Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-17

j. Max Hammond and David No
HeuTy, the delegates from the First
United PIesby teriaI Church of Viii
mington 10 the United Presbyterian
laymen's convention, In Pittsburg, Pa,
are expected home today, and they will
probably have a report to make to the
congregation tomorrow. The convsn-
tion is reported to have been a most
enthusiastic and profitable one. The
attendance was exceptionally large, 96
people being at the banquet 10 the
evening Of the opening day, which was
last Tuesday. The convention ad-
iourned on Thursday night. 1he sea-
sions were held in the First Presby-
teFian Church. The banquet, which is
said to have been the largest in the
history OF the city, was presided over
by ex-Judge Samuel s. Mehard and
addresses we're made by Major A. p
Burohfield on The Value of OrQani-
zation in Work Of the Church -
Hugh Kennedy, Buffalo, N. Y, on
THE Layman's Opportunity for
Christian Influence DR.. s. q.
Diokey, Winona Lake, Ind, on "Busi-
ness and Religion;" j. Z. Tracy,
Chinago, on" Propaganda, "and William
l.. Bryan, president OF the University
Of Indiana, on Christianity in the
Great Universities. DR.. ID. H. No
Gill was to have Bpoken on the "Domi-
mating Principle in Mems Orgnniza-
tion, but he was unable to be present
and his addresslwna read by DIR. j. w.
Witherspoon, chairman Of Freedman q
missions.
DR.. McGiH's address struck the
keynote OF the convention when he
said:
my friends, 1 have known the fel.
lowship Of the church in her great as
sembliea for many years and have
wished q thousand times that the
business men Of our congregation could
have the same JOY and inspiration. /
have known the Joy Of the young peo-
pies movement from the time Of ita
organization, and l assure } ou nothing
sweeter has come into my life than the
fellowship IL afforded. 1 hail with
delight this new movement Of the
Twentieth Century, In which the bust
ness men Of our denomination shall
find at the same time a social and a
strenuous life, new affection and q
noble activity. "
Mr.. Tracy's address on "Propa-
gandn" was an exhaustive and inter
Il NnNAAM AUNAhM VI NnU N1MNANlOun UICs
vailinR In the church TODAY. He
pointed out numerous methods by
which the power and influence Of the
church might be extended. lie said
she greatest lack In the denomination
today is that Of wholesome self-appTe-
citation. He spoke of the fresh i'm
pulses Of loyalty and devotion brought
about by the meeting of the afternoon
and the presence of so many repTeuen-
tative men. The lack of men for the
ministry and the need Of training the
youth OF the church in this calling
were mentioned, and plans for improv-
ing the situation suggested. lie aleo
spoke Of thu need Of an aggressive
agency for starting new congregations.
During the convention b. II. Brown
lee of Washington, Pa, spoke on
Reasons for encouragement and for
humiliation in the financial record Of
our church. Mr.. Brownlee intro
duced figures showing the growth Of
the contributions for home and foreign
missions, but declared it was a cause
for humiliation that no change had
been made In the average salary for
the ministers within the last decade.
lie said the real cause for humiliation
was that in the country the annual ex-
penditures for chewing gum, tobacco,
liquor and other things of the sort
were far IN excess of the contributions
for church work. A general confer
enoe on the toPio followed, IN which
Rev. q. u. Ray Of Avalon, Rev. Press
Icy Thompson Of Washington, Pa.
Rev. W. W. Reid of DonoTa, w. p.
White Of Sc. Louis and others partici-
pated. The need of systematic and
/ hnntu -ItIF. aan1raN - - -.
and handling of church funds was EN- :
phaaized by all other speakers. The
third topic was taken up by j. w.
Duff of Sterling, Kan, who opeuC d
the discussion OF "How oan we apply
business principles 10 the work OF the
church 2" Reference was mnde 10 the
manner In which great corporations
conduct their affairs 30 as TO get the
best results, and the speaker consid-
cred the church had much 90 learn in
this regard. Major Burchfield, Rev.
w. b. Smiley Of Canonsburg and others
spoke on the same line. The session
closed with the singing of Psalm and
the Offering OF prayer for ths welfare
of the conference.
Following is the minute prepared by
Revs. II. A. G.. Westeriield, John Nj.
Artess and Henry q. Turner. oom-
mittee OF .he Wilmington M. E.
Preachers Association, with regard 20
the work of Evangelist j. o. Chap
man:
To Whom Il May Concern; We note with
JOY the splendid success Of the union evan
geiistic services recently held in this city
under the leadership of Rev. DR.. ]. q.
Chapman OF Newark, n. j., supported by
the forces Of our local Methodism.
The coming Of DR.. Chapman TO our city
was In great measure providential, and
the results Of his faithful labors among us
will long abide.