The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-10-06

urged 10 tthufrtCt anu EeVlNlly tEe Clilss
meeting. In the matter OF church build.
ings, extravaganza and display, with their
accompanying evil OF debt, are to be
avoided, and everything possible Is recom-
mended 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 efficiency in reaching these
is to be promoted by Closerunion between
the church proper and the Sabbath school,
the nursery OF the church. Methodists, it
is further urged, must throw the weight OF
their influence ON the right side OF all NOR
al questions. They must contend earnest
" for the Christian Sabbath, and must bat
tie manfully against iRtcmperancc. On the
last named point the address is very
strong. This giant evil, it declares, will
not yield to mild remedies, and Nethodists,
1t continues, lowe it to the memory Of
their 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 utternce in
the address relieved the conference from
the necessity Of passing any formal resolu-
tons on the subject, So, ut least, the Busi-
ness Committee thought, and so they re-
ported, but there are those who regard this
us dOdging OF the question fort purpose
OF letting Oft easily branch OF Methodism
in Great Britain which, US previously iuti-
mated by your correspondent, has occu-
pied hitherto rather eQuiYocal position in
temperance matters,
The interest Of this last day eliminated
ut about half-past three P, Nj, when the
prayer meeting begun which was to serve
as prelude to the farewell addresses. The
gentlemen who led the devotions were
Bishops Peck and DiCkerson, Revs. Arthur,
Douglas, Cocker and AlcFerrin, and $. d.
Waddy, q. o., and General Fiske. When
Dr. Ferrin asked God to not DO angry with
the brethren for their much speaking, but
to forgive them, he touched on topic
which produced II ready response among
the reporters and the audience, whatever
It's effect on the powers above, The closing
addresses were made by DR.. 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 Il square issue, had so voted.
The reason for this was that he had taken
little interest in the proceedings and obvi-
ously was afflicted with u bad case Of the
sulks. So determined was the confer.
ence on Monday not to give DIR. Osborn
the platform that II even voted, as
the only practicable alternative not
to have any farewell addresses, and
thus to crafty its desire to administer
chastisement to one who had made him.
self unpopular, was willing to even de-
privc itself OF the pleasure OF hearing Bish-
Op Simpson. Sober second thought pre-
vailed, 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 Doctors address
was really good, and it evidently served
the double purpose OF entertaining the
conference and putting in good humor
its hitherto somewhat disgruntled author.
The address OF Bishop Simpson was fine
effort and made deep impression. Speak
ing Of thegood that would come out Of the
conference he said that the holding OF this
worlds gathering would render possible,
he believed, the holding OF u conference OF
the Methodist bodies OF Great Britain,
which previously, he thought, could not
have been, "and, " he added, with o blend.
ing Of sarcasm and humor, "perhaps may
say the same for my own country
Saturday and Monday, the two days pre-
ceeding the lust day, were coupled in the
discussion Of foreign missions, and the de-
bate had rather practical termination, for
ut its close resolutions were passed recon-
mending the different Methodist bodies to
conduct their foreign missionary opera.
tons with greater regard than has been
shown hitherto for the twin principles OF
harmony and economy. Where two or
mort branches OF the church arc already
working side by side they ought to act, not
as rivals, but Us Co-partners, so to speak,
and In cases where one church Is In the
field and another contemplates entering II,
there Is to be friendly consultation Oh the
subject, and that course is to be finally
adopted which promises the greatest good
to the general cause OF Christianity.
The next Ecumenical Methodist Confer.
enCe will be held in 1887, in the United
States, New York will, probably, be the
scene Of the gathering. though II has been
urgently asked for ut Louisville, Ky. The
latter city has some claims, perhaps, for II
Is sort Of border city between North and
South. Southern Methodists, it should be
stated In this connection, have shown an
interest In these eclImeniCal assemblings
quite equal to that taken by their brethren
Of the North. From them, indeed, in the
conference Just closed came more expires.
sions favorable to organic union than from
any other body, and, on the assumption
that these expressions correctly represent
the general sentiment, and that this senti.
ment Is sincerely reCiprocated by the other
body, It Ia really by no means impossible
that these two great organizations, the
Methodist Episcopal Church and the Metho.
dist Episcopal Church South, will be the
pioneers In this movement-the first two OF
the twenty-five bodies represented there to
give practical expression to the idea which
called the first ECumenical Conference to.
gether,
The proceedings Of the Conference, all
essays, speeches, resolutions, &C., verbatim,
will he published in book form, with his.
torlcal Introduction by Rev. William Ar.
thur. This book, owing to the generosity
OF q few gentlemen In subscribing thou
sand dollars toward the first cost Of bring.
Ing Il out, will be put on the market at a
very low figure 20 cents being the price to
delegates and 81 % per copy to the general
public.
As matter Of historic interest we give
the names In their order Of those who OH
the successive days occupied the chair OF
the conference, They were: Rev. George
Osborn, y. D., British Wesleyan Church;
Bishop Jesse 7. Peck, Methodist Episcopal
Church; Rev. James Stacey, D. d., Method.
lat New Connection Church Of Great Brit.
ain; Rev. s, d. Sutherland, y, d., Method
st Protestant Church, United States; Rev.
Il. T. jenkins, British Wesleyan Church;
bishop II. n. McTyerie, Methodist Episco.
pal Church, South; Rev. Charles Kendall,
Primitive Methodist Church, Of Great