Evening journal., 1903-10-14
METHODIsTs OPEN
BIG CONVENTION
Many Delegates Attend the
Opening of Missionary
Meeting
REPRESENT 100000 MEMBERS


missionary convention Of the Method
list Episcopal Church, at which dele
gates are present from all Of New
England and the middle Atlantic
states, was formally opened at the
Academy of Music, In this city, in
the presence of an au6t1snce that taxed
the capacity of the building. Distin-
guished clergy and laymen OF the
church from all parts of the country
are present and will taSe an active
part In the convention, which will re-
main in session until tomorrow. The
gathering is held under the auspices
of the Open Door Emergency Com
mission of the Missionary Society Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church,
which commission was originated By
the board of bishops and was organ
ized primarily to devise ways and
means for promoting a larger mis-
sionary interest and enthusiasm among
the 5000, 900 members of that denom-
ination. OF this commission, Bishop
Edward G. Andrews. of New York, is
chairman, but Bishop Cyrus d. Foss,
OF this city, will preside at all the ses-
sions Of the convention. The follow
ing conferences are represented at the
meeting:
Maine, East Maine, New England,
New England Southern. Vermont New
Hampshire, Northern New York, Troy,
Central New York, Genesee, New York
East New York. Newark, New Jersey,
Philadelphia, Wyoming, Central Penn
sylvania. Erie. Pittsburg, Wilmington,
Delaware, Baltimore, Washington,
East German, Eastern Swedish, Vir-
ginia and West Virginia.
One of the features of the conven-
tion is the missionary exhibit in the
foyer of the Academy, which includes
maps and paraphernalia, together
with about a score of missionaries
who explained the evangelization work
being done by Methodists in many
countries.
The program Of the first session
was one of hymnal praise, scriptural
instruction, prayer and addresses. The
addresses were made by Bishop Foss,
the presiding officer. and Bishop
Charles H. Fowler, Of Buffalo, N. Y.
The latters address was the most
striking feature. He took for his sub
ject "The Place of Missions in the
Worlds Movements" He said that the
trend of the age is God-ward, and that
the storm-centre of the world was the
Pacific. China is the supreme hypo
crit of all the races and of all the
ages. This moral mummy is EN-
balmed and wrapped in superstitionE
1000 years old and more than 10000
: layers deep. The problem with China
is this: Which way is she going? She
may change dynasties, she may come
under. the control of some foreign
power, but she will not cease to be
The yellow race will remain the men
ace of the world, and is the worlds
problem for the twentieth ventury.
Speaking of the missionary work t
be done in the east, Bishop Fowler
touched upon events in the Orient. HI
said:
Russia is the coming power. W.
are up against an inexorable PROPOSE
tion. If Russia appropriates and as
similates China we are face to faci
with the most powerful empire eve
known among men. If such a powe
rises in Europe and Asia nothing 4
impossible to it. Establish the czar'
authority in PeIzin, then the absorption
Of India will only be a matter Of time
The Russian empire then extending
from the Polar Sea to the Indial
Ocean and from Germany TO the Vel
low Sea, and controlling half of thl
human race. win put Europe in create
, peril than It ever was in the days o
the Mogul empire"
Bishop Fowler said that England il
the impending struggle stands as thr
bulwark Of liberty and the defender o
Christianity. He said the United
States is another factor in this prob
lem.