Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-15
BIDS FINAL ADIEU
TO BISHOP HAMILTON
CITY METHODIST UNION GIVES
FAREWELL RECEPTION
Speakers Testify to Immense Growth
Of the Church During the Eight
Years Their Guest
Held Office

BISHOP JOnn w. hdnllIOn, lot the
/ past eight years Methodist bishop for
the state of California, will leave next
Monday for Boston confirmed and
/ enthusiastic booster for Los Angeles.
When Bishop Hamilton came to Los
Angeles eight years ago the slogan
was for a population of 250,000 by the
year 1870 Bishop Hamilton imme-
diately put the number at half a mill
| lion people, and last night, at his fare
well reception, again emphasized his
first prophecy, saying 1t would re that
| if not more even If Los Angeles had
to follow the example of some eastern
| cities and annex her citizens.
The City Methodist union last night
rendered a farewell reception to Bish-
| op Hamilton at the First Methodist
church, which was largely attended by
| the many admirers OF the bishop and
Mrs. Hamilton. Next Monday they
leave for Boston, where they will be
the coming four years. 1t will not be
as strangers that they will return to
the eastern city, for they were sta
toned there before coming to Cali
fornia.
w. F. Cronemiller, president of the
union, presided at the reception last
night. Rev. E. A. Healy opened with
prayer, which was followed by an an
them by the church choir. DR.. S. A,
Thomson, district supervisor, was the
first speaker of the evening, and told
of his experiences on coming to Los
Angeles twenty-three years ago, con-
trasting them with the Methodism of
today. At that time there was only the
old Fort street church, where now
there are fifty churches of the denom-
ination in Los Angeles.
"Since Bishop Hamilton came to this
coast we have witnessed our greatest
growth and success" said the speaker.
at is with regret that we say good by
tonight but we will never forget you
and your manhood will be an example
to us in the years to come"
Spencer Robinson gave a tenor solor,
which was followed by the introduc-
tion of DR.. Bovard, president of the
University of Southern California.
Mr.. Cronemiller, in introducing Dr.
Bovard, said it was impossible for
three of the district supervisors to be
present, and that they had secured the
one man able to fill the places of three.
After speaking of the election of
Bishop Hamilton for California DR.. Bo-
ward paid a high compliment to Mrs.
Hamilton, whose work had been al
ways for the upbuilding of church in
stitutions.
when Bishop Hamilton came to Los
Angeles" said the speaker, 1--WE were
looking up, but we were on our back
and couldn't look any other way. This
year our enrolment was 1887, with a
graduating class of 147. We cannot for
get Bishop Hamilton and the work he
has done for u.s."
Dr. Bovard spoke at length on the
work being accomplished by the uni
versity and paid high tribute to the
aid and assistance rendered that in
stitution by the departing bishop.
Miss Fannie Marple gave solo and
was followed by DR.. Atkinson. who
spoke for the Methodists of Los An
geles. He said: Bishop Hamilton came
to California at most auspicious time.
The whole country was going forward
on a great wave Of temporal prosper
ity. There were wonderful opportuni-
ties before the church, and we were
fortunate in securing such a man. His
motto was then BE just as big as you
are,' and it shall continue to be ours.
We stand just at the beginning, and
those to follow through the years to
come will have much fop which to
thank the bishop who presided during
the first eight years of the twentieth
century in the state of California"
DR.. Atkinson presented Bishop Ham
ilton with certified check for $3.50, ex-
pressing the desire that when he
reached Boston he should purchase a
large nail CLOCK IOr nlIISelL anu ldil~
lily as a reminder of the love and es-
TEEN in which he is held by the Meth
odists of Southern California.
Bishop Hamilton followed, thanking
the people for the gift and promising
that he would get the best for the
money and pass 1t down through the
generations as a reminder of eight
happy years.
After relating an amusing anecdote
of a general returning to his home
town Bishop Hamilton said;
ST assure you that all these kind
words will not so swell my head that
l shall forget whence they came. l
have learned to love and appreciate
the friends who have spoken tonight; l
know myself and my own weakness.
but l am sincere when l say that l
have not done one-tenth of what I
saw it possible to do. / came here at
an opportune time and would not be
so vain as to assume that the large
share of what has been accomplished
is due to me. Far more is due to you
and those you represent.
"In the eight years that l have been
in California have crossed the conti-
nent eight times, the ocean four times;
have travelled 10000 miles by the Pa
cific; established missions in Alaska
and in Hawaii and have been in Old
Mexico two years. In that time I have
received the most courteous treatment
ever accorded a man. 1t has come to
be understood that the Methodist
church has so much heart in 1t that we
welcome every one"
Bishop Hamilton closed with an ap-
peal to return to the old faith of John
Wesley and the old-fashioned soul
stirring hymns.
Following the program an informal
reception was rendered the Bishop,
Mrs. Hamilton and their daughter, in
the Sunday school room. and the many
friends assembled bade bood by to one
of the most popular bishops that Cali
fornia has sent from her episcopal res
idence to other work.
Bishop Hamilton and family Will
leave Monday for the east.