The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-19
GENEROUS TO THE PAGANs
GIVES CREDIT TO THOSE WHO
SEEK THE TRUTH.
Rev. F. G. Lee Of Reno, New, Slated
for the Passionate OF the Califor-
nia-Street Church In San
Francisco.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

| TINS more eager 10 learn IN what lines
their lot is to be cast for the coming year,
and this eagerness is the harder to re-
press since 1t has become known that
practically all the appointments have
been decided upon already. No one knows
positively what these appointments are
to be except the Bishop and the presiding
elders, and they guard their secret with
Jealous care. 1t really seems that they
enjoy giving their ministerial brethren
this season Of painful anxiety. for with
the tact of trained diplomatsts they
s a this line hnes About e the Only Change
that Is positively known to the conference
at large Is that Rev. r. c. Lee of Reno.
ifornia street Church in San francisco.
! DR.. Lee stands very high In Methodism.
and the conference is congratulating II
self upon so valuable an acquisition to Its
| Conference business was. Of course. sus-
| pended for to-day, but much was done
h Say dafss 70
began at 8 o'clock this morning and con-
tinued with scarcely break until after
| ~ o clock tonight.
The first event was the annual confer
ence Love Feast" SO dear to the heart
Of the preacher, which was led by Rey.
ID b pD of San fhe C Conferences
sermon at II o'clock, which was preached
by the Right Rev. Bishop John Fletcher
Hurst. DIP LIP. of washington ISM gf.r -; e.
An audience that filled the main audito-
rum of the NJ. E. church and Its two
large annexes and then STOOD IN alsles
and along the walls greeted this eminent
man when he arose to speak. NotWint ,n
standing the immense crowd and the dis
comfort in the position Of many nor ia
building but the resonant voice OF tne
Bishop and an occasional fervent Metho-
dist Takap Acts rSm 4 they Should
seek the Lord, If haply they might feel
after him, and find him. though he be not
far from every one Of US, as ms TEX;
great search for truth and perfection,
speaking in effect as follows:
There is more fitting illustration OF the
sublime in all history than Paul on Mars Hill
minating division between Paganism and
Christianity, from which have issued streams rs
had long been the custom of learned men to
come TO Athens, the seat OF all learning OF that
s Wise me aai had adu heard Of him and his new
teachings. They sent for him and were fas-
cinated by his subtle speech. They took him n,
the presence of supreme Judges enunciate his
new doctrine that al men are one In Christ.
Christ. who was truth.
| As Paul stood there, surrounded by all the
glories and wonders Of Athens: he was not
| effected by the great events Of history they
represented. but continued to declare unity
| of race and unity of savior All men had
sought truth Much of the history of human
| ity can be found in these wild wanderings
| after truth. all Of which should command our
respect whether they be those of Paganism
and idolatry or those of later and better men.
like Mohammed The world , had been been LED 10
| impostor. for with all his ethical faults, his
sins against morality. his superstitions Pc
| aueathed to heirs of his beliefs. he was the
| first man TO abandon idolatry. the first to be
! convinced of the existence OF one dod only
| and to teach such conviction.
| The same truth may apply to other Pagan
| faiths, and there are points to be commented
the faith OF 4e
| the best light they knew, struggling with all
| their powers after the real truth. and. just as
less p pearl reaches and hopes for the best. and
! on coming again to the surface may ma ms
| hands full Of sand and worthless weeds If
| they have failed to find the pearl of truth they
! should not be blamed for what they could not
! help ,,,,,s. 90
the truth we come upon such examples as
| Aristotle and Plato. Plato came very nea.
| the truth in his remarkable doctrine that God
could come down to men and men rise up To
| God doctrine that was a scintiliation from
ers Of the middle ages called him the fifth
| evangelist There is. however no part OF the
Christian Bible that does not eclpse ine f :,
| true Recent archaeological and other sclen-
thc research has proved 1t 50 clearly that even
| infdel minds must acknowledge IL, ina. Inc
| Bible is no NEUROLOGICAL story.
Among the most recent discoveries confirming
Bible history is that of some Of the treasure
Chambers in which Joseph stored corn against
the coming of EEypt's great famine. There is
not single I Part o. b tne tablets of stone or
papyrus documents.
Another object of the worlds great search
| ia the perfect character. and reviewing all the
worlds immortals we find not one without a
bIemish until we come TO the man OF Naza.
| reth He was a perfect character. the first
great answer to the worlds search for truth.
in whose career there is not one word or deed
| that might be other than 1t was. In describ-
ing this wonderful character four gospels sup
plement each other. Matthew was commissioneo
to paint picture Mark Looked ys at .ne
| and ne added bits of color here and there en-
phasizing Matthews work Luke. more minute
| filled In details, supplying action and new ef-
| fects: while John glorified the whole with
something of the divine.
At p. M ordination services were con-
a ssbep ~ s H. Taylo aa Rev a prs W
| IIrmy. w. s. Matthew, @. P. Mains, 9. G.
Gale, E. E. Dodge, A. II. Needham. e. r.
Ollie. A b Wilson and j. hs N Be az abe
conference Edward H.. Mackay. Fay
Donaldson and Edward l.; Snowdon,
candidates for deacons orders. Ihese
men took their solemn vows according TO
the Methodist Episcopal church ritual
and the Bishop, placing. his hands on the
heads of each, gave them authority to
church of God and to read the. Holy
Scriptures in the church of God and teach
and preach the same
Dr. Needham then presented Leslie M
Burwell. Frank Hindson, William A.
Kennedy and William Marshall, men who
had completed four years of probation
and were now candidates for full and
final orders as elders Of the Methodist
church. These young men took more
solemn and more binding vows than those
taken by the deacons. and were ordained
and consecrated by the imposition OF the
hands of Bishop Hurst and seven Other
fathers in the church and given authority
to administer the sacraments OF the
church.
Then In behalf of the conference ant
Methodist church throughout the worll
!. the Bishop gave them the brotherly hand
The service was impressive.
Two deaconesses Misses Holbrook and
Harvey, were presented for conservation
and at the conclusion of this ceremony
the conference. kneelng, sang Take m,
life and let It be consecrated. Lord, t
. thee"
At the 6 p. m. conference the Epworti
League anniversary was celebrated; Rev
E. p. bennett, president of the Californf;
| Epworth League. presided, introducing
as speakers of the evening Rev. DR.
Jesse L. Hurlbut, secretary of the Ameri
can Methodist Sunday-school Union, ant
Rev. DR.. George P. Mains of New York
, To-day's programme included anothe
: anniversary celebration. that of the Con
I ference Missionary Society, its president
2 Rev DIR. F. r. Masters presiding and Al