The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-19
Ministers From all the North
West Now in the City.
RECEPTION LAST NIGHT
Bishop Bowman and Several Other
Prominent NJ. E. Churchmen De-
livered Interesting Ad-
dresses.

church in UppertoWn was crowded with
'Methodists and others who went there to
welcome the visiting members Of the
Northwest Danish and Norwegian Con-
ference, and particularly Bishop Bow
man, the senior bishop of the Methodist
Episcopal church in America. The church
h1d been very prettily decorated for the
occasion by Pastor Nordvig and his peo-
pie, and the proceedings throughout were
fun of interest.
On the Platform in addition to Rev.
Mr.. Nordvig were Bishop Bowman, Rev.
Mr.. Hurlbert (chief of the Sunday school
division of the NJ. Il. church,, and sew
eral other pastors. The following men,
hers of the conference were present:
Bishop Bowman, st. Louis; Presiding
Elders Revs. G. j. Larsen, San Francisco;
c. N. Hauge, Helena, Mont; e. j. Lun-
dergard, Seattle, Wash; NJ. Nelson, Port
land, Or. NJ Hanse, Portland, Or; p.
Walby, Butte, Mont; p. M. Ellerson,
Everett, Wash. NJ. J. Wage, Fairhaven,
Wash; August Peterson, Portland Or;
o. Haagen, Aberdeen, Wash; j. Thorn
ason, Kelso, Wash; N. l.. Hansen, Great
Fails, Mont; ]. Jacobsen, Oakland, CAL;
j. Anderson, Tacoma, Wash.
Rev. H. o. Nordvig, in a few vigorous
words of welcome, announced his pleas
Bowman and the visiting delegates and
expressed the hope that the conference
would result in an uplifting of the In
terests of the Methodist Episcopal church
among the Norwegians of the Northwest.
Rev. j. w. Bushong then came for
ward and said:
Most Honored and Beloved Bishop Bow
man, Brethren of the Conference and
Friends, Greeting!
L count myself most happy to be per-
mitted to stand upon this platform, in
this presence tonight to extend WEI
come to this body of men and women
to our little, but very hopeful city.
l know of no cllss of men and women
to whom 1 would rather extend such a
welcome than to a body OF Methodist
ministers and their wives.
1 think i can safely say L know of no
c,ass of men, for their numbers, who
are doing so much for the uplifting of
the race, as that of the Methodist min
sitry!
Neither do know cf any body of men
more loyal to their convictions Of right
and duty.
Neither do 1 know Of any body of men
ard women who are more self-sacrfic
ing in the discharge of their duties.
The days of heroic service for the Mas
ter are not those alone of the early
"Ploneer Preachers" but they can be
found all along this northwest coast.
There are preachers before me tonight,
and with families, too, who have done
heroic, uncompalining service during the
past year for less than $500. Mind you,
these ealme men could have earned very
comfortable living in some secular en-
p,oyment; but they chose rather to suf-
fer with a meagre support in the Mas
ter's service than in luxury out of it.
Therefore beloved, 1 take the greater
pleasure in extending to you most
hearty welcome TO our city, our homes,
and our hearts Welcome, thrice well
come, all.
1 want to speak for you an unusually
good time during your stay in our midst.
You will, think, find many things
here gotten up upon a grand and great
scale. Here is the majestic Columbia,
some seven miles wide opposite this
church, bearing upon it's bosom the COM
merce of all nations.
Here in sight of this church are the
lofty peaks of the coast range, ever tell
ing us of the Mighty Hand that formed
them.
And the Great Pacific, whose health
giving waters are ever washing the feet
of our city, and her breezes send coursing
through every vein their life-gving cur
rents. Al of these are ever reminding
us that there Is no place for Httleness
here.
And my observation and experience
with the people of ASTORIA has been that
they have caught the lesson and in
spir,ition of their environments more
generous and hospltable people 1 never
associated with.
And now dear and venerable Bishop
Bowman take special pleasure in ex-
tending TO you and through you to this
conference the right hand of fellowship
and welcome, and viii ever pray for your
future peace and happiness.
1 do this more cheerfully because l
know:
1--WE all rartake the JOY of one;
The common peace we feel;
A peace to sensual minds unknown
And If our fellowship beow.
In Jesus be SO sweet,
What heights of rapture shall we know
When round his throne we meet"
Rev. C. j. Larsen. of California, in re-
ply to the welcome of the two Astoria
pastors, spoke in u most interesting man
ner. He closed his remarks by saying:
"If anybody had told me fifteen years
ago when we built the first church on
the Pacific Coast, at Oakland, that we
should be met in conference here to-
night, representatives of a great section
of our church, and presided over by the
senior bishop of the denomination,
would hardy have be.iered him. But
within that short space of time hun
dreds of thousands of people who have
settled down west of the Rockies have
Joined our army and enrolled themselves
under our banner"
Rev. DIR. Hurlbert. secretary of the
Methodist Sunday school system of Amer
lea, and superintendent of all NJ, f.
Sunday schools, followed with few
words. He said that though he had
spoken in almost every state AMI terrific
ry of the union, he had never before
had the pleasure of addressing an audi
ence in the Pacific Northwest, nor had
ne ever been further from his New York
office on the American continent than
ne was at present He commented at
SONS length on the broad character and
lofty ambitions of the Methodist church
and showed how its plans covered every
phase OF civilization. Some denomina-
tions made specially as 1t were OF
hospitals some OF educational growth,
others of orphanages and charitable in
stitutions But the Methodist church
had every one OF these appendages. and
attached equal Importance to al. Some
denominations c1tered to the higher
classes of society. others TO the great /
middle c.ass and stun others, like the-
Salvation Army. TO the very lowest. The I
NJ. f. church on the other hand. reached I
right down through all the social Levels. |
It's Plans were wide and they stretched 4
Ground the. world. Tiers were pastors :
spreading the gospel under the nag OF /
Methodism in eleven different lang iages
In this country atone. Dr.. Hu-lbert in
conclusion said; There are more 4
schools and colleges under our control /
than IN any two other denominations j