The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-09-08
The Ecumenical Council.

Yesterday, at City Road Chapel London,
the Ecumenical Council of Methodisls assem-
bled Great preparations had been made for
the occasion, and representatives from nearly
all parts of the world aggregating about 403,
were expected to be present 1t was arranged
that Bishop Simpson, OF America. should open
the Council with a sermon on Christian Unity
TIE proposal to gather representatives OF the
various forms of Methodism originated at the
general conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church held in 1876, which declared that q
closer communion should exist. and a COM
mittee, consisting of members of its own
branch was appointed to correspond with 9th
er bodies and represent the church in such ac-
ton as should be mutually agreed upon. The
proposition met with the approval of all the
divisions OF the denomination. At the coun-
Gil the Methodist Episcopal Church, with a.
III preachers and 1900, 30s members, has been
assigned 80 delegates; the Methodist Episco-
pal Church South, with $3.50 preachers and
1928 ,6O1 members, SO delegates; the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, with 4,536
gates Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, with
4 900 preachers and 1870, 900 members, has 10
delegates; the Colored Methodist Episcopal
Church, with 1920 preachers and 112, 800 mem
bers has 6 delegates; the Evangelical Associa-
ton, with 1 .478 preachers and 112, 1877 mem
bers, has delegates, and the Union American
Methodist Episcopal Church, with 1913 preach
| ,hor, q 1a1a ofao posn n
the Episcopal Methodist Churches in the
United States, with 47513 preachers and
1919 1893 members, 154 delegates; and to the
non Episcopal Methodists in the United
States with 1866 preachers and 166807 mem
bers, Is delegates. Being total to the church
in the United States of 1859 delegates to 81, l79
preachers and 3, 1856 900 members. The Meth
odist Church of Canada, which has COOS
preachers and 1884, members, is represented
). by delegation numbering 81.
The Methodists in England have 172 delegates
from 50, 73O preachers and GAG, 953 MEMBERS while
the Irish, French and Australian conferences have
% delegates from 6,277 preachers and 6,327 mem
| ers and 4,698,990 members. The remaining 80 rep
| resentatives drawn from among the smaller
i aniated bodies, were left subject to special as
| Segment by the English and American committees
| having the arrangements under supervision. The
'United Brethren In Christ Of America will proba-
bly, be represented by six members. Until recently
| this branch OF the denomination had no intention
of sending delegation, as it is not distinctly
Methodist body, but its leaders did not desire to
| have their church to be regarded anomalous
not admit of classification, and they believed
that their proper place In council of American
| churches. Germany, Switzerland, Italy, India
China, Japan and Mexico will probably not be rep
resented, as the Methodist strength in these coun
| tries Is insufficient to warrant the admission OF
| delegates.
The council is held with view OF bringing the
different branches of the denomination into closer
alliance warmer fraternity and fuller cooperation
| 1t does not contemplate any organic session OF
| any doctrinal declarations which will in any way
bear the faith OF any OF the sections OF the Meth
odist Church. 1t will probably devise some way to
prevent the waste of means which generally follows
on the rival occupation Of missionary fields by two
or more bodies Of Christian workers calling them
| selves Methodists The Christian spirit in which
| the council is called has tendency toward massing
the powers of Methodism in the most practical way
IN the direction Of building up purity OF faith en-
eft the world at large. John Wesley, the founder
of the religion, will be eulogzed and the teachings
! of Methodism be glorihed by the assembly. Plans
will also be laid for the preservation OF Christian
| fellowship and the extension OF Gods cause here
below. fN
The New York Tribune Of the 4th, in an article
on the Council says thatit seems but yesterday tina
Methodists were celebrating their first centennial
In this country and the earliest of the several
| dates to which John Wesley assigned their origin
In England carries us back only 152 years. The
| words in which the great founder Of Method1sn
named this birth-year are so characteristic
as to deserve quotation. He says SIN 1923 two
| young men in England, reading the Bible, they
could not be saved without holiness followed after
1t and melted others to do So" These two young
men were John and Charles Wesley This beginning
in 1929 commands our attention to-day because
| Methodism now numbers nearly five million com
muntcants. and claims Methodist population OF
some twenty five millions. The delegates who will
assemble in City Road Chapel number four hundred
and represent some thirty tribes of the Methodist
Israel. Canada will muster In London under four
banners, the United States under fifteen sixteen
| banners, and Great Britain under ten banners
The missions rank with their promoters, SO that
| American Methodsm will speak German, Italian
and Hindostane, while England has an Irish, a
French and Australasan Conference. These
| tribes