The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-05-10
BISHOP DUNCAN IS
 GREETED HEARTILY Head of Methodist Church in
 South Carolina Here GUEST OF DR. RlDOICK Renews Old Acqualntances on His Way Home-"We Live in an
 Age of Waning Intoler-
 anee," Says He.
GUEST OF DR. RIDOICK

Bishop w w. Duncan of the Methodist in Spartanburg, S. C.. spent yesterday in Birmingham as the guest of the Rev. Dr. Riddck, the pastor of the First Methodist church, and renewed here many delight full acquaintances which had been made throughout a long and honored service in the Christian ministry.
 Bishop Duncan had not contemplated visiting Birmingham, but as the train from Memphis on which the Bishop was a passenger, was several hours late in arriving here yesterday morning, the Bishop was detained in the city till o'clock in the afternoon, when he left for Atlanta on his way home to Spartan burg.
 Guest of pr. Rddick.
 When it became known that Bishop Duncan was here he was promptly in- vited by Dr. Riddick to pass the day at the parsonage of the First Methodist church, and there, throughout the after noon, the Bishop was the center of not a few interested callers who, the moment they learned he was in town ceased their work in order to pay their respects to the distinguished divine. Although hav- ing cnly a few hours to spend in the city Bishop Duncan, with characteristic courtesy found time to call on one or two devoted friends of his here who had known and loved him when he was at work in other states.
 Bishop Duncan's Views.
 The Bishop is a kindly faced gentleman with white hair and a manner simple and gracious in the extreme. After speaking of the pleasure it gave him to be here and to renew old acquaintances. he talked interestingly in a general wGy of the re- ligious outlook as seen from his point of view
 There can be no doubt" said Bishop Duncan, that Methodism Is growing steadily in all upbuildng ways. am in- clined to think that we are living in an age of waning religious intolerance. The two great branches of the Christian church, Catholicism and Protestantism are less widely separated now than ever before in the history of the world.
 Commends Cardinal Gibbons.
 T quite agree with the admirably ex- pressed sentiment uttered a few days ago along that line by the most distinguished representative of the Catholic hierarchy in America, namely, Cardinal Gibbons. Like the Cardinal, l also deprecate tlG bitterness of creed, believing l do that there is so much upon which all persons who practice true religion and virtue can agree. I think that Protestants are be- coming more tolerant and that Catholics are becoming more tolerant, the one of the other, and I think this due to the little leaven of Christianity that is leav- ening the whole life of the world. The Star of Bethlehem.
 "Our scientific friends may tell us that this kindlier feeling is due to civilizat ton but that explanation is only a half truth for the light of civilization-the most civilizing influence on earth-is the spirit of Christianity The star that rose over Bethlehem still shines, its benign rays lighting us all along the pathway of a wider and wiser humanity"
 Bishop Duncan will preside over the Alabama conference that meets next Mo- vember at Dothan. Bishop Galloway will preside over the North Alabama confer ence.
 Bishop Duncan said he was looking for ward with keen interest to the meeting of general conference in Birmingham in May, -906