained so
high level or gave such continu-
oas delight 10 those so favored
10 enjoy il. Bishop Hurst was so happy
Aal well poised as TO defy disturbance by
s.eu the fash turned upon him for photo
,gslhic purposes. though, for 4 moment.
many OF the audience felt as though flash
Ui lightning had struck the platform; and
p. very truth there was lightning of the
rromethean kind playing on that ever
Hemorable opening day all about that plat
term and radiating constantly all over thai
enrantured and spellbound audience.