The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-06
AMETnoDIsT ECuMENIc ASSEMBLY
Hi.,ory of the Preliminary steps TO
Unr,I n Great Religious Conference

History OF The Preliminary Steps
ward a Great RelIgIons Conference.
Rev. DR.. A. O. George, formerly oil the
Fourth Street NJ. f. Church here, now OIL
Parkersburg, Is taking great interest IN
movement for an Ecumenical Council Oh
the Methodist Church, to be heldin Lon
don. and Ia q member Of the committee
Amounted al the last General Conference
n ,be church to report on the subject.
Tho history Of the movement up to this
timeis this:
The General Conference OF the hetho'
dist Episcopal Church in session in BaIti'
more in May, 1870, adopted u resolution
directing the bishops Of the church to APP
point a committee to take into c%onsidera'
ton the subject OF an E%cumcncial Confer
ence Of Methodism TO correspond with the
different Methodist bodies in every part oil
the world, and to arrange for q general
Methodist Council in order ITO consider
the topics relating to the position, work
and responsibility OF MeLhodIsm for the
worlds eyangelization." The general Con-
ference favored this project, rs 1t affirmed
for the reason that the different Methodist
bodies accept in common the Armlnlan
theology, maintain peculiar usages and
are engaged In a common work and seek
ing a common object; and because 1t be-
lieyed that such an Ecumencial Council
would produce a closer alliance, a warmer
fraternity and q fuller cooperation among
these various organizations Tor the ad'
yancement OF the Redeemer's kingdom in
every part Of the earth.
The committee ordered on the subject
was appointed afterward by the Board oil
Bishops, Bishop Simpson being selected
as chairman. In the discharge oil its
duties the committee has laid the matter
of the proposed Ecumenical Council be-
fore the representative bodies OF the
Methodist Protestant Church, the Metho'
dist Episcopal Church, South, the Ameri'
can Wesleyan Church, the Evangelical
Association, the Methodist Church, and
the Methodist Episcopal Church OF Canada
and the Wesleyan Methodists OF Great
Britain. AS tho response Of those bodies
has been favorable. aioint meeting OF the
committees appointed ia summoned to
meet in Cincinnati, May 0, 1850, in order
ito prepare a call for such Ecumenical
Conference" Every Methodist organiza-
ton, in every part Of the world, is invited
to send a representative to this joint meet
ing, at which 1t is expected that the time
and place OF the proposed Ecumenical
Council will be determined. AS the sug-
gestlon has already received wide and
hearty approval, and as the General Con-
ference Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
will then DO in session at Cincinnati, at
which fraternal delegates will be present
from every considerable Methodist body,
it will not, probably, be very difficult to
secure a gathering sufficiently representa-
tive in it's character to speak in the name
OF a united Methodism, and to summon a
general council OF all Methodist bodies in
every part Of the earth.
Methodisn has had a marvellous his
tory, and has become u great power In
Christendom. There are, 1t is estimated,
some four millions OF communicates in its
different organizations. It has not only
numbers, but also wealth, intelligence,
aggressiveness, a missionary and revival
spirit, q growing interest in the cause Of
education. multiplied facilities for benevo-
lent work, a jealus care for the Christian
culture Of childhood, and apparently n in-
domitable purpose to do its full part in the
worlds evangelizatlon. And yet Method
ism is comparatively a modern movement,
and Its organic church lie in this country
will not reach its centennial till 1884.
Such an Ecumenical Conference as is pro.
posed will not only make an era'in the
history Of tho denomination, but it will
also attract the attention Of the whole
Christian world. Scholars, thinkers and
reiormers in all lands will be led 10 a fresh
consideration OF the whole Methodist his
tory, work and mission. Tho following
extraction a circular letter issued by the
committee OF which Bishop Simpson Is
the chairman explains more fully the good
which would flow from the proposed meet.
ing:
"That such an Ecumenical Conference
would be a great blessing to the church
and the world can hardly be questioned.
1t would tend to harmonic and unity the
different Methodist organizations, TO break
down caste and local ~prejudices, and to
bind together in closest fellOwships a reo.
pile essentially one in doctrine, spirit and
purpose. It would lead to such adjust.
ments OF the missionary work as TO pro-
vent friction and waste. II could not but
be extremely suggestive in regard to
modes and agencies for the most success.
full performance OF the churrh's work OF
evangelization.
at would, doubtless, give q great i'm.
pulse to the cause Of temperance and Of
Sabbath observance, TO Sunday schools,
and to all the beneficent activities OF the
church. The relation OF Methodism, as a
whole, to education, to civil government,
to other Christian bodies, and TO the world
vide mission work, would certainly come
to be better understood. In a word, an
increase Of Christian intelligence, Of con.
scious spiritual power, and OF faith in the
redemption OF the race from the bondage
and degradation OF vice and immortality,
would, without question, be realized. A
more earnest conservation, an intenser
glow OF enthusiasm, a more daring pur.
pose OF evangelism, and, consequently,
more powerful reyivals and larger benefl-
cences in every department OF Christian
endeavor, would mark the future progress
Of the church."
It is, Of course, understood that such q
council would have no ecclesiastical au-
thority, but It's spirit would be contagious
50 1