The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-26
A GREAT DAY
FOR WHEELING
METHODIST.
twentieth Century Thank Offering
Meetings Were Held in the
Several Churches.
NFARY $4,000 CONTRIBUTED
OF Which One citizen, Mr.. Henry Z.
List, Gave S5,ooo-The
Opera House Meeting.

Sunday was the Wheeling Metho0lss
"rally. day." for the West Virginia
Twentieth Century Thank Offering fund
and the West Virginia Conference semi
nary, and collections for this purpose
were taken in all the Methodist
churcheo, netting u handsome hgurH
The mass meeting was held in the af-
ternoon at the Opera House, and while
the attendance was large, 1t was cut
down materially by the cold weather
prevailing.
The Twentieth Century Thank OFFER
ing was Inaugurated by the bishops Of
the NJ. e. church, and its purposes are
the saving of 100000 souls and the
collection of :2OOOO.OOO. which will be
used to paying OF church Indebtedness
and endowing church scholastic institu-
lions. West vlrglnla's financial share
In the movement was Axed at $125,OO0,
to be applied to the Conference semi
nary, at Buckhannon. Several promI-
nent Methodist divines came on to as
sIst in the rally. and spoke from local
pulpIts at either Of yesterdays services,
uniting, in the mass meeting at the
Opera House.
This meeting was greatly handicap
ped by the weather, but 1t lacked none
the less in interest. The pit Of the
theatre was almost filled, and the stage
was crowded with the speakers, pas
tors and cholrs OF the Methodist
chruches in Wheeling and nearby towns.
THE speakers included Bishop James N.
Fitzgerald, L. L. D., who was chair
man; Rev. Louis Albert Banks, D. D.,
Of Cleveland. Rev. William F. McDow-
ell, PHI. D., Of New York, and President
s. L. Boyers, Of the West Virginia Con-
ference seminary. at Buckhannon.
Seated on the stage were Rev. F. N.
Lynch, of Grafton; Rev. G. W. Bent, OF
Benwood: Rev. Mr.. Nicholson, of Tria-
delphia; Rev. E. D. Hanna. Of Charles.
ton; Rev. C. B. Graham and Rev. C. E.
CLARK, Of Wheeling; Rev. DR.. A. Moore,
presiding elder of the Wheeling district,
and Rev. $. X. Arbuthnot, secretary of
the West Virginia Twentieth century
commission. The music was furnished
by a union chorus from the local and
Benwood NJ. E. churches, assisted by an
orchestra.
The exercises opened with a song
service. led by the union chorus, with
Mr. James H. Perry, organlst and direc-
ton.
The audience Joined In singing IAN
Hail the Power Of Jesus Name" after
which Rev. DR.. Moore offered fervent
prayer for the success OF the movement.
Then followed in turn an anthem by
the Fourth street choir, and the singing
Of The Morning Light is Breaking"
by the audience and union chorus.
President Boyers' Address.
The first address was made by Presl-
dent Boyers, Of Buckhannon, who stated
the objects Of the rally. He spoke along
the line OF education. No state has
made more rapid progress in education
than West Virginia, he said. The Meth
odIst church has 200 schools. The west
Virginia seminary at Buckhannon,
stands third in the list. and at the rate
It YVES increasing, it would not be long
until 1t stood at the head of the class.
BY the close OF the present year 1t
would have between 400 and 500 stu
dents. The Buckhannon seminary had
sixteen teachers in Its faculty and ut
tracted students from every county in
the state. 1t was only ten years old.
and its president prophesied glowing
future for his school.
While 1t was first class seminary.
the need now was to make 1t college
and 1t could be so made, II Its friends
throughout the state would come to the
front It could easily be made a college.
For this purpose, the sum OF $125,0oO
was needed, which would clear OF ex-
listing Indebtedness and leave IN en-
dowment OF 100000. To do this, an ap-
peal was made to the MethodIsts Of
West Virginia. Mr.. Boyers then intro
duced Bishop Fitzgerald as chairman.
Bishop Fitzgerald stated that the
Twentieth century Thank Offering was
in response to a call made by the bIsh-
OPS Of the NJ. f. church. It was felt
that the mercles OF God had been very
abundant and It was felt that the close
Of the century was fitting time. In a
financial way, the movement was In
tended to pay off church debts and to
endow Methodist schools Of learning.
Its other feature was the salvation Of
souls. Now that prosperity seems
abroad, said Bishop Fitzgerald. he
thought 1t was an opportune time to
rid.the churches Of their financial bur-
dens.
Bishop Fitzgerald then spoke Of the
financial needs OF the church schools,
which included embarrassing debts,
and while money was being raised for
this purpose, 1t was thought best to &C.
cure enough to substantially endOw the
universities and schools, and Bishop
Fitzgerald incidentally congratulated
West Virginia Mcthodlsts on the high
standing Of their seminary at Buckhan-
non.
Bishop Fltzgerald's Appeal.
Continuing, Bishop Fitzgerald ap-
pealed for the 100000 souls the move
ment was intended to bring under Gods
standard. He urged his individual
hearers to feel that they were needed
in the work, which should not be left
only to the ministers, for while It was
true that the ministers should use their
host npdNavoru vnt God'a voIne anunded