The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-04-03
All the churches. he concluded, were in.


OF al 1.-The reports the greatest interest
was displayed in that of the Paterson Dis
trict Everyone was eager to hear what
effect the terrible fire had on the Metho-
dist churches in that scourged city. 4
deep sig of relief went up and chorus
of please God was ELECTED by these
words of Presiding Elder Ryman:-
Happily none of our fifteen churches
were victims of this fire, though two were
almost miraculously saved. The fire came
within thirty PAGES of time honored
Prospect Street. while the massive walls
and lofty spire of Market Street We're
licked and almost enveloped by the
flames. All of our churches suffered more
or less in loss of property and others
through loss of employment
THE flood which followed the fire was
almost as appalling and rendered hud-
dreds of families destitute and homeless.
The pastor of Prospect Street Chureh
(Rev. w S. MCGOWAN, formerly ol'
Greenvliie), finding the parsonage SUI
rounded with water led his family, Ike
Noah of old, into boat and sought re-
fuge in a neighboring a parsonage
A funny incident next took pace wnei.
the report was finished Some enterprls-
ing photographer had obtained permission
to photograph the conference in session.
He had placed the instrument in the aisie
just as Rev. ]. L. Hayes was about TO
begin his speech when Bishop said -
Il have no objection providing the cam
eron will take Brother Hayes's sernan as
we'll as his head Uaughter)
.I move the obstruction be removed,
said one brother glancing indignantly at
the camera man, but the bishop mildly
said that there was nothing unseenly III
the proceedings. Even the brother VINO
objected tried to look pleasant. There
was a click and the conference was
took"
Rev. John L. Hayes, "the comic
brother of the conference, formerly ot
Trinity Church, Jersey City, whose saiiies
have set the Methodists in session IN
roar scores of times, having completed
fifty years of service was paid the honor
this morning of a call to make an ad-
dress. weakened little man he is wits.
a fiery eye and a sharp and glib tongue,
engaging ways and universally beloved
by his brethren. He was presented os
the Bishop in a touching little speech, and
no sooner was on his fet than he begun:
81 am slaid to be here where | am
known: it's fortunate for me- Oh, no. it
isn't. for there are something about me
l wish you didn't konw.' Gaughter-)
Rating on in an amusing jumble OF
"reminiscences he had the gravest brother
holding his sides with laughter before his
half hour address was over. He said mat
he worked at the shoemaker's bench first.
and reminded the brethren that the shoe
makers bench had supplied many
Methodist minister
"One of our bishops was shoemaker,
interrupted Bishop Joyce.
us that so?. said Brother Hayes.
.sWell, he must certainly be a good bis
hop. aaughter). Yes l was shoema-
ker, and I only. regret I haven't been
made DID. Loud laughter). How nice
that would be. But often think a mans
theology is sick when 1t needs the atten-
ton of a Doctor
This sally convuIsed the conferences,
among whom, from the bishop down,
there are several doctors of divinity
'sMy happiest memory, he closed, was
when in 1885 my church of males and 8
females gave me 800 and my wife S44 to
buy silk gown. | bought three wash
tubs; filled them with bread and cakes,
put them on my sleigh and distributed
them among the country folk, and had
one washtub to take home. U1aughter).
Brethren this talk of mine has been a
kind of a hash"
I'VE know however, what it is made
Of said Rev. Chas. r. Barnes, of Cen
tenary Church, Jersey City, and there
was a shout of laughter. Brother Hayes
finished by singing, in a cracked, shaky
voice, an old ditty about Friends taking
Farewell
This afternoon will be the anniversary
of the Women's Foreign Missionary So
ciety. Mrs. ]. H. Knowles will preside
Mrs. Mary S. Wilkinson and a Chinese
teacher Miss Anna Stone, will speak.
In the evening will be the anniversary
; of the Total Abstinence and Prohibition
Society. Rev. A. L. Wilson will preside.