New-York tribune., 1907-04-05
METHODISTS FLOURISH.
REPORTS SHOW ADVANCE.
Help Wanted for India-Dr. abbott
TO the Clergy.

7bs morning session Of the second day of the
Sew York conference OF the Methodist EpiscopaI
Tshureh was begun yesterday at 10 o'clock in the
r-nion Methodist Episcopal Church. sSth street.
-eor Broadway. Bishop Berry presided.
Tssnorts from the presiding elders OF the various
districts were read. The Rev. Dr. P. NJ Waters
rsnresented the New York district, the Rev DR. H
A Palmer the Poughkeepsie district, the Rev. Dr-
Arthur Jameson the Newburg district and the Rev
n Frank Wilson the Kingston district The re-
,orts showed the Church 10 be in a hourishing
condition.
The conference sermon was preached by the
pev. DR. Robert Bagnen. OF the Metropolitan Tenn
ME who spoke on 1.-THE Divine Purpose in Human
sodety" The resident bishop DIR. Charles II.
Fowler who has been seriously i'll. received warm
reception when he appeared yesterday morning and
spoIe a few words OF welcome 20 the conference
The former president bishop, DIR. Andrews, also
received a cordial greeting from the conference.
Announcement was made Of the death Of Bishop
Jarnes n FITZGERALD, OF ST. Louis who died in
China where he visiting the various missions
of the Church. he information came in cable
dspatch received yesterday morning. The cause OF
death was given pleurisy. The cable dispatch
came from Shanghai. but failed TO state at what
place IN China the Bishop died.
The Rev. d. w s. Matthews. representing the
Pacific Coast churches that suffered loss in the
earthquake last year. told OF the disaster and the
recuperntion that has already been Effected by the
churches.
The first part OF the afternoon was given up to
the Wonan's Foreign Missionary Society OF the
conference Mrs Henry Waters presided. and the
devotional exercises were conducted by Mrs Philip
Waters.
The reports OF the district secretaries were read
Mrs. Dayton z. Slater appearing for the Kingston
district Miss Anna C. Helms for Newburg. Mrs.
B. F. Hayiland for New York and Mrs. H. l.
Cool1ingham for Poughkeepsie. The reports showed
great interest IN foreign missionary work in all
the districts embraced by the conference. The re-
port OF the treasurer. Miss Edith r. Bait. showed
that ESIs2 q was subscribed for foreign missions
by the society last year
The Rev c. A. R. Janyier, Presbyterian mis-
sionary stationed in India delivered an address
on Opportunity in the East-Responsibility in the
West" lie said this was most opportune mo-
ment 10 advance the cause OF Christianity in the
countries OF the Orient, spirit Of unrest and
inquiry had within the last few years succeeded
the apathy and torpor which have rested upon the
people for so many centuries. AS examples he
cited the fact that not only members Of the nobility
IN Persia had embraced Christianity. but that also
some OF the regning family. princes OF the blood,
had joned the Christian Church In China, he said.
he New Testament was used textbook in the
schools Of two provinces. He thought II the duty
OF the Christians OF America 20 take advantage of
she opportunity offered and increase missionary
effort in those countries
At the end OF the missionary meeting DR.. Lyman
Abbott addressed the conference on The Function
of the Christian Ministry Dr. Abbott said the
best definition Of religion he had read was one
hat had been given IN the eighteenth. or perhaps
the seventeenth. century. The life OF God in the
soul of man." He said religion was certainly some
sort of relation between the soul of man and the
living Cod and that the chief work OF the preacher
was 70 minister % that relation.
he szid the primitive Church was In politics.
II was also q charity organization. II dominated
the schools But the State. he said, had so i'm
proved that all these functions had been taken
from the Church and II was not desirable TO take
them over again. The teacher ministers but little
10 the relation between God and the soul OF man.
he said: the charity dispenser less. and the poll
rician not at all DR.. Abbott said the minister
should do al IN his power 10 teach reverence for
law ana reverence for an interchange Of service
between men. in this way ne could advance the
social, intellectual and moral webeing OF the
nation.