The Washington herald., 1908-05-06
All Races Are RepPesentedat at
Methodist Conference.
SESSIONS OPEN THIS MORNING
Meetings Being Held I'm Lyric The
ater-Pacifc Coast Has Two Csndi-
dates for BiShOprics-NegrOe Want
a BishoD-Race Question May b.
Involved in the Result.
Epscisl 70 The Washington Hsrld.

morning. It consisted of the delegates TO
the General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. which opens to-mor-
row They came from the ends of the
earth. China, Japan. India. Sweden. Ger
many Italy. Switzerland, Africa, Canada,
and North and South America have sent
men TO bear greetings TO the conference,
either as delegates or fraternal visitors.
In addition. there were men from every.
State and large city in this country.
Here and there scattered about the
building were groups of men Of the same
nationality. Suddenly one would break
away. and rushing across the room to an
other group, would grasp a man by the
hand as if he were a long-lost brother
and in broken English speak his name.
Stories Of the last and previous confer
ences were told and little incidents re-
called.
President OF Japanese College.
Among the first arrivals was Dir. Z.
Sasamori, president Of the Chenzri Col
lege Of Japan He left home several
weeks ago. After long journey across
the Pacific Ocean and the American con-
ing. just one day ahead Of time. He
comes as the fraternal delegate OF the
Methodist Church In Japan. Several men
gave him a royal greeting. They had
gone TO De Pauw University with him If
teen years ago. Others met him at the
great church gathering in Denmark some
years ago. He carried a sword several
hundred years old, which he brought as a
gift TO a friend.
Just beyond him was group Shaking
hands with Rev. Dr. K A. Johnson. the
delegate from Stockholm Sweden. He
is president of the Theological School
there DR.. Johnson is Swede by birth.
but has many relatives in this country.
lie arrived a month ago.
Everything is in shape for the open
ing tomorrow. Partitions have been built,
offices have been fitted up. telephone
booths have been installed. and telegraph
wires have been run into the building
The dining-room IS being fitted 10, and
will be ready for service tomorrow.
Conference Called To-day.
Conference will be called 10 order
promptly ct 10 O'Clock tomorrow morning
Bishop D. A Goodsel will not be ready
10 read the Episcopal address tomorrow.
It will be read Thursday morning. As a
result, only organization viii be effected
and such business done as can come up
before the address is read The bishops
will take turns in presiding.
The board OF bishops met al the Hotel
Belvedere this morning 10 complete
the final draft OF its report and to wind
up its work The board Of control Of the
Epworth League held its last session be-
fore making its report to the conference
this morning number Of other
committees held meetings at the various
hotels.
Two Candidates from West.
The Pacific Coast has two candidates
for bishopric honors. Rev. DR.. Robert
Mcintyre. pastor Of the First Methodist
Episcopal Church at Los Angeles. and
Rev. DR.. Freeman y. Vavard, of Berkeley.
The latter is both preacher and an ed
itor. DR.. Mcintyre began his career as a
mason and brieklayer. Later he studied
at Vanderbilt University. He built the
first church of which he was pastor with
his own hands. Later he became pastor
Of a church in Chicago. on which he had
been a bricklayer
Rev Edward G. Randall. head OF the
Epworth League, is here.
''The EpwOrth League is all right" said
Mr.. Randall to-day. Since the last
General Conference. four years ago. il
has added more than 1900 chapters to IT'S
membership. There are as many chapters
to-day as there are Methodist pastors
The league is self-supporting. The chill
dren contribute their pennies, their nick
els and their dimes so abundantIy. and
willingly, too that We do not have to
seek assistance elsewhere.
Admirer OF Bryan.
It have intense admiration for william,
Jennings Bryan" said Dr. Randall
though I have never voted for him.
was attending the Nebraska conference
last year when Mr.. Bryan made an ad-
dress by invitation. I suppose the Demo-
Gratis present were few and far between.
but the ovation given him was truly
magnificent demonstration. The purity of
his life and the manhood displayed in his
declarations appeal to all men who ad-
mire bravery and sfngleness Of purpose. -
Il believe that Methodist bishops are
the greatest travellers in the world" said
Bishop Hartzell to-day who is carrying
the bapner Of Methodism to illuminate
darkest Africa
In the last two years have Travelled
10000 miles, and for several years my
average has not been under so Co.,"
One of the most interesting men here
for the conference is Rev. William r
WhitlOck. OF Delaware. Ohio, who for
forty-nine consecutive years has been q
professor in the Ohio Wesleyan Univer-
sty, the famous Methodist institution at
which some Of the most noted men OF
the country have received their education
He taught Senator Foraker pretty much
all the Latin that renowned statesman
ever learned. and likewise he performed
the same service for Vice President
Fairbanks. both having been students at
the ONO Wesleyan.
Negroes Want a Bishop.
The eighty-fve eolored delegates to the
conference will renew the fight for a
bishop of their own race. Bishop Scott.
of Africa, is the only colored bishop now
in the church. At the general confer
ence four years ago 271 votes were poHed
for colored bishop. The colored dele
gates ara divided between Dir. L. C. p.
Mason, o. Cincinnati and secretary of the
Freedman's Aid Society. and Dr. j. w
u. b0Wen- president Of Gammin TheOl0g-
zeal Seminary Atlanta Ga
The race question may come up on a
proposition TO divert ali the funds of the
Freedman's Aid Society to the colored
race.
Bishop J.W, Hamilton is to preside at the
opening of the conference. Bishop Ham
iton, of San Francisco, is a Well-knoWn
figure in Methodist circles IN the far
West He was preSidiner over a confer
ence in Vermont when San Francisco
was laid low by earthquake and fire.
His family escaped, though he lost his
home, which be has since rebuilt.
Nt,t,,o. e.. E,t-. -.