The Irish standard., 1900-04-28
RELIGIOUS WORKERS MEET.
AissioAs Degins Its Sessi0as
ln New York,

New York; April 23.-With an ex-
president of the United States. Benja-
min Harrison, to bid them welcome,
there were gathered Saturday in Car
negie hall more than 1000 missionaries
from almost every quarter of the
globe. For ten years preparations
have been under way for this meeting,
known as the ecumenical conference
IN foreign missions. 1t is the third of
it's kind ever held. Every branch of the
Christian church is represented ex-
cept the Roman Catholic, the Creek
and that branch of the Christian
church known us the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel.
The great hall was completely filled
when ex-President Harrison began his
address of welcome. On the plat
form were many clergymen and
statesmen of world fame. Seated with
the great body of the delegates were
many workers from foreign lands
whose bright costumes added dash
of color to the scene. Ex-President
Harrison was given great reception.
In his address he made this pointed
statements:
1.-THE men who. like Paul. have gone to
heather lands with the message: We seek
not yours but YOU have been hindered
by those who coming after have reversed
the message. Rum and other corrupting
agencies come in with our boosted civiliza-
ton. and the feeble races wither before
the hot breath of the white mans vices.
| 1.-The great nations have combined to
suppress the slave trade. Is it too much
to ask that they shall combine to prevent
the sale OF spirits to men who. less than
our children. have acquired the habits Of
self-restraint? If we must have 'consum-
ers.' let us give them an innocent diet"
President McKinley's appearance on
the platform in the evening was hailed
by tremendous and long sustained
applause, to which the president re-
sponded by bowling repeatedly. He
behalf of the nation.
Gov. Roosevelt followed with n well
come on behalf of the state, and was
followed by Gen. Harrison. who re-
piled Oh behalf of the conference.
The foreign missionary work Of the world
| is conducted by seven great societies.
They are the Christian missionary society.
which represents the evangelical party in
the Church of England. and is almost as
large as the other six together: the Society
| for the Propagation of the Gospel, repre-.
| senting the Catholic party in the Church of
England, and which declined to attend the
conference; the London Missionary so
ciety Of the Congregational church, tho
American board of foreign missions. also
of the Congregational church: the PreSby-
terrain board of foreign missions. the Mis-
sionary Society OF the Methodist Episcopal
church. and the American Baptist Mis-
sionary union.
The sessions of the council will last I'M
til May l, not including Sundays. On Sun
days the delegates will be assigned to
churches in the five city boroughs and sub
| urban towns to make addresses and preach
sermons in regard to their work.
New York, April n. - The first bust
ness session OF the ecumenical confer
ence on foreign missions began stimuli
taneously at $3.50 o'clock Monday in
Carnegie hall and the Central presby-
terrain church. Walter i. Sloan, secre-
tary of the inland mission OF China, led
the devotional exercises in Carnegie
hall and Rev. James Cunningham, M.
A., of the Memorial Prcsby
church of Wansworth, London, con-
Quoted exercises atthe Central Presby-
terrain church. At Carnegie hall Rev
DIR. Augustus II. Strong, president OF
the Rochester theological seminary,
delivered an address on the "Authority
and Purpose of Foreign Missions"