The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-11-05
Ghe. G1telLiqs1lren.
AaREAT c0NRERENCE.
An Esumspieal oaiherisE OF netnodIsts
In London Next Year.

An Eaumenienl Galhefing OF uethodists
in London Next Year.
An ecumenical conference OF the Meth
odist Episcopal Church and It's branches
will meet in London in September, 1881.
This conference has been talked Of in the
churches OF the denomination for several
years, but no decided action was taken
until last May, when at the general con-
ference Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, In Cincinnati, plan was drawn
up and agreed to BY the representatives
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church and
the different branches in the United
States. The denomination numbers over
,0oo,O 900 Of actual COMMITMENTS and a
Methodist population OF about 1906, 900.
There are numerous branches in Europe
and this country, and they will all be rep
resented in the conference. -,
The members Of the conference viii
number 400, one.half OF whom will rep
resent British and Continental Methodism
and one-hslf the churches in the United
States and Canada. As nearly as possible
the conference will be composed OF lay
and clerical delegates equally. The 200
delegates from the United States will be
assigned 70 the churches rs follows: The
Methodist Episcopal Church, so delegates;
Methodist Episcopal Church South, 50;
African Methodist Episcopal Church, IL;
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 10; the
Colored Methodist Episcopal Church OF
America, 6; the Evangelical Association,
8; the Union American Protestant Church,
q; the Methodist Protestant Church, 6;
the American Wesleyan Church, 4; the
Free Methodist Church, 4; the 1n-
dependent Methodist Church, 2; the
Congregational Methodist Church,
2; the Methodist Church oil Cam
ada, 70; the NJ. E. Church Of Canada, 4;
the Primitive Methodist Church In the
United States and Canada, 2; the Bible
Christian, 2; the British N. E. Church, 2
Tbs remaining si1 members are left to be
distributed by the western section OF the
general executive committee. The as
signments Of delegates to the European
and Continental Churches have not been
made. The delegates will be named BY
the conferences as they meet between this
time and next July.
The conference will not meet for legisla-
tive purposes, for 1t will have no authority
to legislate. It is not for doctrinsl contro--
versies, for Methodism has no doctrinai
differences. It Is not for an attempt 10
harmonic the various politics and usagos
of the several branches Of the one great
Methodist family, for Methodism has al
ways striven for unity rather than unifor-
nifty. It 10 not, in word, for consolida-
ton, but for cooperation. 1t is to devise
such means for prosecuting the home and
foreign work as will result In the greatest
economy and efficiency, TO promote ira
ternity, % increase the moral and evan.
gelical power of common Methodism,
aud TO secure the mere speedy conversion
Of the world.
Il has been suggested that the proper
topics 10 consider are those respecting
popery, paganism, panperism, scepticism,
intem pefance and kindred vices, the rela-
ton Of Methodism 10 education, the means
of evangelization. such as an itinerant
ministry. training. schools for Christian
workers, both at home and abroad Sun.
day Schools and special efforts for special
classes. Concerning missionary labor, 1t
Is further proposed to examine Methodism
as q missionary movement, the relation OF
the home work to the foreign work and
the best mode OF avoiding waste. and ri.
valries, and OF securing instead thereof
sympathy and cooperation between diff.
.erent Methodist bodies occupying the
same or contiguous mission fields; the use
Of the press for the increase Of Christian
knowledge and sanctiiying power, the
resources OF Methodism in numbers,
wealth, culture, spiritual life and revival
agencies, and the corresponding response
bility, the spiritual unity Of Methodism,
and the best way to secure the main
tenance and increase and to manifest 1t to
the world.
The conference will meet in City Road
Chapel. which was the first church Of the
Me.hodists. For many years John Yves.
ley preached there, and his pulpit Is still
shown 10 Methodist travellers who visit
England's capital. The delegation from
this country will be composed OF the
stongest men in the church, and will
most probably be headed by Bishop simp-
son, OF the II. E. Church. Great inter-
est In the conference Is manifested by all
the branches OF the church, and 1t promi.
ses to be the most important assembly Of
Methodists that ever took place. {
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