The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-01
OPENING OF conference
Bin9hamton the Scene Of the Gather
ing Of the Methodist Hosts.
THE PRELIMINARY SESSIONS
They Were Held Yesterday Afternoon
and Last Nisht-ArraMgeinents for the
Funeral Of Presiding Elder Wood.
ruff This MOrnins At IL O'Clock.

BinghamtOn, March II 3l.-Everything Is
ready for the annual session of the
Wyoming conference, which convenes
here at = o'clock tomorrow morning. The
visiting clergymen and lay delegates ar
rived today, and as fast as they
came to the meeting place, the Cen
tenary church. they We're escorted to
their boarding places. Bishop John
Vincent arrived at 3 O'clock in the af
ternoon from New York. DR.. A. Il.
Leonard, corresponding secretary OF
the Missionary society; DR.. j. +. Berry.
editor OF the Epworth Herald; Rev X.
w. Rogers, of Drew Theological SEM
mary; Rev. NJ. S. Hard, Rev. W. c. h,
Mason, DR.. j. NJ. Buckley. editor of the
Christian Advocate: DR.. j. l.. e.. Saw
Yer, editor of the Northern Christian
Advocate; Chancellor Day. of Syracuse
university; and President Raymond, of
Wesleyan university, are also in the
city and expect to remain throughout
the entire session.
Methodism has full sway. Every
house. no matter with what denomnna-
tion the occupant Is identified, has been
thrown wide open for the visiting dele
gates and Binghamton people are ex-
erting every effort TO make the "strang-
er within the gates" feel that he is
welcome and that his visit is appreciat-
ed. There is only one thing to mar
the pleasure that Is usually experienced
on such occasions, and that is the
death of Presiding Elder Woodruff On
all sides expressions of SORROW are
heard as we'll as words of sympathy
for the bereaved family The death
has cast gloom over the gathering
that can not be dispersed. and will pre-
wade every meeting and gathering dur
ing the session.
EXAMINATION OF CLASSES.
Today was given up entirely to
the examination of classes They were
completed hate In the afternoon. Be-
fore the examinations were commenced
u short session was held which was
opened by devotional exercises con-
Quoted by DR.. q. A. Place, chairman of
, the committees. after which Secretary
| Rev. A. ID. Dack called the roll and
| read the minutes of the session of la st
| year. All but four of the candidates
| In the various years was present, while
the following tried for positions on
| trial: q. NJ Bell. W. II. BergWin, q. II.
| Burt, Gilbert ID. Fisher, John Hum
| phreys, ID. s. McKellar. Il. j. Vaughn,
+. W. Young. Albert Clark and ID. l..
| Meeker. The examinations were con-
Quoted by the committees mentioned in
saturdays issue Of The Tribune
-! This evening from Z, until & o'clock a
reception was-~tenderea, by the City
union of EpwOrth leagues to Bishop
Vincent; Presiding Elders Rev. IL. NJ.
! Crydenwise, Rev. j. G. Eckman, Rev.
A. j. Van Cleft, Rev. George Forsyth
| and Rev. w. l.. Thorpe. and all the
| members of the conference Although
| 1t lasted but q short time, the visitors
nj al lpao 1.,
come reception. certainly did at that
time. The rooms We're tastefully dec
Grated The bishop was one of the CEN
| tral figures and an opportunity to shake
| the hand OF the reverend gentleman
was eagerly sought by young and old
EXERCISES OF THE VETERANS.
| Ats O'Clock all adjourned to the aud
| itorum where the anniversary eXercis-
es of the veterans were held. The
| seating capacity, although large. was
taxed and many were obliged to stand
| Rev. +. a. King. of Taylor, Pa. pre-
| sided and introduced Colonel Samuel
A. trquhart of West PittstOn, who de-
llvered his famous and very interesting
lecture on the subject Number Ninety
three" The meeting was attended by
about two hundred and fifty old SOL
| diers. members of the local Grand Army
seats in the center of the auditorium.
The stars and stripes were much in
evidence and this fact together with
| the stirring words of the colonel and
| the hearty patriotic songs moved the
veterans perceptably The address of
| Mr.. urquhart was a mastery effort
and was listened to with the closest
| of attention.
The session proper will begin at 9
| ~ rln ton l.
| session at which time the roll of dele
gates and pastors will be called and
the officers for the ensuing year will
be elected. There appears to be no op-
position to Rev. Il. Il. Olmstead being
reelected secretary. He will undoubt-
| edly again receive this honor and Rev.
Hugh C.. McDermott will undoubtedly
be again chosen treasurer. At this
time the standing committees will be
announced and the reporters for the
Christian Advocate and the Northern
Christian Advocate will be appointed
Just before the business session holy
communion will be celebrated under
the direction of Bishop Vincent AT 9
o'clock statistical session will be held,
while at O'Clock Rev. j. A. Faulkner
will deliver lecture on "HistOrical
Preparation for Methodism."
In the evening the anniversary of the
Church Extension society will be cele-
brated. Rev. ]. A. Faulkner presiding.
Addresses will be delivered by Rev.
Leonard c. MurdOck. on the "Relation
of Peace to Permanency:" by Rev.
Curtis +. Mogg, on "The Nations De-
mand in Promoting Morals" and by
| Rev. Manley S. Hard, on Methods in
Projecting Influence"
FUNERAL OF DIR. WOODRUFF.
The funeral services Of the late Rev.
DIR. James o. Woodruff will be held to-
morrow morning at IL o'clock from the
late residence. and at 11.3O o'clock from
the Centenary church. The services
will be attended by upwards of two
hundred ministers and by lay dele
gates from each of the local churches
appointed for such an object. The SER
vices at the house will be private. but
those at the church will be open to the
public. The funeral will be promi-
nent one. not only because OF the large
number of ministers who will attend,
but because of the fact that Bishop
Vincent will have charge OF the SER
vices. He will be assisted by Rev.
Austin Griffin. financial agent for the
Preachers Aid society; Rev. Levi l..
Sprague, of Wyoming seminary. and
/ George s. Bennett. of Wilkes. Barre.
The body will be taken to Forty Fort,
Pa. for burial. The body will be es-
corted to the depot by procession
made up In the following order: Lay
men. members of the conference men,
bers of the district. honorary pail bear
ers, Wyoming Quartette, hearse. Of
ticiating clergymen and carriages con-
tanning the family
The pail bearers will be Rev. r. f..
4 Hall. Rev. T.. B. Olmstead. Rev.
Charles II. Newing, Rev.. II. II. Will
ber, Rev.rJ w. Nicholson, Rev. j. II.
Faulkner and Rev. w. J. Hill. The
honorary pail bearers will be the re-
naming presiding elders, Rev. J. q.
Eckman, Rev. II. M. Crydenvise. Rev.