The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-20
This Decision Reached Yester.
day Owing to the Great Sue
cess Of the Centennial cele-
brati0n.
OLD TIME Meeting
WAS A BIG feature.
A. H. Kenna Rode About the
Grounds Costumed as a Cir
cult Rider, Recalling Mem
.0ries to Older Members,

With ideal weather conditions and
large crowd the celebration Of the
Methodist centennial in Wayne coun-
ty was held yesterday afternoon 1t
the chautauQua grounds and was Q
great success. The big tent was pack.
ed to its utmost capacity and a spleu-
did program WAS rendered which wa
thoroughly enjoyed by all. In fact the
affair was such a great success that
1t was decided to make the gathering
OF Methodists in Wayne county an
annual event and Methodist day
to be held at the Glen sometime dur.
Ing the summer Of each year will b
decided upon later.
A. Fl. kenna, costumed a. q circuit
rider OF the pioneer days rode on
horseback through the grounds In the
early part OF the afternoon and his
presence caused many OF the older
Methodfsts to recall wildly the days
of early hardships and the difficulties
OF worship. The exhibition OF old
relics aroused much interest and NO
difficulty was encountered In selling
the small wooden paper weights, saw.
ed from one of the original logs OF the
first meeting house ever built in
Wayne county on the old Smith farm
northwest of the city. The novelties
sold for ten cents apiece and there
was a great demand for them.
MedeAris In Address.
Perhaps the most interesting Tea,
ture in connection with the celebra-
ton was the presence of Fletcher Me-
dearis of Greensboro the oldest Meth
odist in the county. who will be 100
years of age on November l6 OF this
year. He was the guest of honor and
occupied a prominent place on the
platform. where he appeared to be
greatly enjoying himself. Mr.. Medear.
is was asked to make a speech and
| willingly responded. He stated that
he was born on November l6. 1903.
| That he joined the Methodist church
before he was 81 and had always been
faithful and conciencious worker for
the Lord and realized that he must
soon go to his reward. 'ln the crisis
OF life nothing will satisfy bat the
religion of the Lord Jesus" declared
Mr.. Medearis. In closing he stated
that he had had many hardships.
trials and tribulations during the
course OF his long life but that through
It all he always had implicit faith In
God. His remarks were greeted with
cordial and appreciative applause.
DR.. d. w. Stevenson presided over
the meeting which was conducted In
the old fashioned manner typical Of
the olden times when there were NO
hymn books. DR.. Stevenson ID . form
er medical missionary to China and
president Of the Methodist Brother
hood Of the First NJ. E. church Of this
city which was instrumental I'm n.
ranging for the celebration.
Bishop Moors spsaiss.
Bishop David H Moore Of Cncin-
natl delivered the leading address OF
the afternoon and held the interest OF
the audience throughout his entire
talk His remarks were purely ex-
temporaneous and were replete With
witty remarks and eloquent appeals.
He dwelt at length on the progress Of
l
| and the extreme hardship OF the pion-
eer days. In part he spoke ~ follows:
One has no idea Of the hardships and
difficulties Of the earip settlers in e.
tablishing the Methodist religion In
Wayne county. There was NO such
thing rs a salary for the preachers in
those days They didn't want any sal
ary for the spirit Of God and love OF
worship was imbued in their souls.
The pioneers blazed the trail for q
greater civilization and the ring Of the
| woodman's Ak had the ring Of appeal
/ greater by far than the bells Of the
cathedral. All those hardships have
passed away and beautiful religion
IL now the result But the principle
Of Methodism ia always the same The
cardinal truths will never change and
sin. faith. work and salvation lie Inn
perishably in the heart Of every Meth
odist district and will unto the ends
Of the EARTH
The Bishop slated that the futur.
would doubles zee far greater
changes within the course Of the next
100 years than the past N the wireless
telegraph, steam. electricity and aero
| planes were only in the beginning q
their development. He declared that
political and moral reform were ad-
vancing and predicted . great change
in this particular. He attributed the
social and moral uplifting entirely to
the growth OF Christianity. Bishop
Moore spoke In glowing terms of John
Smith, one q the earliest settlers and
founders a. the NethodiSt rellg1oo q
this county. He stated that Il ~
lCootinue0 Ftu0 Paee y1vol