The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-19
NTRy,UcED TO CONFERENCE

CT Prosperity for Alabama and Brings Greetings From
 Methodists of North.
 Birmingham, May 1S.-(Special.)-- Vice. President Charles w. Fairbanks. his wife and Mrs c. H. AcKert. wife of the Fourth Vice. President c. H. Ackert of the Southern Railway. re- ceived a hearty welcome in Birming- ham today, from shortly after their arrival in a private car over the South ern until late hour this evening. At o'clock a number of prominent citizens representing the general con- ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. the Birmingham Com merciaI Club and the Scottish Rite Masons, met the Vice. President and his ladies at the station and in ear riages and automobiles they were es- corted to the home of Colonel and Mrs. T. c. Bush, on Highland Avenue. South Highlands. where breakfast was par taken of.
 At Il o'clock MT. Fairbanks and the ladies repaired to the General Confer ence of the M. F. Church. South. 10 which the distinguished visitor is u fraternal delegate. The Vice-President was introduced to the conference by Bishop Hoss and the introduction wns acknowledged in a few words
 When the vice-President had conclu- ded the delegates in the conference arose. and began singing. My Country Iris of Thee" Mir Fairbanks remain ed at the conference until after o'clock The ladies in the party re- turned to the residence of Mrs. Bush, where luncheon was served. Later In the afternoon Mrs. Bush received in honor of Mrs. Fairbanks and Mrs. Ackert, the affair being one of the most splendid social functions of the season.
 MT. Fairbanks address to the Confer euce as the fraternal delegate from the Northern Methodist Church. follows;
 Speech of Fairbanks.
 MT Chairman and Brethren:
 am commissioned with my colleague to bring you the fraternal greetings Of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It IS with great pleasure we have come to ize that while you and we owegalegi-' arce to different organizations, our churches have an affinity for each other which time and nd events a, ssrvs gres,y ss ,,,h so ers' achievements. We regard your victories is ours and ours as yours. The heart of Methodism everywhere IS nov Cd HX A common lII1pu1Sc. lI iS iuSPihpo by the same hopes and the same ex- alted aspirations. We come In no per functory spirit We come with hearty good win, bearing the high commission of your brethren in the church which derives its life from the same source which gives vitality to yours. Our churches are well called great-great in numbers, great in the noble men who have thoroughly consecrated them selves to their advancement, great in the work they have accomplished. great in their influence for good among men.
 The Methodist Church in the United States has kept pace with our tremend- ous national development. In less than one century and a half more than G. 000. 900 communicants have been en- rolled in all its branches
 Methodism was never more a vital force than now, and there was never more need of it's discipline and "genu- inc patriotic spirit" in the upbuilding of a great religious community than conservative force, aggressive in Its benefcent influence, making humanity and the world better. From the time of the immortal John Wesley untii now, it has been a militant church. It has stood upon the frontier battling for justice and righteousness. It has push ed forward against the powers or dark ness and evil, and planted US banners in the remotest parts of the earth. Wherever 1t goes 1t carries the torch of a higher civilization.
 It Is in the best sense democratic church, working among Mt;,n the ths neax greas to better conditions. It's hospitaoie doors must always open to those in lowly places as we'll as to those who are in higher spheres; The ,n fleld 0ed od ios os our poor humanity. Its dominion is among all peoples. Men are not too low to be beyond the reach of It's min istratIons. It seeks to elevate, tempo ra pfe aad GniTitnallV the great body of mankind
 thetie and powerful friend of the op- pressed the world about. It is the fruitful mother of countless schools and charities. Its ministers, brave and noble men, are consecrating themselVes, with a devout and sacrificial spirit, 10 taa uplifting of their fellow men which awakens our gratitude and challenges our admiration. have thought always that the ministers of the gospel were not appreciated by the world at their true worth. What a mighty army! Devoted sincerely to the welfare of hu- nanity. Men who preach the Divine command. Love thy neighbor as thy selfr' Men who seek to promote so- briety, to dethrone vice and enthronc virtue in the heart of humanity. If there are those who more than others are entitled to the joys of immortality. they are the ministeres who turn aside from the alluremerts of wealth and earthly power. for the adVlncemert of tht. Kingdom of Christ. Men whose sole end+avor Is to sit among tho bene- factors of the world.
 We rejoice In the growth of the Meth odist Episcopal Church, South; in its expansion in numbers, in power. and In wholesome .nhueT ce. It was never stronger than today and never viewed the future with a more confident hope You lock back upon an honorable past flled with innumerable trophies of ser vice to God and to humanity, and what can be said of your church may be said with equal truth of :he cnurch in whose name we have come today. We all ap- precjate that we are one in purpose, We have a common cause and are brought into close contact and sym pathv with each other. We are bound torether ty many ties of interest and direction. The lines of delimitation be- tween US are rapidly fading away and trust that the time is not remote when they will disappear altogether, and there shall become, in fact, one church of Methodism, with American and Foreign Missions as her field, In which millions shall labor for the re- generation of mankind. There is strength in numbers. there is an i'm pulse whose limits we cannot well measure, immultiplied millions work ing for the same holy purpose. Meth odisn1. unified in America. Is the prom ise and fulfllment of greater and bet ter things for our country and our civ