The Washington times., 1902-06-20
Enthusiasm Marks Open
ing of Convention in
This City.
DR.. NAYLOR GREEIS DELEGATES
President Woodcock Voices
Visitors Pleasure in
Warm Reception.
THE PROGRAM FOR TODAY
Sunrise Prayer Meeting and Visit to the
White House to Be Features-Be-
tween 400 and 500 Delegates Ex-
pected by Tonight-The Committees
Which Will Receive and Entertain.

The opening session of the eighth an
nral convention of the Epworth League
of the Fourth General Conference Dis
trict, las. plight, at the Metropolitan NJ
E. Church, was marked by almost un
precedented enthusiasm. When thu
meeting was called to order by Mr.. H
C. White. of Chambersburg, Pa, thu
second vice president, who acted a:
chairman. the church was filled with tbs
delegates and their friends from Wash
ington and abroad. Over two hundred
delegates were present.
The interior of the church had beer
tastefully decorated with flags ant
bunting, the American flag alternating
with the maltese cross, insignia of the
society.
4oo to 500 Delegates Expected.
The delegates have been arriving in
the city since Wednesday afternoon
They are met at the station by a spe-
cial committee designated for that pur-
pose, escorted to the church by pages
and made welcome by the Washington
Leaguers. 1t is expected that during the
course of the day the greater part of
the delegates will arrive, and an at
tendance of four or five hundred is con-
fideptly looked forward to. If the de-
gree of enthusiasm manifested at the
opening meeting continues. the present
convention should be a record breaker
in the history of the League in Wash
ington.
A sunrise prayer meeting has been
planned for at o'clock this morning.
AT p. NJ. today 200 of the delegates will
be received a.. the White House by
President Roosevelt.
The neeti:E last night was princi-
pally devoted 10 addresses of welcome to
the delegates and responses. The meet
ing was opened at o'clock with devo-
tional exercises conducted by Rev. Lu-
cien Clark, D. D., of this city. Rev. Il.
H. Naylor, D. D., presiding elder of the
Washington conference, then delivered
an address of welcome in behalf of
Washington Methodism. He said in
part:
Welcomed by Dr.. Naylor.
When a man was seeking a public
office in Rome it was asked of him,
Who is his father? In our own coun-
try it used TO be asked, under similar
circumstances. Where is his clearing?'
So you may ask, Who does the speaker
represent
Il have the proud satisfaction OF rep
resenting 1000 Epworth Leaguers and
10000 Methodists. This conference is
no mean territory, extending from the
grand old Sugar Loaf Mountain down the
historic Potomac to Ocean Point, and
holding in its embrace the most beauti-
full city in the land-the nations C2si-
tai. This territory is filled with all
phases of social, intellectual, and finan-
cial life. 1t contains men OF all class
es, from those like the one who sat in
yonder pew-tbe statesman, patriot,
Christian brother, and American citizen,
William McKinley-down to those whose
simple, lowly condition reminds me of
the fisherman of Galilee who followed
our Lord.
Speaking of the 10000 Methodists of
this conference, they retain much of the
faith once delivered to the saints-they
believe in God, the Father, the maker OF
heaven and earth. They believe in his
son, who came into the world to save
sinners, and that through him all may
be saved. They believe in Gods word
IL 1,#g
prayer in their homes. and in prayer
meetings. They believe in Methodism
Some of them believe in more presiding
elders, some in fewer, and few believe
in no presiding elders.
Now, then, here are my children,
these 10000 Methodists. Here is my
clearing, fifty by one hundred miles in
extent. II is glory enough for the ave-
rage ambition. But the glory is yours,
for ! bring you their glad welcome
We welcome you because you believe in
the brotherhood Of man. We welcome |
you to Washington"
Following DR.. MAYORS address the |
Lyric Quartet, composed OF Mrs. Charles |
B. Bayly, Miss Elizabeth Wahly, Mrs |
d. Olin Leech, and Mrs. A. Leftwich |
Sinclair. unaccompanied, rendered a |
choice selection of sacred music, and |
<eTNdTu lutg SANG annie Laurie In |
manner which evoked continued ap-
plause.
President Engle's Address.
On behalf OF the Washington District
Epworth League Mr.. ]. Finney Engle,
president of the District League, and
chairman Of the local executive com
mittee, welcomed the visitors to Wash
ington. He said in part:
'It is almost impossible for me to put
into words the greeting my heart prompts
me to give you in behalf OF the Washing
ton district. Nine years ago, when the
met here before, you were
strangers TO us. We tried then to give
you cordial greeting and show you a
good time. These nine years which have