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

His Description of the Reception Given by
the Colored Methodists-

the Colored Methodists
Not one Methodist out Of ten thousand on
this side Of the Atlantic will ever have an OPP
portunity to read what is written of the
ecumenical conference by the literary and
news-gathering Englishmen in attendance on
that body. The following story of the recep-
tion rendered the conference by the eolored
Methodists of this city was written by Editor
Curnock of the Methodist Recorder, who is a
delegate attending the ecumenical conference.
'.BLAcK But coMELY."
"a night to be remembered. Strong men,
not easily moved, have wept for joy and
shouted before the Lord. white-faced Meth
odism. from Newfoundland to Florida, from
Manhattan 10 the Golden Gate, from England
TO Australia, has been the guest of its black
faced DISQUALIFICATION in q Metropolitan
Church not less handsome and much larger
than the splendid Gothic building in which
Gen Grant used to worship, and in which,
day by day, the ecumenical council now meets
This morning, just before the adjournment.
the venerable Bishop WayInan invited the
delegates and their wives and friends, and all
the council crowding the galleries, to a 'recep-
ton rendered TO the ecumenical Methodist
conference at the Metropolitan A. NJ. E.
Church, NJ street between 18th and 10Th streets
northwest, this evening. October 9. We went
i coUbt whether a single visitor. English,
Irish. American, Canadian, Australas,.n, will
ingly failed to accept the invitation. The
church 10 not IN a corner. No one could miss
seeing it A brilliant light showed through
the stained glass windows in 'front.' A wide
staircase led to the church, above the spacious
school room On the ground floor. Colored
ushers welcomed us at the doors. The house
was filed with q vast congregation. more white
than colored- Bishops of every hue. from pure
white to pure black abcInded. In the gal
leries were rows OF colored ladies. The rolling
music of the splendid hymn flooded the sane
tuary. How shall / describe the scene? The
church il as large-as wide. as deep, as lofty
rs the noblest OF our Cornish chapels. On its
beautiful platform was a wealth OF flowers ard
palms Bishop Wayman. with his massive head
and loving and lovely face, occupied the presi-
dents chair. Tho other chairs were allotted TO
the bishops and presidents of the different
churches. President Stephenson was there,
and William Arthur and Bishop Bowman and
Bishop Fitzgerald from the south and the
white-bearded, black-faced Bishop Moore and
DR.. Corey, the pastor Of the III. L. Metropoli-
tan Church, and many others. The communion
below was held by a similar company.
Far as the eye could see down the wide area in
the cushioned and carpetless and doorless cir
cular pews, aisle after aisle sat the white guests
Of our colored hosts, with many African min
listers inserspersed- In the end gallery, In
front of the e1quisitely sweet organ, sat a great
colored choir. As 1 walked up the crowded
church / thought of the friends az home and
a
The scene in its fullest glory and beauty
must see. that the dear English Methodists
might, through my poor words, see also
Straight to an empty chair in the center Of the
communion i heroically marched The seems
shall never, never forget The flowers anc
fruits Of worldwide Methodism were spread
out before me.
Love. like death. had all destroyed.
Rendered al distinctions void
at was a holy brotherhood and sisterhood
love and Joy and gratitude to God IN every
face smith Spencer, as a minister from Africa
prayed, pleading for blessing on Africans on
their native continent ana the world around
The choir sang an anthem-even DR.. Stephen
son Was enraF.ured by the melody, the ricl
harmony, the perfect time and expression o.
the burst Of praise. Bishop wayman, his comel,
old face radiant with smiles, made no set speech
but with wit and acroitness and genial pleasant
ries made the meeting glow. DIR. Coppin o.
Phiiadeiphia. tall. powerful, racy, delivered
.~ehrOe&owe- speech 1t was given to delibera
ton nd without pretentiousuess-a simple
shrsU4 thoughtful manifesto-and every pom
told he church rang with those peculiar
electsoD cheers which tell of delight and entir,
sequisSencs- Bshop Moore. who responded
- little spare old man with q coronet OF whit.
hair and gold spectacles-as he himself said
the blacklist man on the platform. This wa
the giaddest day Of his life, except. perhaps
the day of has emancipation from slavery, ans
the day, hfty five years ago, when ne was con
vsrted. His mother was q Methodist She live,
TO DO hundred and twelve years old, and IL h
lived TO be hundred he meant TO be to the las
. Methodist preacher. He raised storm o
laughter by his reference to John Bull an,
Uncle Sam In the conference marching to
gether. His quiet steady. but altogether inter
sssing speech wound up with a sudden outburs
Of passionate defamation. The choir SAM
steal Away 70 Jesus The slave melod
which my wife heard the slaves sing in south
erp plantations Is familiar enough. Nothin
In human music can exceed the plaintive mys
tsxy Of it, cadencea But this choir gave
With harmonic enrichments which were simpl
marvellous Or. Stephenson, who Is endearin
AiDsslf - svsgybody BY the fns spirit Of n