Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-17

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the room, on the north side, there was
table at which the coffee was poured.
Both tables were exquisitely set and in
their adornment there was a profusion
of potted plants. There were about 800
people at table. The menu was as fol-
lows:
Broiled Oysters. Raw Oysters.
Chicken Salad.
Lady Finger Biscuits.
Finger Rolls.
Coffee.
While the collation. was being served
Grace Orchestra, 10 pieces, beautifully
played the following selections:
March, High School Cadets" 80. .Sousa
Riley and His Four Hundred" .Braham
.sambos Wedding "......... Benedict
Waltz, Andalucia," ...........L. II. There
Galop, ON the Sands .Puerner
Kentucky Jubilee Singers. ...... .Carnes
March "0n to Panama, Armstrong
From 8.15 to 1890 o'clock there was
reception in the church. The handsome
and capacious auditorium was thronged
and the pulpit was prettily decorated.
An immense bank of laurel hid the wall
of the alcove and formed striking
background for a large star shaped by
gas jets. Festoons of laurel hung from
the top of the alcove and palms and
Towering plants were grouped at the
edge Of the platform. In the absence of
William M. Field, the president OF the
board of trustees, Job II. Jackson pre-
sided.
The exercises were of an interesting
nature and began with "The Gloria"
from Mozarts Twelfth Mass, which was
charmingly sung by chorus of so
voices, representing all the Methodist
churches in the city, directed by H. A.
Bradtield. Organ accompaniment was
furnished by George N. Maris. The
next selection was the hymn, 30 for
Thousand Tongues to Sing" following
the rendition of which prayer was
offered by the Rev. w. l.. S. Murray,
ID. d., presiding elder of Wilmington
district. Next the hymn GAN Hail the
Power of Jesus Name" was sung.
An address was delivered by Mr..
Jackson after he had read the following
dispatch from Mr.. Field, who is. in
California:
Welcome, thrice welcome, Wilmington
NJ. Il. Conference to Grace Church. May
grace, mercy and peace reign over all its
deliberations. WILLIAM NJ. FIELD,
Chairman.
Mr.. Jackson said:
| regret that Mr.. Field, the chairman of
the board of trustees, is not present to pre-
side. 1t is, however, to me delightful
privilege to preside at gathering of the
members of Grace Church to greet and
welcome the members of the Wilmington
Conference.
We have been looking forward to this
time with pleasure in having such body
of Christian ministers meeting in our
church and city. and having you in our
homes as our guests, believing that your
coming and presence will advance the
cause of Christianity in our community,
and that the influence of the conference
would be Il power for good in our city, our
churches and our homes.
You can and am sure you will make it
such and we laymen will stand by you and
work with you in every effort you may
make or movement you may inaugurate
for the advancement of the cause you
represent as teachers and ministers of the
gospel.
We will, therefore, be interested in all
your deliberations and actions. The interest
will not be confined TO us as Methodists;
our fellow-workers of the other branches
of the Christian church of our city will
watch closely all your deliberations. Then
gatherings and the eagle eye OF the press
will be upon your every action, and will
spread every morning and evening your
proceedings before a multitude of readers,
many of whom will be only too glad to
find reason to criticise you unfavorably.
We laymen are jealous of the interests
of our church and are anxious for its pros
perity. May we not look to you in this
session of the conference to send joy to
our hearts and prosperity to our common
Methodism. AT the conclusion of these
remarks he introduced the Rev. John Y.
Dobbins, ID. d., who delivered an address
of welcome.
DR.. Dobbins said the gathering OF the
members of the conference was antici-
pated by the people of Grace Church
and the Methodists OF the city with feel
ings of the intensest nature. He spoke
of the relation of Grace Church to the
conference and alluded to the 25th
anniversary of the church. II was an
outgrowth of the conference, he said,
and it was not inappropriate that he, as
pastor of the church, should speak
words of welcome TO those who nave
come here. He would not welcome
them to Grace Church as ours so much
us theirs. The roots of Grace Church
run back to Ashury, the mother church.
Many of Grace's members were converts
of Asbury and st. Pauls churches. at
gives me pleasure to utter words of
welcome" he added, "not perfunctory
words but words that spring out
of our hearts. bid you well
come. This church is yours !;
make yourselves welcome within its
walls. You have come to community
characterized by peacefulness. We are
happy people here, very quiet people.
Some of you might think we are too
quiet but it is not the quietude of death.
It is the tranquility of godly affection.
1t gives me peculiar pleasure to welcome
the ministers because my coming here
was characterized by so much cor
diality. / am glad have the oppor-
.unity to pay back the hospitality Of the
members of Wilmington Conference. /
pray that Gods divinest blessing may
rest on you. Welcome, welcome, you
are very welcome! Enter our homes,
learn to love our people and our prayer
is that when you leave you may take
Gods blessing with you and leave a
benefcent influence. Welcome to you
all ~
Bishop E. G. Andrews, D. D.. LII. D.,
who is presiding over the conference,
made appropriate response. After
speaking of the warmth of the recep1