Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-04
PASTOR AND PEOPLE.
NOTES ABOUT SPECIAL SERVICES IN
THE CHURCHES ON SUNDAY.
Dr. Peterson's Lecture on the EcumenicaI
Conference.-The. Kerr's Richmond
"Reminiscences, &c.

methodist church and delegate 10 tne
late Ecumenical Conference IN Washing
ton, gave his congregation on Sunday night
q notwithstanding lecture on the doings
of that great body. together with review
of its composition, the work done, the
practical results of its labors. &c. " Ecu
nlenical." he said, is al Anglicized Greek
word and denotes "all the inhabitable
globe" This grand "All-Methodist Con-
ference. or Conference Of representatives
from oil tho various branches Of Method
ism throughout the world, was fairly repre-
sentative IN It's personnel. In point of IN
telligence, scholastic nttalnments, theO-
logical acquisition. etc. the body could
be multiplied dozens of times from the
broad and gand Methodist field :. but all
the various families of tue great Church
were reDresented with AGILITY.
The twenty-n;ne branches OF the
Methodist family represented indeed the
/ inhabitabie globe from the United states
aud England to the Fiji Islands, the
Sandwich Islands. China, Japan. etc, otc.
But while .bere wero twenty nine district
/ branches OF Netaodlsn, vet a remarkable
fgct was that there ~ absolute unanmIty
IN point of Church dOctrine--the lines OF
demarkatlOn beng marked simply by IN
cidental and minor matters ia regard 10
church ernnent-absOlutely no DIVER
gency IA point OF cardinal principles.
GROWTH or \ CENTURY
The marvellous growth Of the Church was
| CON mented upon very strikiDgly. One
hundred years ago there were but few
thousand commandments aud less than two
| hundred preachers (the speaker cove exact
! figures on all tn Sc points whereas to-day
there are over six million COMMITMENTS,
and during the last decade over one million
! increase IN Methodist ranks has been the
record. He was quite aware that numbers
| mean no more than mum OCrs when IN them
| selves considered. but Methodisls could
modestly claim that their numbers were as
| good ~ anybody el5e's numbers. The
Methodist Church, he asserted. i'll ma1y
| views stood absolutely at the head Of the
| religious column Of the entire world. 10
numbered, 10 instance. more English
| speaking COMMITMENTS with the single
exception of the Established Church OF
! England, than aug other Christian body.
the Roman Catholics not excepted. And
| here tire speaker alluded TO the fact that
in Methodist statistics baptized infants
are not included. but only, properly
| speaking adults or those OF years OF ac-
| coulta5ilrty who have personally con-
nocted themselves with the Church. The
Established Church Of England includes
IN iis statistics the infants.
The var ETY. of topics discussed Yves
touched upon. Among the great subjects
to which he body gave heed were
wDma1's work. temperance. prohibition,
&C.. &c. IN regard 10 wOmans work.
while there were some who held to the
advanced views IN regard to woman's
rights. 20 called vet the southern dele
gates maintained O dignified silence. since
that question neither III Church nor state
las gwen US down here any trouble and
he hoped never would, certainly 30 far as
relates to the Church.
TRIBUTE TO SOUTHERN WOMEN.
Here the speaker paid an elegant tribute
to southern women, whom he declared
were quite content TO abide IN the sphere
wherein God had placed them and exert
their energies OF head and heart III the
prosecution of noble work and gain their
crown of rejoicing without resorting TO
the husiings or ballot box for nOtOrlety.
This question caused DO trouble In the
conference, however. The conference was
| unanimous in favor Of legal prohibition of
the liquor traffic. Many details of the
labors o. the body were touched upon il
RI appropriate aud interesting style-the
| rules regarding speeches. de-, and the
speakers audience WAS gwen very hne
! picture Of this grand event III Methodist
| history. The practical results, he believed
would be good. The conference possessed
10 legislative powors. but the Interchange
Of IDEAS and opinions, the brotherly COM
mlngling and consequent better under
stan ding of each others polity-the beng
| lifted up above ones own narrow sphere of
| VISION TO view broader horizon and gam
a clearer view of the grandeur OF the vast
| feld-these and many other things would
occasion practical beneficial results.
The lecture was listened to with marked
interest and highly enjoyed. The songs
and PRAYERS of the service all chiefly re-
lated to the universal spread OK the Gospel
and the triumph of the Church.
HOW True woaAsHooD SHOULD BE- APPRECIATED.
Rev. W. II. Atwill. pastor Of Clay-Strcet
| church, occupied his pulpit sunday morning An
night. AZ the letter services ne preacned an ex-
| ccedingly Interesting sermon ON True Woman
| hood; Low IL should Be Appreciated" lie de-
lined true wOmanhoOd 20 DO -Arst, those women
! IN life who have a GKcd purpose, and second.
| those whose Gxedness OF purpose rests upon a
| worthy ob,ect-GOd-and third, tnOio whose
| hxegness Of purpose IN lie was accompanied
! with their lGbrs.
| me second division o: the discourse told how
! they shOld bs appreciated they IN nd re-
| cc.ve our warinest sympathy, cheerful words,
| an. ia intercst Ia our earnest prayers
| The congregation ut tho night service was so
| large that many we're unable TO obtain seats
| and were forced 20 leave.
| On next Sunday Mr.. Atwills duties as pastor
/
| reCrot OF his congregation, who have founl IN
| him man OF delightful personality and an in
| defntigAbe Christian worker. In The morning
| If the coming sabbath no Will review the work Oh
| the church during his pastorate and at night be
Win preach upon It's future prospects.
TIE BAPTIST FAITH.
| Tho congregation at the Graoe-Street Baptist
| church was exceedingly large on Sunday morn
| ing. Dr.. Hatcher preached a fine Sermon after
! which one new member was received into Tel
| loWship.
At nieht the house was filed to hear the pas.
1 tors discourse upon the communion question.
| which be handled in mastery manner.
| Tho congregation was well sprinsled with
| open-communilnists and II Ia more than proba-
| bic that they VIII be on hand next sunday night
| 20 hear the closing sermon OF THIS series
| Tho subject has boon taken up by the pastor
! for The benefit OF his own people that they may
| clearly understand the principles OF true Bap-
! fist faith. Tho DoctortOO OCCASION 20 announce
| in advance Of mis- remarks that II was his desire
! that no one should conceive the idea mat his
discourse was intended In "a spirit OF controversy
! and he earnestly hoped 10 be clearly understood
! az 10 why tho subject was chosen. The pubic
| are however, most cordially invited
| SirOug efforts are being made 20 open the new
| church on the last Sunday in this month.
PASTOR NINETEEN YEAS.
! Rev j. B. Hutson, pastor OF the fine-Stree'
! CHURCH IL the senior minister OF TINS dsnomna-
| ton in Richmond. For nineteen years he has
| gone in and cut among the people OF his con-
gregntlOn, and during ihis PERIOD nc mas seen hls
| meml ershiD grow from 100 10 l,3O2. lhls now
| with possibly ono exception. Is the largest white
| church in the South. Ga SuncaY morning he
| preached his anniversary sermon ana received
| ave into the membership OF the churcn. iht
| text OF his discourse, which WAS appropriate te
| the occasion, was, 81 am not ashamed OF the
| Gospe! OF Christ" The pastor III ths course Of
| his remarks gave some statistics OF his work du
ring the year then clo-ng IN mat time mere re
! mad been lS3 baptisms and 40 accessi0ns by
| Latter etc Eleven vi the mombers died during