The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-28
Address of Bishop Marvin before the
wesleyan Conference at Brfato1,.
England. ~ s.7s-

Following are extracts from the proceed
ings eli the late Wesleyan Methodist Con-
ference at Bristol, England. as published in
the London Watchman and Wesleyan i'd
uertiscr Of August LIST. The address OF
Bishop Marvin was delivered on the eve
ming OF Thursday, July 26th:
The secretary Of the Conference intro
duced to The president and the Conference
Bishop E. NJ. Marvin and his travelling
companion, the Rev. E. r. Henricks, re-
representatives. OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church South.
Bishop Marvin said that he and his COL
league had been paying an official visit to
their mission stations among the remote
heather In China. Since then they had been
on tour Of inspection OF missionary work
for practical ends through India and Syria,
Turkey and Egypt. They were now pass
ing through Europe. It was their purpose
from the beginning II they could so arrange
their stages OF travel to see the Wesleyan
Conference, but they expected to do so on
their own personal account merely. During
their absence from home, however, the Col
lege OF Bishops, at their annual meeting in
May last, acted formally in the matter and
empowered them to act az their representa-.
tives. He had no need to say anything about
the extension OF Metbodism in the United
States OF America; but. with oil modesty
and humility he would remind the Confer
cnce that Mr.. Henricks and himself re-
presented the largest body of Methodists ia
the world except one-viz., the Methodist
Episcopal Church North, which was about
twice rs large as their own. Hear. But in
their remote homes and remote labors they
always thought OF the Wesleyan Conference
- ~
us ALL" lHear, hear.] The Methodist Epis-
copal Church South numbered 100000
members. He wished TO state. a few facts
without going too much into detail. In the
first place, the Methodist Episcopal Church
South was not inert with regard to the
great enterprise that was intended to evan
geliZe mankind. There were eleven weekly
denominational newspapers printed and
supported by the Methodist Episcopal
Church South. Some OF these were Of q
very high order Of weekly religious litera-
ture, and all OF them maintained high re-
ligious tone. Hear, hear.1 Besides this,
they had publishing-house, very large
one, that printed and circulated great num-
bers OF Wesley's sermons, Watson's The
illogical Institutes" and other standard
books. Hear, hear.l In addition to this
general religious literature, there were
three Sunday-school periodicals published
at Nashville, and these had large circula-
ton. AS to the matter OF education. he
might state that they had eleven respecta-
bic colleges, the bona .fde property OF the
Church, and some Of them tolerably we'll en-
lowed of learning that would
compare favorably with any other colleges
in-the country. Hear, hear.l Besides that,
they had one great University, the gift OF
one man, and he not member OF their
Church, very large building, with all the
faculties Of law, medicine, theology, in adj
dition to a very thorough curriculum in the
scientific and literary department. That
institution was situated at Nashville, Tenn,
with permanent endowment OF bali q mil
lion dollars [Applause.l They would see,
therefore, that that Church Of 100000 men,
berS had not been entirely inactive. [Hear,
hcar.l A great deal Of earnest work bad
been done which had crystalized into these
results. The percentage OF Methodists on
the population OF the southern States was
as large, or larger, than that in the northern
States; and in several Of the southern States
their Church occupied most commanding
position. As to their missionary operations,
they were not doing what they desired
to do. But it should be remembered
that the entire country occupied by
them had been desolated by war. They did
not complain OF anybody. They accepted
it with humility. He believed that the
piety Of the Southern Church had been deep
ened and elevated since the war, and they
had the fullest faith that the effects OF it had
been. OF most happy and salutary charac-
ter upon the Church at large. Hear, hear
When the war was ended their missionary
treasury was $4,000 in debt, and they were
eft without resources. They struggled
under it for some years, but now God was
smiling upon their fields again, and they
had to-day in the way OF missions: l. An
annual conference OF nearly twenty mem
bers amongst the native Indians-the
aboriginees of the country-and a very
great work was being done there. 2. A
German mission in Texas, which was &C
q great deal among the Ger
mans. 8. A border Mexican mission that
had wonderful history. 4. Missions in
Mexico, where q revolutionary struggle had
been going on for the past fifty years. The
Mexican people were struggling for consti-
.utional liberty, but the priests were against
hem. and had been so from the beginning.
The Methodist Episcopal Church South,
:owever, had fairly cstablisbed itself in the
heart of that country. [CheeFs.] D. They
had also mission in Brazil; and 6. They
lad three missionaries, and were now send
nS out q fourth missionary to China. That
vas what they were doing in the way OF
MISSIONS. lApplause.l He might say fur
her that OF late their people had had the
missionary spirit stirred up within them in
remarkable manner; .they were showing an
interest and zeal in the subject beyond
III precedent and all history. [Hear, hear.]
And now he brought to the British Confer
nee the greeting of 700, 900 Methodist people |
hat loved God. loved the doctrines of Metho'
lism, who revered the name Of Wesley,
md looked to them as "Jerusalem, the
mother of us all.'' [Applause.] One thing
vas little singular. In democratic
America, Methodism had Powered at once !
nto Episcopacy, and yet such was not,the
,ase in England. But they believed in lay
epresentation-lhear, hear their laymen
never clamored for it; there was no desire
or it; no .layman ever said to them: "Give
ls place in the Conference -; but they saw
hat their laymen were taking too little in |
crest in the church; they were leaving
to the ministers; and so they
aid bring the laymen into the Conference.
Hear, hear.l He was bound TO say that with
hem this had acted like charm so far rs
hey were concerned. He did not pretend to
know what WAS the exact state OF feeling OF
English Mcthodists in reference to that sub
ect, but they were evidently moving in the |
direction he had indicated; and yet such
we're the anomalies Of human society that |
ust now, all at once, by single bound in the |
lierarchical direction, they had put them
elves absolutely undera Pope! Laughter
nd cheers.l He had seen the Wesleyan
Conference, by a large and enthusiastic |
-ota- pnthrone q Pope over itself. He had |