Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-03-24
CONFERENCE OPENED
LAST EVENING

9 opened at Berwick last evening.
The influx of ministers began O.
Tuesday from that time up until las
night they continued to arrive. score
coming on every train until ct 6 :s
: O'Clock when of the 325 belonging t,
the Conference all were on the groun,
! but 1e1.
Arriving at Berwick all made thei
way to the Methodist Episcopal ChurcI
where they were received by the Rev
Richard H. Gilbert, Conference host
in his office. Rev. Gilbert ia an idea
host with . cordial handshake and
kind word Of welcome for each ant
everyone. The beautiful church edifio,
is the product Of his faith, pluck ant
persistence. A number Of small boys
who kindly volunteered their services
conducted the ministers to the placer
assigned to them as homes during Con
ference.
Every thing ran smoothly without
the least suggestion Of hitch as in
quick succession the large groups ot
people assembled. The church is an
ideal place for conference. The audit.
orium, which will be used for public
sessions, is spacious and magnificent.
The Sunday School room opening from
the auditorium is especially commod.
ious and we'll appointed containing
upwards of twenty class rooms. which
are temporarily changed into commit
tee rooms. Here is the Conference
Post Office, Rev. Gilbert's office, read
ing and writing rooms, and rooms Tor
examination of candidates. In this
apartment all day yesterday ministers
congregated, shaking hands probably
for the first time since Conference of
year ago; here new aoquaintances
were formed along with the renewal
of old ones and pleasant hour was
spent by all.
DR.. 8. O. Swallow was q oonspicu-
GUS figure in Conference circles. Wher-
ever he went he was kept busy greet.
ing old friends. He spoke most inter.
estingly OF the time, in 1S64.5, when
as young minister he was stationed
10 Berwick as junior preacher under
the Rev. NJ. P. Crosthwaite. During
an interview with q representative of
the press he spoke very enthusiastic.
ally of new newspaper enterprise he
Is about to embark upon. The journal.
which will be called the "Churoh
Forum" is to succeed his present
publication, the Pennsylvania Metho-
burg. irrespective of creed. which is
permitted to have Its own editor and
to express opinions at pleasure relat-
ing to any legitimate topic.
Bishop Fitzgerald, who presides at
Conference arrived at Berwick on Mon
day night. He is man Of strong ex.
eoutive ability. extremely systematic
and is energetic in the extreme. He
has already conducted six executive
sessions of the Elders and nearly all
the conference arrangements have been
completed.
The first active business OF the con-
ference began yesterday with examina-
tion. Candidates taking examination
are as follows:
For admission on trial-twelve.
Glass of first year-fve.
GLASS of second year-fo four.
Glass of third year-eight.
Glass of fourth year-twelve.
Examinations began on Tuesday
evening and lasted all day on Wednes-
day. The choir Of the church has ar
ranged special music for the sessions.
The temperance anniversary last
night. which marked the. first session
of conference, brought out large at.
tendance. Three sliding doors. which
stand between the main auditorium Of
the ohuroh and the Sunday school
room, were drawn aside and the two
spacious apartments were thrown into
one immense auditorium, which was
filed on the occasion.
Devotional exercises began at 80.
Rev. J. B. Mann leading In song and
Rev. william Moser reading the script.
ure and Offering prayer. The music
was q great feature. An anthem by
the choir. "Father Oh Hear U.s." was
exceedingly fine. There was also q
solo. Mothers Boy" by Isaac Abra-
ham. which was much enjoyed. Miss
Della Geisinger was orRanist.
Rev. DR.. E. L. Eaton Of Allegheny
was the speaker at the Temperance
Anniversary. He was introduced by
the famous Prohibition advocate, DR..
8. O. Swallow. who made some very
happy and characteristic remarks.
The license of the liquor ira flo he re-
CARDS as q sin. So long as the govern.
ment remains in profitsharing partner
ship with the liquor business 1t will
be impossible to overthrow the great
crime breeder.
DR.. Eaton is an eloquent and con-
vinoing speaker presenting good strong
argument and apt illustrations
Throughout long address he carried
the large audience along with hi m
holding up before them in strong light
the evils of the liquor traffic. He dwelt
upon the aggressiveness Of the liquor
men, their complete organization and
the rapid growth of the liquor interest
and showed how the Prohibition move
ment, determined, jealous and self
sacrificing as 1t is. will be futile in it's
attempt to overthrow the enemy until
all good people regardless Of creed and
political parties Hook to its standard.
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