The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-26
The Twentieth Annual Session
Opened Yesterday
EXTRAORDINARY INTEREST
Wesley's Empire Stands Today Glisten-
ing in the Sunlight
The Question eff Admitting Women to the
General Conference Is One of the
Central Features


conference of the Methodist Episcopal
church opened here today. There are two
things which make this session of more
than ordinary interest. Three ministe.
rial and two lay delegates will be elected
to attend the general conference which
is to be held in Cleveland o., May. 1896.
The second impo rtant matter to come
up before this session will be the ques-
tion of admitting women to the general
conference. A vote will be taken and
consensus of opinion gathered from all
the district conferences and sent to the
general conference, which will decide
tine matter. This is question that has
haunted the general conference for u
number of years, and like Ban quos
ghost, will not oown.
The opening of the regular session was
preceded by reception last evening to
Bishop H. ". Warren. whc presides at
the conferences. The reception was very
largely attended by the ministers, laymen
and citizens, and a most heart Welcome
extended to the mem bers OF the confer
ence. of whom there are about $50 pres
ent. After some time spent in social in
tecronrse Hon. p. NJ. Green introduced
Mayor Cox, who made a brief address
of welcome on the part of the city. fol-
lowed by Judge M. G. Hester, speaking
for the local M. Il. church. Judg, II ester
referred to the growth OF the city from a
sheep ranch scarcely mere than twenty
years ago to beautiful city OF over 10,-
600 inhabitants today. In that period
the Methodist church organized here had
grown to q membership at present of
II. a -,
valued at about $50, 900, and was now plan
ming to build still larger and more
costly church edifice.
Rev. w A. Knighten of Los Angeles
then spoke words of greeting and well
come to Bishop Warren. who replied in a.
happy manner and then an opportuni ty
was given for all to meet the bishop, the
evening closing with Misunderstanding all
around IN good old Methodist style.
The regular workof the sessions opened
this morning with devotional exercises
at $50 a. M, followed by an address by
Bishop Warren on the worK OF the session
and the work of the ministry. Then
the Lords Supper was administered by
the presiding elders OF the conference.
At 80 the conference was called to or.
der by the bishop for its first business
meeting, and the Ioll cali showed large
proportion of the members already pres
ent. Secretaries and standing commit
tees were then appointed, and the time
for election of delegates to the general
conference was set for Friday at 10 a. m
Reports of the presiding elders of the
different districts were then heard.
Rev. W. \. Knighten was elected fra
tenral deleagte to visit the Los Angeles
conference Of the Methodist Episcopal
chucrb south and extend to that body
the greetings Of the conference.
The afternoon session was devoted to
statistics.
conference are: Bishop II. w. Warren,
DR.. J. D. Harmon, San Francisco; DR..
Homer Il. Jaton. New York; DR.. A. Q.
Williams, G. S. Chase, George W. White.
Los Angeles E. W. Cswell, presiding elder
of San Diego; Pr. $. A. Thomson,
Freson; Dr. W. S. Matthew. editor OF the
Christian Advocate, San Francisco.
The evening session was opened by the
reading of scripture lesson by Rev. A.
G. Williams. followed by a prayer from
Rev. |. j., Spencer.
The choi then sang an anthem, en-
titled Seek Ie the Lord.
The duet by Miss Bolinger and Mr..
Will Edwards was we'll rendered and ap-
preciated.
Pew. Isaac Jewell, D. D.. then ad-
dressed the audience upon the subject
vi church extension. He ma o a strong
appeal to the ministers to see that this
society received proper attention and
systematic contributions. He said in
part:
II believe that the foundations and
structures of the Church Extension So
ciety are strong, true and loyal. AS soon
as we lack confidence We will fail to
contribute. If We have confidence IN
the men in control OF the interests of the
society, We Will contribute and if neces-
sary make sacrifices. The church ex-
tensions foundation is built upon truth
and honesty. Over thirty years OF or
ganjzed effort shows what has been &C
omrlshed. The amount OF money that
has been received up to date is IS, $685. Cos.
and 81, 1851 churches have been aided.
What does this mean? This menas that
nearly 10000 societies. Sunday schools,
Epworth leagues have been aided. The
nation itself rises up and calls us blessed
for the grand work we are doing.
Our conference last year raised S405,
decrease of $37. We are apportioned this
year S2000 the amount authorized is
$1,000. If there IS any conference that
ought to be grateful to the Church Extern
sion society it is the Southern California
conference. We owe the board $50. 600 in
principal and interest.
Many a church in Southern California
would not have been in existence. or
having existed would not be able to live,
were it not for the assistance from the
society.
There is great need for Christianity on
tine Pacific coast. There is great diver
sity OF civilization, representing a great
MANY idezs and isms. The church comes
to clarity the intellect and convert the
soul.
Our church extension is loyal to our
commonwealth. 1t is loyal to our educa-
tional sy stem. 1t does not plague iegis-
latures tor class educational legislation.
1t is also loyal to the nation. | am glad
that | am identified with a church that
never threw dust at the old flag of the
nation. (Appause.)
Last year was an exceedingly hard one.
Old panc's ugly eyes gazed upon us and
took away many gifts. Cyclones caused
churches. and houses to disappear. Fac
tories nd machinery stopped. But not
outstanding all this, our church last
year poured into our Church Extension
Golfers S137. 600. Coming as it did In
pennies from the infant class, in hun.
dreds of dollars from the rich ! regard
the gift of last year as supreme.
Every church we build is an enemy of
anarchy and the rum traffic. There is
nothing that will have such power to
cleanse the nation as the church of God,
John Wesley, in investing $3.50. 600 in
erecting chapels and organizing churches,
has built the greatest empire ever known.
Alexander's empire is gone. Napoleon's
empire is II thread. Wesley's empire
stands today glistening IN Gods sunlight,
and has no sunset.