The San Francisco call., 1904-04-29
Crowds Throng Opening Meeting and Listen to Able
Addresses by Distinguished PreIates

The missionary convention of the
Methodist Episcopal church opened in
a blaze of glory at the Alhambra The
ater last night Enthusiasm prevailed
from the opening to the close of the
service, which was conducted in the
presence of a congregation which filled
the building to its utmost capacity.
On the stage sat about 100 ministers OF
the gospel of the Methodist church, as
well as many preates who had been
invited from other churches to partici-
pate in the ceremonies. The splendid
choir of the First Methodist Church of
Oakland rendered a number OF stirring
hymns, in which the congregation
Joined with unbounded enthusiasm.
Although it was 1890 D. m. before the
services came to a close, the vast con-
gregation remained until the last
words of the benediction had faded
from the lips of Bishop Earl Cranston.
The lecture hall had been handsomely
decorated for these meetings. Flags of
all nations were suspended from the
side walls. while the balcony railing
was entwined with red, white and blue
streamers. At intervals about were
placed notices by noted missionaries
of the past Prominent among these
were the names of Pierson, Judson and
Ellis At the back of the stage was the
motto wrought in letters of black upon
a silver white ground, No Man Careth
for My Soul Above this was an i'm
mense map of the world, which showed
the principal portions of the earth in
which the Methodist Episcopal religion
f1ourished.
The principal address of the evening
was made by the Rev. Homer c. Stuntz,
who chose for his subject 'Methodism
in the Philippines"
On account of the absence of sew
eral of the clergymen who were un-
svoidably detained from coming to the
city, their places had to be filled by
substitutes.
LISTEN WITH RAPT ATTENTION.
Bishop J. w Hamilton of this city
acted as chairman of the occasion. His
opening remarks were filled with emo
tions of sincerity for the faith for
which he was laboring, and his intro
ductory address was received with
profound interest and attention by all
those within the hearing of his voice.
Bishop ]. NJ. Thoburn, who was on
the programme to speak on the sub
iect of India was not present. He is
now in Seattle suffering from broken
leg, but he sent message from the
north which was read by the Rev.
George B. Smyth. Bishop C. d. Foss
took the place of Bishop Thoburn and
delivered an interesting talk on In
dia." Then came a solo by Hama
Shimozumi, the little Japanese girl.
Her singing aroused great enthusi-
asm, and she was compelled to return
and repeat her song. Rolla V. Watt,
chairman of the finance committee,
was in one of his happiest veins. He
opened UP his remarks by telling
serious story, ending with jocular
wind up. after which he begged the
audience to put their hands deep down
into their pockets and give all they
could toward this good and noble
cause. Calling upon the ushers, he
said, pass through the audience as
rapidly as possible. but don't on any
account miss anybody"
BY the way the money jingled and
ratified as it fell into the boxes it is
evident that a goodly sum was raised.
GOSPEL IN PHILIPPINES.
Notices were now read regarding
future meetings of the session by the
Rev. DR.. Evans and the Rev. DR.. Ste
phens. In the absence of Bishop Da-
vid H. Moore, who is no. on the ocean.
Dr. Stuntz was called upon to fill his
place. He is a man of remarkable
magnetism and personality. fluent