The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-02
THE METHODIST MINISTERS.
Prospects or Frsternization and Organic
Union Between the Methodist Episc0-
nal Churches North and south.

Prospects OF Fraternixa ton and Org nic
Union Between the Methodist Episco-
pal Churches North and south.
Yesterday was devotional day with the Metho-
dist Episcopal preachers. and after several
prayers had been offered up and hymns sung, the
Rev. B. w. Gorham an evangelist who has been
laboring during the past winter and spring in
Illinois, Wisconsin and Nebraska, being invited
gave an interesting sketch OF his work. He
looked upon the past winter as the best and most
glorious in all mis- ministry. He had seen greater
displays OF Divine grace and power than he had
ever witnessed be ore. He had seen more con.
yerts brought into the Church and more peculiar
cases Of conversion than ever before. Besotted
drunkards, who had gone to his meetings In their
drunkenness and been cut to the heart by the
power OF the Gospel truth, were converted, and ne
gave two interesting cases OF men Of that class,
named Curry and Steel, who are now dong mis-
sion work in Nebraska.
DIR. A. s. Hunt, OF Brooklyn, addressed the meet
ing on MS reception by the &c neral Conference OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church South which met
In Louisville, KY, last month DR.. Hunt, together
with DR.. Fowler, President OF the Northwestern
University, or Evanston, Ill. and General Clinton
B. Fisk, OF Missouri. were appointed By the bishops
Oft the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1872 alter tine
adjournment OF the General Conference in Brook
lyn, commission to bear the fraternal greetings
Of tnaI body to their brethren OF tue southern
Methodist Episcopal Church. Since the separation
on the slavery question In 1874 the two Meth0disms
have held no official relations. In ls4s
DIR. LOVICK PIERCE,
still living In his ninetynrst year, was sent BY the
Southern Church as :raterna delegate to the
M = rs
Ing ever since, until the war interviewed and re-
moved the disturbing element. Then the last Gen.
eral Conference authorized the bishops to appoint
this fraternal commission.
The members OF the commission met in Cncins
agreed on their mOGe Of procedure From all the
evidence they had before them they could hardly
expect reception at all much less sucn one as
TALLY assigned TO home with an old college mate
OF his. Dr. Smith, whom he had not seen Tor years
and who greeted him most cordially. The leading
men OF the Church South in the Conference also
showed their JOY at the suspicious event. And
some OF the older members who had been In the
struggles OF ~ wept with Joy that they had lived
to see such day. The citizens OF Louisville took
up the same spirit and wed with each other to
make the commission feel as welcome as II they
were among personal friends The day OF their
reception by the Genera Conference, May 8, was
one OF wonderful spiritual power and manlesta-
ton OF the Divine presence, and the Louisville pa
pers were full or the proceedings next day and
gave editorials to IL predicting
THE ORGANIC REUNION
OF the two branches OF Metnodism Mr..
Speed. the most prominent Methodist belonging
to the Church North, in Louisville, invited about
sixty OF the most prominent members OF the Con-
ference-Dlshops presbyters judges, &c.-together
with ministers oil different denominations in the
city, to meet the commission at his house, where
the most cordial reception was given the repre-
sentatlves of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
effort was made at the close OF this address
to have the question Of the disturbances OF Or
ganlc union between
THE TWO METHODISMS
discussed by the meeting, but the sense OF the
brethren was AGAINST sucn discussion at this
time. The question OF woman Suffrage was then
proposed. and Mr.. Buckley, of Brooklyn was ap-
pointed to open the DEBATE bur his necessary alb
sence IN another engagement on next Monday
caused q postponement Of this topic. Several
other theological and practical themes were sug
gested and laid aside. and the Rev. M. s. Terry
was requested to read an essay before the meeting
next Monday.