Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-10-17
Big MISSIONARY
Is. CONVENTION
Methodist Gathering in Philadelphia
Represent 3,GOS,C0O Members.
BISHOP FowLER's PREDICTIONS


Philadelphia, Oct. 1.-THE great
missionary convention of the Method
list Episc opal Church. at which dele
gates are present from all of New
England and the middle Atlantic
states, vas formally opsned at the
Academy OF Music, in this city, in
the presence of an audience that taxed
the capacity of the building. Distin-
guished clergy and laymen of the
church from all parts of the country
are present sand will take 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
lied primarily to devise ways and
means for promoting a larger mis-
sionary interest and enthusiasm among
the 100000 members of thac demon
ination. or 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. Ns9w Jersey.
Philadelphia, Wyoming, C~6 raj Penn
sylvania, Erie, Pittsburg lmington.
Delaware, Baltimore, Washington,
East German, Eastern Swedish, Vir-
ginia and West Virginia.
One of the features Of the conven-
ton 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 evangeIfzation 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 II. Fowler, Of Buffalo, n. Y.
The latter's 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 superstitions
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 to
be done in the east, Bishop Fowler
touched upon events in the Orient. He
| said:
Russia is the coming power. We
| are UP against an inexorable PROPOSE
| ton. If Russia appropriates and as
| Stimulates China we are face to face
| with the most powerful empire ever
| known among men. If such a power
rises in Europe and Asia nothing is
| impossible TO it. Establish the cars
authority in Peilin, then the absorption
of India will only be a matter of time
| The Russian empire then extending
from the Polar Sea to the Indian
Ocean and from Germany to the Vel.
low Sea, and controlling half of the
human race, will put Europe in greater
peril than it ever was in the days of
the Mogul empire"
Bishop Fowler said that England in
the impending struggle stands as the
bulwark of liberty and the defender OF
| Christianity. He said the United
States is another factor in this prob
l lem