Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-15
THE ASSEMBLING OF THE METH
ODIST BISHOPS, TO-DAY.

The highest dignitaries OF the Metho-
! dist Episcopal Church begin a council
in our city to-day. 1t is fact worthy
Of public attention. The Church over
which these men preside is a powerful
organization. IL Is church which has
94 annual conferences, 24,06S travelling
and local preachers, l,6SS, 1888 lay mem
bers, !, 727, S27 Sunday school teachers
and scholars, and property in churches
and parsonages to the amount OF $751;
! 14O,S66. 1t is a Church with an im-
mense publishing house, with numer-
Gus periodicals, having an aggregate
circulation of hundreds of thousands,
with compact and active societies Tor
the promotion of missions, education,
church building, Sunday School work,
tract distribution, the instruction and
Christianization of the freedmen, and
for other kindred objects. Great atten-
ton has been given by the Methodist
/ Church TO the work Of education, and
there are colleges and seminarles IN
every part of the country, some oil them
of very high grade, under the control oil
the denomination. The Methodist
/ Church has always been considered an
active, vigorous, growing church. Meth
odism was defined by DIR. CHALMERS as
christianity in earnest, and DIR. y.
STEVENS, the popular historian OF the
Methodist Church, declares that 1t is
revival church in its spirit, and mis-
sionary church in its organization. Such
a body, however regarded, must be
great power in any community or ma
/ ton.
The NJ. f. Church has missions in
Mexico, in South America, in Germany,
in Norway, in Sweden, in Italy, in
India, in China, in Japan and in Africa.
There are two annual conferences in
India. one in Germany and switzerland,
one in China and one in Africa. These
mission conferences and the missions
generally, whether organized as annual
conferences or not, are visited and su-
peryised by the Bishops.
The highest executive and legislative
authority Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church is in the General Conference
which meets once in five years, and is
composed of clerical and lay members
chosen from the respective annual con-
ferences. This body makes rules and
regulations for the government OF the
Church, subject tocertain constitutional
restrictions. IL elects the Bishops, des-
ignates theirresidences and defines their
duties.
The Bishops are more or less in num-
Der, as the General Conference deter
termines, and have joint episcopal
oversight of the whole church. Their
diocese is worldwide in extent. They
preside in all the annual conferences,
appoint all the preachers to their
churches, and exercise general super
vision over all MethOdistic interests.
The details of the work, however, they
arrange for themselves, and it is for this
purpose tina! they are now in session in
this city.
The men elevated to the EpiscOpacy
are in themselves worthy OF cOnsidera-
ton. OF course, there are in the church
Just as able, cultured and eloquent
men as those who are chosen Bishops;
but it may be fairly presumed that those
who are elected to this high office are,
in some particulars, ii not in many, re-
markable men. This is eminently
true in respect to the pres
ent Board OF Methodist Bishops.
They are men Of fine presence, great adj
ministratiye skill, wide observation,
liberal culture, extensive knowledge Of
men and things, and recognized power
in the pulpit and on the platform.
Bishops SCOTr and SrNIPSON are the Sc
nior bishops. They were elected by the
General Conference of 1852, and have
ever since been occupied with their
Episcopal labor, and have become gen.
orally known to the church and coun-
try. Bishop SCoTT was book agent at
New York when he was chosen TO the
Episcopacy. He is one OF the purest
and nOblest of men. He has marked
common sense, excellent judgment, UNI
wearied patience at his work, and the
feryor of devoted piety. He has rem
dered the church valuable service which
can never be forgotten. He is now an
old man and must soon cease from his
tolls. His sun is sinking out Of sightin
a golden sky.
Bishop SIMPSON is the Apollos of
Mcthodism. lie is an eloquent man
nj mighty in the Scriptures. He was
an editor before he was a bishop and
he is good scholar and a fine writer.
lie has great tact in the management Of
men, and is a superior administrator in
every regard. He Is close student oil
the church and the world. There are
very few subjects o,which he has no
knowledge. Socially he is a charming
man, with great personal magnetism,
and manifest sincerity and truthtulness.
But his princely power is before public
assembly. Heis a king in the pulpit
He is full OF sympathy and earnestness,
and his auditors melt before him as wax
before the fire. There are thous
auds of men in America and
Europe who have hung enraptured
on his lips and the traditions
Of his clogueuce will remain in the
church for generations lie has pub
lished more latterly than in the prime