Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-30
JOHN WESLEY.
New England Methodists Oh
serve the 200th Anniversary
Of Birth Of the Founder of That Great
Religious Body.
A Great Gathering-Letters Read from
Distinguished Americans.

Boston, June ga two days cele-
bration of the 2OOth birth of John Wes-
ley by the Methodists of New England
conference was begun, Monday.
The efforts Of the committee were
successful and Bishop Charles H. Fow-
Ter of Buffalo from the North, Bishop
Eugene r. Hendricks of Kansas City
from the South and Rev. A. Darman of
Canada, were among the leading speak
erS.
The general program of the two days
includes tributes to Wesley from rep
resentatives of the other denomina-
lions. at the opening session, address
by Rev. Mr.. Carmen Of Canada, Bishop
Hendricks, Rev. George Jackson of
Edinburg, Scotland Rev. w. f. Halla-
lieux, resident bishop Of New England
and Bishop Fowler.
This afternoon, Rev. Albert Sidney
Gregg Of Worcester, secretary of the
Wesley bi-centennial committee, read a
collection of letters appreciative of
John Wesley and his work, obtained
from men of international prominence
i'm educational. legislative and official
life. Among them were the following:
President Roosevelt-"The Methodist
church has reached it's fullest develop
ment in our country and it is eminently
fitting that we should celebrate Wes-
ley's birth. 1t would be difficult to
ovcr-estimate the debt which this
country owes to Methodism, especially
to those hardy pioneer preachers who
accompanied the rest of the pioneer folk
in their Westward march across the
continent"
Leslie NJ. Shaw, secretary of the
treasury-"I am very glad to know
that the Methodists in New England
are to observe the 200th anniversary of
the birth of John Wesley. 1t would be
difficult to find a name in human his
tory which stands for more that is es-
sential in American civilization, than
that of Mr.. Wesley. He was not a re-
former in the popular deception of the
term, though he set in motion in
fuences that not only reformed the
church with which he was connected,
but all other churches and society gen.
orally. The reason of this was he con-
fined himself to the principles of re-
formation and not to reformatOry acts.
He was not a MOhammedan. He was Il
Christian. He spent little time cleans
ing the stream, but looked carefully
after the Fountain
Senator VIM. p Frye, President of
the United States Senate-No man eX-
erted so much influence in religious
matters on so many people. While he
was the greatest organizer the church
has ever known. and for more than
half n century exercised an imperial
s,,.x fI,o how IN n
Methodist body, he was notable eX-
ample of humility, utterly devoid of
personal ambition and blind to the al
lurements of wealth and luxury. The
most Jealous of Christians he was yet
the most practical of teachers, in cal
culating and exemplifyng to a remark
able degree the hOmely virtues of
honesty. frugalty and industry. The
great Methodist church owes many of
it's splendid characteristics to this great
and good man.
Grover Cleveland-"It is exceedingly
fitting that among a Christian people.
the 200th anniversary of the birth OF
John Wesley should be celebrated.
Such celebration will reach it's high
est usefulness if it effectively recalls to
all those who preach religion in this
day and generation the sublime sin
cerity. the unilagging zeal and the ag-
gressivc advocacy which John Wesley
checrfully gave to the religion he
preached $50 years ago
This evening. the Methodist Social
Union held a reception and banquet il
Julia Ward Howe hall, Huntington
avenue. over which President George f
WaShburn presided.
Rev. a. Carrman. general superin'
tendent of the Methodist church in
Canada, presented greetings from
Canadian Methodists and an address:
was delivered by Bishop Eugene r
Hendrix of the Methodist Episcopa
church South, upon the subject: 1.-The
Power of a Great Personality.