The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-30
THE EpWoRTHnEAGUE.
First International Conference COnvcnos
In CleVclnnh, Ohio.


In Cleveland, Ohio.
CLEVELAND, ONO, June 20.-To.day
marks an important era In the great
religious movements of tho present age.
1t is tho beginning oil tho first inter
national Epworth League conference to
be held hore to-day and tho following
three days. BY tonight 5000 delegates
were present.
at 9 o'clock Music hall presented q
lively appearance. The beautiful hall
was fairly covered with bunting and
graceful banners.
Mr.. Wilson NJ. Day, Of this city,
called the conference 10 order and in u
iow words OF hearty greeting welcomed
the visitors to the city in which tho Ep.
worth League was founded. Mayor
Robert Bleo was next introduced, aid
in an appropriate address extended n
cordial welcome in behalf Of the city.
Governor William Mckinley was rc'
ceived with prolonged applause as he
advanced and in his peculiarly happy
manner welcomed tho delegates in be-
half OF the state OF Ohio.
After extending the delegates warm
welcome, Governor Mckinley said,
among other things:
Tho league seeks to build up tho
moral nature aud to promote the intel
lectuai culture OF the youth OF tho land.
It looks after the heart and tho head Of
the young people and negleots neither,
1t is calculated to secure we'll rounded
manhood and womanhood. ltprovides
moral aud mental equipment; 1t engages
the mind with useful and olovating
thoughts. 1t unitos Righteousness and
reason, piety and patriotism and gives
strength and purity to the church and
to tho institutions Of the country
at Is not only II national, but an in.
tcrnationRl agency for good. The
whole world is its field. II has oGaced
all sectional lines within our own coun.
try aud embraces all nations and
tongues whore Christian altar Is
erected and tho songs Of John Wesley
arc sung. II has ignored all lines OF
the Methodist Church South and the
Methodist Church North; and tho
young people Of the Epworth League Of
both sections have joined in unbroken
union forever.
"What phenomenal growth you have
made since your organization tn this
city on tho 10Th OF May, 1889. You
have 1000 chapters OF the ,soniol
league with a membership OF 100000
and 400 Dunior leagues for tho little
children who in their tendOr years
Fdcdicate themselves to right living and
pure lito.
Every organization Of this kind Is q
mighty force for good, II Is an Oduca'
ton. 1t Is . teacher and school and
sanctuary. 1t lisa preparation Tor liio's
conflicts which nwai. us all, young OF
old. II ipaChOB individual lilo nnd
strongtheRs II for good.
"Roliglon aud morality Rro no longer
scolled at; no longer the badge oi weak
lings aud enthusiasts, but Of distinc
ton, enforcing respect oven from those
who do not believe In the Christian rc,
ligion. They Nrc the most prIcOles,
possessions which any man cat
have. They constitute n coin which
always passes current, which nothgl
dcprociaio, nor corrodcs, which Cann6
DO diScreltt0d and which always is IT
demand"
Responses were mado by Bishop A
". Wilson, OF the Methodist EpisCopa
Church, Southj Dr. a, Carman, genera
superintendent Of the MethgdisI
Church Of Canada, and Dlshop J5mpl
N. Fitzgerald, Of the NJ. Il. Church
This closed tho afternoon programme