The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-03

wanting to have Q special record made on
the Conference Journal that they had
voted in favor Of woman In the General
Conference.
The other propositions, in regard to
| changing the ratio representation In the
General Conference, making ths lay dele
gates more numerous than they now are,
and the ratio OF clergy less were also
tabled.
Equal ministerial and lay delegations is
what many are trying to secure by these
minds as to how this can be done with.
out making the General Conference 100
bulky altogether. IL ID fully large enough
now. At present the ratio OF representa-
| tion gives small conferences more dele
gates in the General Conferences than
larger ones, In proportion. Then again,
some hold that this 10 only fair compen-
| satiop for smaller conferences. because
large Conferences control the legislation
too much, already, In our great law
making body. Quite number want
| az increased, numerically In the General
Conference, All this agitation creates ar-
prehension that such legislation looks
too much toward congregationalism.
Bishop Foster had TO rap loud and
again and again, amid laughter, made
| over the blupder OF o brother VINO, In
speaking on these questions OF percen-
tsge of representation, favored a clerical
delegation OF two-tentbs and Q lay delega-
| tion OF one-nfth in the General Confer
ence; In reality this made equal represen-
tation.
Rev. II. A. Spencer, u. D.. of the
Church Extension Society, made an ad-
dress. He said the contributions for
church extension had increased last year
some $50, 600. He said he would smile on
any members OF the conference who did
not take their collections for church'ex-
tension, but he did not know as to
whether the Lord would smile on them.
BY vote OF the conference the class of
young men who will beadmitted TO the
conference will be examined tomorrow
by Bishop Foster at 10 m. Imme-
diateiy after they are examined tomorrow
the conference will vote for delegates to
the General Conference.
The class In studies Of the first year was
called up, Charles A. Purdy, ID. w.
Adams, j. Il. Johnson; ell of whom had
passed well In their studies. III. II.
Critchlon, J. Kirkendall, and G. II.
Allen passed.
The board Of conference home missions
made q report through w. j. Ward.
Eighteen hundred and ten dollars is the
amount that was distributed Ito be
raised) among the churches of the con-
ference. There Is balance of $3.50 in
the treasury OF the board now. The board
recommends to be raised next year $1,000.
Rev. DIR. Burt representing our mission
In Rome, Italy, was received with APP
plause. Italy Of today is different from
Italy of 30 years ago. Then she was In
bonds, now free and open TO the preachers
Of the gospel The last four years have
been years OF reaping the fruit Of early
sowing. The membership has increased;
one hundred have been converted In our
new hall in Rome In the past two months.
he building now being completed in
Romc-witn church, Sunday school room,
rooms for college study, residences for
the missionaries and workers, all are in
one princely building right in the best
part OF Rome So We have something
that will stay, come what will. high
authority OF the papacy said recently:
"These Methodists are giving us some
thing to think Of; they have individual
ity; are aggressive and they are conquer
ing, too" Yes, we are now felt through
the kingdom OF Italy. Wesleyan Method
ism uniting with US gives us a Theologi
cal Seminary; daily paper OF our own,
too.
The auccsss of our work in Italy means
success among the Italians In Americs.
A Mayor OF one place in Italy, on behalf
of the village people, sent to DIR. Burt for
q preacher as they did not want and they
would not have the priest any longer.
We have press, an industrial school, 3S
stations. and muc more to show we are
advancing. For ten years have labored
there, and salute you In the name of
the Lord, as Italy also salutes you.
To lead service this afternoon at 4
p. M: Rev. Z. Tirrell.
Frcedmau's Aid and Southern Educa-
tion.
THE REV. j. W. HAMILToN's GREAT
SPEECH.
On Wednesday evening, April /, was
held the anniversary of the above society.
W H.
Rev. ]. b. Bridgford aided In opening
pamphlet distributed through the
audience, with statistics and hymns for
the people to sing, also contained a re-
sponsive service and was finely prepared.
According to the pamphlet the society
poor whites 10 the South; A institutions
-theologicaL 1; collegiate, H.. and
teachers; students some 9oOo; value
of property, sl,s69, 500. Since the
society was organised in Aug, 1856,
Some four million students have been
graduated, going out to fill places of
merit and responsibility In teaching,
preaching, in business, the industries
and making homes.
In the 16 Southern states the popula-
tion Is %, ooo ooo; white, 16, 0oo 600; black.
1000, 600. Ten years of age and over 49,
read or write. The illiteracy, howeevr,
has lessened; among the whites from Is
per cent. to Ia per cent; among blacks
from 10 to 55 per cent.
Rev. j. W. Hamilton, ID. D., said:
"Jesus Christ was not an evolutionist, but
a revolutionist. War is an entiquated
thing. And yet we have II now. But
the nations, like China, who fight least
advance least. Jesus accomplishes his
great purposes through var, as i'm the
freedom of the slave. War is the wrath |
OF man. but God makes 1t praise him.
Macauley says Caesar. Alexander aud |
Napoleon We're the three greatest men
who ever lived. They were great, but they |
settled nothing as Christ has such things |
as civil and religious liberty, the curses |
OF serfdom, slavery, the suttee and Juger- |
naut ip India. He told OF the tramp and |
Englisp earl; the former proposed by a set |
fight to settle the claim TO the estates |
claimed by the earl. This IL the logic of |
brute force. Did we settle the problem |
OF slavery at Gettysburg? At Appomatox? |
We fought great foes. A little more TO /