Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-03
Churchmen Hold Celebration in
Memory of Founder.
Observation-Disclosures
President in Bi-centenary Exercises
Praises Work of Pioneer Methodist
liilargeI Number; OF Guests Assemble
in New York for Event.

New York, Feb. 27.-Cheered to the
echo as he appeared before the audi
ence which crowded Carnegie hall to
the doors, President Roosevelt last
evening delivered glowing eulogy to
the memory of John Wesley, the
founder of the Methodist Episcopal
church. The exercises were held I'M
der the auspices of the New York
thank Offering commission and took
the shape of celebration over the
raising of the twentieth century fund
of $20,000,000 that has just been rails
ed by the church.
Prominent Methodists Present.
Samuel w. Browne presided, with
President Roosevelt at his right, and
on the platform were Bishop G. d.
Foss, Bishop Walden, Bishop Goodsell,
e. M. Willis, Bishop e. G. Andrews,
DR.. James R. Day, Bishop G. H. Fow-
Ter, j. Edgar Leaycraft, the Rev. DR..
e. s. Triple, executive secretary of
the New York thank offering commits
sion; the Rev. DR.. J. w. tombstone,
pastor of the Old John street Metho.
dist Episcopal church; the Rev. DR.. A..
d. Leonard, secretary of the Metho--
dist Missionary society; and the Rev.
DR.. j. B. Ramensnyder of the Luther
an church.
Purpose of Meeting.
In speaking of the meeting and it's
purpose, Mr.. Browne said: I'VE are
just a little bit ahead of time in this
celebration, which was to have occur
red in the bicentennial of Wesley S
birth, but this day was chosen by our
president, and under the circumstance,
where we are figuring centuries, a few
days Won't count for much.
II regret exceedingly that we could
not accommodate all our friends. If
Andrew Carnegie had known more of
Wesley and Methodism, he would have
built this hall good deal larger. We
will forgive Mr.. Carnegie, however, if
he goes on giving public libraries
and throws in a church now and
then"
Mr.. Browne then introduced Presi-.
dent Roosevelt, the audience rising to
greet him.
Address of the President.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men:
Il am glad to have the chance of
addressing this representative body of
the great church which Wesley found
ed, on the occasion of the commence
ration of the two hundredth anniver-
sary Of his birth. America, moreover,
has a peculiar proprietary claim on
Wesley's memory, for it, is on our
continent that the Methodist church
has receiver its greatest development
In the days of our colonial life Method.
ism was not on the whole great factor
in the religious and social life of the
people. The Congregationalists were
supreme throughout most of New Eng
land, the Episcopalians on the sea-
board from New York southwark,
while the Presbyterian congregations
were most numerous along what was
then the entire western frontier; and
the Quaker, Catholic and Dutch Re.
formed churches each had develop.
ments in special places. The great
! growth of the Methodist church, like
the great growth of the Baptist
church, began at about the time of the
Revolutionary war. Today my theme
is purely Methodism.
Since the days of the Revolution
not only has the Methodist church in.
creased greatly in the old communities
of the thirteen original states, but it
has played a peculiar and prominent
part in the pioneer growth of our
country and has in consequence as
sumed position Of immense impor
lance throughout the vast region west
of the Alleghenies which has been
added to our nation since the days
when the continental congress first
met.
For a century after the Declaration
Of independence the greatest work Of