The evening times., 1897-10-29

BALTIMORE, Oct. 29.--The hoard of bish
ops of the Methodist Episcopal Church. who
are holding their seui-annual meeting a
Mount Vernon Place Church, were last even
ing rendered a reception in that church
The edifIce was thronged with Methodist
from an parts OF the city, the ministry
l,eing especially well represented. NAM
OF those present remained after The eX
eroises, to ,se presented TO the highesl
dig int aries IN the Methodist church.
within the ciancel, which was adorned
with vases filled with vsri-colOred chrys
anthe.uuIus were seated the bishops
Tney INCLUDED Bishops inonias bowman
Il. s. Foster, :. NJ. Merrill, Edward q
Andrews John F. Hurst, J. NJ. Walden
W MallalieU, c. II. Fowler, Js y. Fltz
gerald, ). z. Newmau, ID. A. Goodsel, c
C. McCabe, Earl Cranston, William
NInde and John n. Vincent. The two last
named arrived ia the city yesterday while
Bishop ncnry W Warren, of Denver the re
manning member OF the board who win take
part in this mco ting, il expected to reach
Baltimore toda Y.
Addresses of welcome Were made by DR..
Henry NJ. Wilson and Rev. h. :. France,
president of the preachers meeting, the
f-rnteT on behalf OF the laity and the latter
on behalf Of the ministry. Mayor Hooper
welcomed the bishops 10 the city aud prayer
was 20 Tered by Bishop Alpheus W. Wilson
of the Methodist Epistopal Church South.
Between tie addresses the congregation
Jmitcd ia singing hymns. After TIE pro
gram had been completed those in the church
advanced toward the chancel, and as they
passed from the east to the west side were
introduced 20 tie bishops, who gave all n
hearty haadshake, and with some held 4
brief conversation.
Or. Wilson pfefaced his address Of vel
come by tile statement that Rev. Or. Jo-
scph =. Smith, the pastor OF tie church,
hadinteI ded to perform that pleasant dut y.
but owing TO a slight indispOsition, was
unable to Ieave his home. Said Dr. WI
sDl:
Il haze heeH directed by the members
OF the congregation OF Mount Vernon Place
Church t0 extend to YOU most cordial
welcome. Though thlngs have changed
IN the Methodist Church, il cannot tut Ia
tcrest 70. to test awhile where BISHOP As
bury touched the button which brought
about the change. We welcome you ais
to our homes, but, leSides our homes, ]
bid vou welcome 20 our hearts. Your work
is onerOus ana your position trying one
Higher criticism does not stop II the
Peutateuch. You are surrounded hy loya
Mefhodists who are firm in their faith
with hearts Of adamant against any change
an its doctrine. We turn to YOU as eX
XIn a.s4rp p
plan for another advance; may You be-
divincl, assisted aud sustained
''On hehalT of nay feliO w-Tninisters. -
said Rev. H. s. France Il extend to you
o coidiai welcome to a city famed for it,
hospitality. A taste of genuine Balti-
moIc Methodist hoSpit ality will last "A
long time" After reviewing Meth0disn
and its purposes. Rev. Mr.. France con-
tmued; The strength OF Methoiism Is
in the pulpit. MvttodiSts VIII never for
get tie services OF their ministers. The
pulpit is our throne and nothing can be a
substitute. Whatever shall usuTp its place,
or tend to pull it down from itS hisa place
shall bc a POSITIVE loss.
In introducing him self. Mayor Hooper
It'd tie bishops he had not come To greet
them asa Methodist, though hei> q mem
her Of that faith, but ar ma yor II Balti
more. lie sud. i'm part: Il believe the
machinery OF Metho.lism is the one calcii-
lated to est tablish ia the world the best
Esciai relations. / am here to &tsnd tu
you a hearty welcome 10 our city. ] Lave
welcomed SO many conventions tina; find
IL quite difficult 10 have a new speech for
each one. But can say tie citizens of
BaltiEgore are glad TO have you with them
il is q stimulus TO our social life. -
Bishop Randolph 5. Foster, I'm responding
said that the bishops had always regarded
baltimore a the heart, the Kernel OF Meth
odism, and said they rejoiced when they
thought OF coming here TO fix up their plan
for episcopal visitation and TO consider the
condition of the church.
The address of Bishop MCCabe was inter
rupted by frequent applause. After re
ferring TO the present membership OF the
church he said: Il hope that MethodisIn
VIII unite before the end OF the century.
century. I believe it is coming, and hope
il viii come in my day i trust the time
is not far distant when the soIis of John
Wesley VIII be united and there VIII be
no Southern nor Northern churches, hut
all one. l have found Baltimore Meth
odists everywhere, and If you could bring
them all home for one week OF tha nks-
giving it would be magnificent. There are
only three denominations in the United
States which have membership which
equals our gain during the past twelve