Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-15

The way. which, considering the talent
there was in the body, and high estimate
with such great men must each have put
upon their own pet views and ideas, ought
to give the document passage current
wherever it circulates, and should lead
every one to accept it without complaining
The address opened by congratulating
Msthodists everywhere that on all essen
tial points the Conference had reached SUBJ
stantial agreement, and calls upon them to
be known heneeforth, in their spirit and
work, if not in name, as one church. The
Importance OF maintaining their peculiar
means of grace is next insisted upon, and
they are specially urged to resurrect and
vIvify the class meeting. In the matter of
church dwellings, extravaganza and dis
play, with their accompanying evil of debt.
are to be avoided, and everything possible
is recommended to be done to attract and
save the poor.
THE CHURCH
Is also to be made an attractive place for
the young people, and its additional eff
cheney in reaching these is to be promoted
by closer union between the church
proper and the Sabbath-school, the nur-
sery of the church. Methodists, it is fur
ther urged, must throw the weight of their
influence on the right side of all moral
questions They must contend earnestly
for the Christian Sabbath, and must battle
manfully against intemperance. On the
last named point the address is very strong.
This giant evil, it declares, will not yield
to mild remedies, and Methodists, it con-
4 6 -.
great founder, to their own history and to
the truth of religion, to stand IN the front
rank of those who are sworn to crush it to
the earth" This strong utterance in
the address relieved the Conference from
the necessity of passing any formal resolu-
tions on this subject So, at least, the
Business Committee thought, and so they
reported, but there are those who regard
this as a lodging of the question for the
purpose of letting off easily branch of
Methodism in Great Britain which, as pre-.
viously intimated by your correspondent,
has occupied hitherto rather equivocal
position IN temperance matters.
THE INTEREST
OF this last day eliminated at about half
past p NJ, when the experimenting be-
gan which was to serve as prelude to the
farewell addresses. The gentlemen VINO
led the devotions were Bishops Peck and
Dckerson, Revs Arthur, Douglass,
Cocker and McFerrin, and S. D. Waddy,
@. c., and General Fiske. When Dr. Nc
Perrin asked God to not be angry with the
brethren for their much speaking but to
forgive them, he touched on topic which |
produced a ready response among the re-
porters and audience, whatever its effect |
on the powers above. The closing ad-
dresses were made by DIR, Osborn, Presi-
dent of the British Wesleyan Conference,
and Bishop Simpson. The Conference |
did not wish to hear DR.. Osborn, and the |
day before, on square issue, had so voted. |
The reason for this was that he had taken |
little interest in the proceedings and OBJ |
viously was afflicted with bad case of the !
sulks. So determined was the Conference |
on Monday not to give DR.. Osborn the |
platform that it even voted, as the only |
practical alternative, not to have any fare.
well addresses, and thus to crafty its de- |
sire to administer chastisement to one who |
had made himself unpopular, was; will |
ing to even deprive itself of the pleasure
of hearing Bishop Simpson. Sober second |
thought prevailed, however, and out of |
Difference to his position and.to the wishes |
of some of the English brethren, he was |
allowed to speak. The result showed, too,
how wise was this decision, for the doc
tors address was really good, and it evil
IDENTIFY served the double purpose of enter
tanning the Conference and putting in
good humor its hitherto somewhat dis
gruntled author. The address of
BISHOP SIMPSON
Was a fine effort and made deep impress
sion. Speaking of the good that would
come out of the Conference he said that the
holding of this worlds gathering would |
render possible, he believed, the holding of |
Conference of the Methodist bodies of
Great Britain, which previously, he thought,
could not have been and, u he added, |
with blending of sarcasm and humor,
perhaps 1 may say the same for my own
country"
Saturday and Monday, the two days
preceding the last day, were occupied in
the discussion of foreign missions, and this
debate had rather practical termination,
for at its close resolutions were passed rec
ommending the different Methodist bodies
to conduct their foreign missionary opera
tions with greater regard than has been
shown hitherto for the twin principles of
harmony and economy. Where two or
more branches of the church are already
working side by side they are to act, not as
rivals, but as copartners, SO to speak and
in cases where one church is in the field
and another contemplates entering 1t, there
Is to be friendly consultation on the sub.
ject, and that course is to be finally adopt
ed which promises the greatest good to the
general cause of Christianity.
THE NEXT ECUMENIcAL
Methodist Conference will be held in 1857,
in the United States. New York will
probably be the scene of the gathering,
though it has been urgently asked for at
Louisville, KY. The latter city has some
recommendations and some claims. per-
haps, for it is a sort OF border city between
North and South. Southern Mcthodists,
it should be stated in this connection, have
shown an interest in these ecumenical as
semblings quite equal to that taken by
| their brethren of the North. From them,
indeed, in the Conference Just closed, come
more expressions favorable to organic union
than from any other body, and, on the as
sumption that these expressions correctly
represent the general sentiment, and that
this sentiment is sincerely reciprocated by
the other body, it is really by no means
impossible that these two great organiza-
tions, the Methodist Episcopal Church and
the Methodist Episcopal Church South,
viii be the pioneers in this movement
the first two of the twenty. five bodies rep.
resented there to give practical expression
to the idea which called this first Ecumen-
ical Conference together. The proceedings
of the Conference, all essays. speeches,
resolutions, etc., verbatim
WILL BE PUBLISHED
In book form, with historical introduc.