The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-19
Fairbanks Attends Birmingham
Conference AS Fraternal Dele
gate From North.
OVATION FROM : DELEGATES
Conventional Officers Elected
During DayAdjournment
Monday Possible.
(By Associated Press.)

BIRMINGHAM, ALA, May 1s.-Vlce-
President Charles w. Fairbanks ar
rived here to-day to attend the general
conference Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South as fraternal delegate. He
was met by the Citizens Committee at
the Union Passenger Station, and driven
lito the home of Colonel II G. Bush, pres
ident Of the Alabama Consolidated Coal
and Iron Company, whose guest he Will
be while here.
Vice President Fairbanks entered In
company with Bishop Galloway. Imme-
diatey every delegate and visit or arose
Mr.. Fairbanks, assembled tho rostrum and
was surrounded by bishops and others
who grasped his hand. Bishop Hoss, in
Producing Mr. Fairbanks. said that he
and the Vice President had been class
mates about forty years ago, but in or
der that there could he no mlsunder-
standing as to ages, he would all that the
Vice President was the younger man or
the two Mr.. Fairbanks, In reply, said:
II assure you 1t is a very great
pleasure for me to be here and to be so
kindly introduced by my classmate IN
the Methodist University I have not
come to make speech to you this morn
ing, and it would not be kind Of me to
do So for the bishop, who came in with
me, said You can speak just few
words This is a place ! long have sought.
/ have really come with some trepidation
and Bishop Galloway has said that
should come to you this morning In an
,apologetc mood shall always cherish
II as pleasant memory that 1 have been
able to come to you as a fraternal mes
senger from the Methodist Episcopal
Church."
When the ce-Rresident had concluded.
IL
K try, IT'S Of Thee" The Vlce-President
then took a seat with the bishops and
business proceeded
Fraternal Address.
The fraternal address Of Vice President
Fairbanks was delivered at night and was
the feature Of the days session. The im-
mense auditorium Of the First Church
was packed TO hear the address and hum
dretls were turned away. unable to gam
entrance. Rev. DR.. VS.. Matthew's, OF
Berkeley, Cal, clerical delegate from the
Northern Church also spoke. The Vice
Presidents fratcrnal address was as fol-
lows:
mir. Chairman and Brethren,-The
Methodist Church In tho United
States has kept pace with our ire
mendous national development. IN
| less than one century and a half moro
than six million communicates have
been eQrOlleu IN an lta IluNS4'S7s'
'',rhe Methodiar Church is the sym
IA thetic and powerful friend Of the
oppressed the world about, 1t is the
fruitful mother OF countless schools
and charities,
~ cannot refrain from expressing
and emphasizing the hope which those
who have preceded me IN this broth-
erly mission have rcntured TO express,
the two great branches OF Methodlsm
In America may DO consolidated into
ono mighty church. not In sentiment
and In purpose alone, but IN orgnni-
cation as well. give utterance to
this wish upon my own responsible
ity, though 1t is shared by many OF
my brethren.
..Nye have the same ecclesiastical
policy and sing the praises Of the
Master from u common hymn book,
Union Coming,
II do not know how long the fol-
mowers of John Wesley will dwell
apart in tho United States. have
faith to believe that the barriers
which still divide us arc growing less
formidable with the lapse OF time,
and that they will ultimately yield
and union will be established between
the Mctlodst Episcopal Church and
the Methods, Eplseopal church,
South. thereby creating one OF the
rreatcst Instruments for good in the
| entire Christian world i9tg
! ~ trust that Methodlsm may not
long Dc divided unon lines OF former
political differences differences which
| thank God are past ana gone for
ever and forever. May We not hope
| TO see the great bishops whom Sou 4
honor and whom we hon2r,
in the North, presiding over con-.
ferepces in every portion ofsthe re- /
public. May we not hope 70 see an