The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-28

nothing further could have been desired.
But they didn't-they fell sadly short at
this point. Judge Perkins began all
right. but he fell at once, owing to ex-
cessive modesty, into the slough OF de-
spond. II would" he said, ''shat my
greetings might be such as to remove
whatever obstacles there are to harmo-
nious intercourse and to bring about a
closer cooperation between these two
churches; but | am not competent to
suoh a task,'' he observed, and, Of
course, since he thought he wasn't COM
petent, he was not; SO he launched off
into philosophical dissertation upon
the history, development and final des-
tiny of tho American citizen. And
Of both his visits, was DR.. Morris, for his
highest notch was, II can never by any
word or act OF mine separate the hearts
of these TWO churches which ought to be
at one." AT one,' was his expression,
not one; and he deliberately spoke of
heart union rather than the union OF
hands and forces; thus falling short Of
people in both sections would have been
glad TO hear him peal out on this subject
But DIR. Wilkinson, from England, and
DR.. johnson, from Ireland, were as
effusively fraternal as the most exaoting
could have wished. DR.. johnson said,
correcting phrase he had found ourl ent
in both Countries Don't say Great
Britain and America against the world,
but let it be Great Britain and America
for the world" DR.. Wilkinson observed
turthfully that he was scarcely in physi-
cal presence typical representative OF
John Bull. He was the farthest from
it, being the longest, lankest and least
assertive Englishin an that ever stood on
an American platform. t was great
drop in sustained eloquence from Morely
Pushon and Frederick Mcdonald to the
present representative Of British Wesley
anism. But DR.. Wilkinson is more orig :
inal than any Of his predecessors He Is
very slow, but he gets home finally with
telling points, and he is 50 brim full of
humor that his sermons, besides being
edifying, are as good as an entertain
nen5. Evidently, too, he sized up our
great American weakness for speechlnak-
ing. How could he sit two weeks in this
Conference and not do that? But he did
it; and when, in HIS Introduction, he
remarked upon his own diffidence in tax
ing the platform, and then said he didn't
think such position had any tragic ter
rorS for many of those before him, you
| may be sure that he brought down the
house In spontaneous OutbuIst OF Inn
penltent self-confession.
1t has happened more than once that
osCh ulIO Opouluk ucfOUlOuS udSc WoAA q
cast of humor. Two days in succession
men learned in Holy Writ. who so easily
| could have given variety to their seiec.
tions, read the same opening lesson. 1t
was when thes elections were drawing
nigh, and the only explanation of this
| coincidence Is that they wanted to read
| that which would be manifestly appro-
plate. And how very appropriate it was
when they read ''Let nothing be done
through strife or vain glory. Look not
every man on his own things, but every
man also on the things of others. Dc
all things without murm urings and de-
spitings, that ye may be blameless and
harmless" How very appropriate, too,
and what smile it provoked, when the
presiding bishops said hurriedly so often
at the close of "a woarisome session, "The
motion TO adjourn prevails-Praise God
from whom all blessings flow" 1t is
probable that all, with one exception, put
tins announcement into humorous form
without knowing it. But Bishop Fow.
Ter did it with set purpose. for he looked
sm1llngly at other smiling ones as he let
out the words, as much as to say, Those
are my sentiments exactly, and ! don't
care who knows it. Soon now. Will DC
announced the final motion to ADJOURN,
when. think, oil in attendance, and
many who are not in attendance, Will
sing the doxology as they have meyer
done before. Fl. L.