Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-08

president of the Methodist New Connection
Church,
well If. in England the Methodists had taken
the advice of William Arthur given twenty
years ago to center all their resources upon
their system of primary schools. Many of his
points taken were on rather liberal ground,
and while what he had to say was frequently
and vigorously applauded there were number
OF his remarks that aroused rs vigorous cries OF
No, No"
He was followed by Rev. William Morley of
New Zealand. who was sent out years ago 20 do
missionary work and who spoke today interest
ingly of the progress of Methodism in the south
eastean part of the eastern section.
MR.. TRAVIS REMARKS.
Mr.. James Travis Of London also made few
supplementary remarks, in the course of which
he said that in his opinion altogether too much
stress was laid upon the opposition FROM the
established Church of England.
This received the enthusiastic Endorsement
Of the conference. aad. amid loud applause be
went on TO say that if the church went Oh in her
own Methodist way she had nothing to fear
from the opposition of the Church of Eng
gland, the encroachments of Romanism, nor
from all the combinations that might be made
on iside OF those churches.
BY this time the hour of 1890 had arrived,
and rs this was the time set by resolution OF the
business committee the morning session adj
journed ar promptly a. it had begun. after DIR.
explanation with reference TO certain statistics
that he had used in his essay, and to which ex-
eeption had been taken 10y some Of the later
speakers.
He said that they were the most accurate be
had been able &c obtain and that in any of
them were inaccurate 4 full opportunity would
be given for correction before they would be
submitted for final publication in the report OF
the proceedings of the conference.
THE ErwoRIH BIBLE.
Before the speaking began at the morning
session today Bishop Hurst made several inter-
esting announcements. one of which related to
the Bible tina: would be used during the ses-
slons of the conference.
This. he said. was the celebrated Epworth
Bible. used by the Wcsleys and for more than
a century IL use as pulpit Bible in the Epworth
Church This had come into the possession of
the Rev. W. II. Boole of West New Brighton,
s. l., and had been lent by him to the confer
ence.
The history of the book is a most interesting
one According to the story of George John
Stevenson of London. the antiquarian of Meth
odlsln. 1t runs about as follows:
The Rev. Samuel Wesley, AN, was APP
pointed rector OF Epworth at the end of the
year 1896 lie lived to enjoy tina. preterment
TIL the spring of the year 1875, period Of
nearly forty years During that whole period
the Bible used by him and by his curates
one of whom for some time was his son,
lDt rev JONI Wesley. Is tuls NOlunle- IL con-
tinued to be used in Epworth Church till about
the end of the reign of King George, when
another and smaller one took its place. and
this WAS preserved in the vestry. In Octo-
Der. 1884, the Rev. Robert Aitken, then
an exceedingly popular clergyman. preached
some special sermons in Epworth Church, and
on the following day Mr.. Sharp. church war
den OF the parish. presented this old Bible to
sir. AitHen. who Immediately on his arrival in
London gave the book to Mrs.
Smith, Youngest daughter of the Rev. DIR.
Adam Clarke. and when that lady died
this with other Wesley valuables was disposed
of 10 cover the costs Of her illness and funeral.
Tins Bible was bough: by the present writer,
6. }. Stevenson, as executor to Mrs. Smith.
On the blank leaf, opposite to st.
Matthew s gospel, Nh. Aiken has written
a. follows: This Bible was used in Epworth
Church by the Rev. Samuel Wesley. father of
the great and good John Wesley, during the
term Of his incumbency. 1t was presented to
mo by Mr. Sharp as most valuable relic Of
the Wesley family on nv visit to Epworth in
the month OF October. 1894. and its identity
most clearly attested by uuquestionabe
testimony.-R. AITKI.N."
The book is large one and in an excellent
state OF preservation. During the noon recess
TO-DAY it was left upon the reading desk and its
pages were turned by reverend. hands and ad
mired as a valuable relic OF Methodist history.
THE WESLEY CHAIR
Bishop Hurst also spoke this morning of the
memorial chair made of couple of beams
from the old City Road Chapel where John
Wesley preached, that were presented by Dr.
Stephenson. This is the chair of which a pic
tEre aud a complete account appeared in last
Saturdays STAR
The Afternoon Session.
The afternoon session today was devoted to n
consideration of the status of Methodism in
the new world, and of the four speakers who
treated that topic three we're bishops Of the
church in this country. the fourth prominent
doctor of divinity from Canada