The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-24
METHODIST CONVENTION
Interesting Sessions Held at Har-
risburg-Brilliant Sermon by
Bishop Foss.

| Harrisburg, Oct. 23.-Grace church,
where the Pennsylvania state conven-
| ton of the Methodist Episcopal church
is being held, has a history of its own.
| 1t is the edifice occupied by the state
legislature after the burning of the
capitol and during the time interven-
ing before the erection of the new state
| buildings. Last year it was renovated
and purified" and finally re-dedicated
| to the worship of God. 1t is a very
| within the tones of green, with the rich
walnut paneling. make a beautiful in
| terror. A gothic screen in the rear Of
| the pulpit is surmounted by colossal
| painting by the wel-known artist
Grouse of New York. representing the
Alteration of the Shepherds.
There was a long row of black Goa ted
personages on the platform at the first
session, but towering above them all.
even Bishop Foss, with his patriarchal
beard, was Governor Stone, looking not
in the least unlike the ministerial
brethren. in his long frock coat.
Rev. DR.. j. w. Hill, pastor of Grace
church, made a fine address of well
come.
The speech of Rev. DR.. f. II. Yocum,
presiding elder of the Harrisburg dis
trict, was especially enjoyed.
DR.. l.. l.. Sprague, of Wyoming semi
nary, made one of the great addresses
of the evening. and in referring to a
former welcome in 1862, when Lees
army threatened the North and when
Harrisburg welcomed the state militia
called out by Governor Curtin, drew a
strong parallel between the danger of
today in the vitals of society. The cir
| cumstances in the nineteenth century
warrants the coming together of the
representatives OF Methodists in the
great state of Pennsylvania.
Ex-Governor Pattison was the only
speaker who received applause on his
appearance on the platform. but then
he is q Methodist. and it helped him to
many votes in this Republican state.
| He Is Just as big and good looking as
ever, but his hair is, alas! growing
| thin on the top. He recalled the fac.
| that the last state convention of
| Methodists was thirty years ago, and
his father was its secretary.
DR.. Austin Griffin, DR.. w. G. Simp-
son, of Asbury church, and DR.. Sprague
| were present Monday night.
The devotional exercises at the Sec
| ond session of the Methodist conven-
| tion opened with devotional exercises,
| conducted by DR.. q. ID, Pennypacker,
| of Williamsport, Bishop Foss preached
| a brilliant sermon, fulAof encourage
| ment. The text was from Esther, 4:10,
who knoweth whether thou art come
to the kingdom for such time as
| this?" The sermon was a cOmprehen-
sive review of Christianity, it's history
| and its possibilities from an optimistic
| standpoint.
At the end of the first century there
We're five millions of Christians. At the
end of the tenth century, fifty millions;
at the end of the fifteenth, 100 millions; ;
at the end of the eighteenth, 200 mill
ions; at the. end of the nineteenth,
there are 500 millions. The members
| We're more than doubled Ain this CEN
tury.
One-thIrd of the worlds population
| governs two-ihirds of all the people.
To show the progress of wealth, France
| has forty billions of dollars; Great
| Britain and Ireland, forty-fye billOns
| United States, sixty billions. The two
| Protestant nations are the wealthiest.
| The Greek church countries show
| thirty billions; the Roman Catholic,
| ninety billions; the Protestant, $50 bill
| ions.
The savings banks of the United
States show 5,60O.000 depositors-s2,4 ,4O0.-
| 900 0,000-$400 apiece. In one year the in
crease of depositors was 100000; of de-
| posits, $l74,0OO.O00. Thus one-tenth OF
what the moor have saved would yield