The Washington herald., 1907-10-20

Mrs a B. Lacey: corresponding secre-
tary, AIRS D. r. Street; treasurer, Mrs.
Frank T. Israel
Many interesting addresses and bright
thoughts marked the sessions Of the Ma
tional Association Of Local Preachers OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church. which
held its semi-centennial anniversary at
the Metropolitan Church. from October II
10 l5. Monday evening was especially in
teresting, il being the occasion Of the
reception 20 the English delegates. Rev.
> T. Sherwood presided. The address OF
the evening as delivered by Rev. Henry
Emmerson, OF Birmingham. England.
who came as a delegate from the Wes-
leyan Local Preachers Aid Society. This
sOciety's aim, he explained, is 10 help
financially any local preacher who, by
reason of age or poor health Is forced TO
stop work and stands in need OF assist
ance- Rev. Mr.. Emmerson paid an elo-
quent and glowing tribute TO the noble
work done by the local preachers Of Eng
land, Of whom there are 5000. The local
preacher, he said, is as old as the priest
hood, and among England's local preach
ers may be found the most intellectual
and cultured men, as well as farmers and
laboreTs. and between them are no class
distinctions He called attention to the
fact that out of the twenty-five Labor
members of the House of Commons.
eleven are local preachers. There were
short addresses by Rev John Corbett.
Rev. G. W. Finlaw. Rev. Cotton Amy.
and Rev. /. f. Graham.
At the suggestion Of the pastor. Rev.
Samuel NJ Afford. Grace Methodist Epis-
copaI Church, beginning last Sunday. OBJ
served old home week Special services
were held throughout the week. and
where it was possible former pastors
who are now stationed elsewhere were
invited to hll the pulpit Old members of
the church and congregation who have
left the church were hunted up and asked
TO be present
An event Of especial Importance in
church history during the past year was
the organization Of the Japan Methodist
Church. Three churches at work in Ia
paE-the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, the Methodist Episcopal Church.
and the Methodist Church OF Canada
agreed 10 unite and form the new de-
nomination. The first general conference
otthe Japan Methodist Church met In
the chapel of AOyama College. Tokyo.
last May. under six commissioners. .repre-
senting the three uniting churches. The
Methodist Episcopal Church was repre-
Sented by Bishop Earl Cranston and A.
B. Leonard, the Methodist EPISCOPAL
Church South by Bishop Aipheus w. VIII
son and W. 4. Lambeth, and the Metho-
dist Church OF Canada by General Super-
intendent A. Carmen and Alexander Suth-
erland. After the preliminary arrange
ments had been decided upon. the com
mittee on episcopacy recommended the
election of one bishop. and on Saturday.
June ]. Rev. Yoitsu Honda was elected TO
that office The conservation sermon was
delivered by Bishop Alpheus ". Wilson.
Bishop Wilson was at one time pastor of
Mount Vernon Place Church. this city.
and Is vice chancellor OF the American
University. The conservation services
We're conducted by Bishop Earl Cranston.
resident bishop Of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church in Washington After his
conservation, Bishop Honda was formally
presented to the conference. which he
presided over until the final adjournment
mo was AllN 41LcL at III lHuiCHEnK the
new Japan Methodist Church, which en-
ters life with membership Of 1900.
Bishop Honda has the distinction Of be-
ing not only the first Methodist BlshoD Of
Japan, but the first japanese to be elect
ed to that office by any Christian denom-
ination, Protestant or Catholic. He came
to America TO ft himself for the ministry
and was educated at Drew Theological
Seminary. He has been identified with
the work of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Japan since 1872. In 1890 he
was chosen president Of the Anglo-Japa-
nese College at Aoyama, Tokyo. where
he remained until his election to the epis-
copacy. He is said to possess qualities
which eminently qualify him for the
larger administrative position intrusted to
him, as he is strong. conservative, firm.
and unfiinching in the discharge Of duties:
but, with sympathies wide as humanity
Bishop Honda has been called by a lead
Ing Presbyterian paper the pine tree
among japanese Christians"