New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-22

n pose was to strengthen the bonds OF the Yves
& leyaD brotherhood, and to thai end all lesser
81 interests were ellaced There can be no doubt
q that the flatcrnal spirit had fall swing and will
Il march out Of London and back to tie multi
q tudes OF churches with flying banners. The
n sharp edge of local conflicts and jeaousies will
"a be dulled by this Conference, AID Invisible
q emotional forces will bend the Methodist will to
q the common purpose of the denomination. 1t
n lis pleasant to learn from the deliberations of
81 the Conference that it's objects are not only
Il laudable, but such as other Christian bodies
e sriyi after. The sound doctrine for whose
81 diffusion these Methodists Jealous, is the
common Protestant faith. They show with
other Christians zeal for education, temper
& apce, good order, sound morals and general
q enlightenment. Differing as to details OF ex-
!. ecution they want powerful press, high
81 class college, an organized and systematic ben
81 efcence, and successful ministry. In all these
N matters the Conference has fixed the attention
Y of observers not more upon the oneness of
81 Methodism than upon its community of desires
s. and aims with all tho Protestant religious
"a bodies.
s. The fact that it was born in college has been
b of vast value to Methodsm. Tho large space
n which questions respecting training and culture
d were given, shows how safely this body of be-
gan ignorant pietisn. The London assembly
a would repay its cost in this alone, if nothing
4 else had been done except to emphasize the at
u titude Of Wesleyans toward knowledge, cul-
ture, training, and the dissemination of inteli-
gence. Within the body and without it, the
8 illumination which has come from focalizing
common sentiments respecting intelligence and
4 leaning will he very useful. The stress which
/; the Conference laid upon its pulpit work. and
8 its firm grasp upon its peculiar mode of admin
Il stering it, will also arrest attention. 1t keeps
3 its regular pastors travelling from point to
s. point. This tinerant system has seemed to
81 observers to have lost some thing of its popu-
q larity among Nethodists. We have heard of
IS individuals who were discontinued, and some
a Efforts to modify the mode of administering the
b system have been misrcad signs of decay.
Il But in fact no voice was lifted in London
IS against the itinerant system. Mcthodism be-
n lieves in it and will keep its ministers on the
81 march. Those who disapprove of the system
81 viii, in small numbers find other folds; but
e the tone of this Ecumnnical Conference clearly
X indicates that the Methodist bodies will cling
"a to their itnerant ministry. The system may he
a modified; IL tendency, for example, to lengthen
"a the maximum term of pastors service OF one
" church has already doubled the allotted period.
II not impossible; hut after that change of form,
Il tine itinerary would still be in force and each
E pastor would annually have his appointment
Ircncwed or changed according to Judgment
S exercised by "a power above him and his church.
~ Scarcely less noteworthy was the attention
Ugivcn 10 the local preachers of McthodiSm
z they are more numerous than The itncrants;
Eand Bishop Asbury in ms day estimated two
IA local preachers a. equal 10 one itinerant. They
n are neither stationed nor salaricl. Some are
* ordained; indeed, their ordination is precisely
= the same in form as thar OF ItlnerantS whenever
81 they are certified to the bishops 10y certain
q forms of examination ana election. They pur-
(, sue secular ayocations and preach where Oh
q portunity offers They have always contributed
n largely to the founding of new churches by
"a preaching in new settlements and neglected
Il corners. At this time some of the most eminent
4 members OF the Church are of this lay-prcac!,-
e ing class. In this city The Christian Adr0cafe
n was once brilliantly edited by a local preacher,
u and The Methodist has now another local
s. preacher for its chief editor The gr at pos.
3 sibilities of this class of cvanges;s are made
& prominent by the firm purpose shown 10y the
"A Ecumenical Conference to retain and strengthen
u this left wing of its army of ministers.
= Among Joha WeSlcys strong SAVINGS, strilf-
-
b parish The aggressive spirit of the saving
b has put Methodlsm into France, Italy aud Ger
Is many, and stirred it up To missionary labors in
u all corners Of the earth. The Ecnmenical had a
y sound but definite work before it in respect to
81 missions. It appears indeed, that there had
4 been but SINCE collision between representa-
q iVcS of the score or more of mission boards .
"a but this one felt to be one too many and
e measures were taken to prevent the coming of
IA second. 1t is highly probable that the action
uof the Conference will mako the foreign mis.
"a Sionary action of Methodsm substantially n
common movement. 1t will certainly make if
y harmonious; and this species of harmony il
z always to be desired because there are no dis
b counts To be made for resulting Indifference
q and shlftlessncSs. On the whole, then Metho-
y dlsts have gained something from this great
meeting. They have made a demonstration,
and the world knows better who aud what they
ID are. When so imposing body stands IN to he
Hcouhtcd the world must spend "a moment i'm nd
u miration. The quality of the body is not loss
II impressive than its members its vast resources
"a IN personal strength and culture command rs
n much respect as the millions in its membership
and here, too, the world has learned sometime
& by looking on in City Road Chapel. The value
aof the demonstration is small in comparisop
n with the usefulness Of the fraternal triumph II
n Is pleasant to see religions men claSping hands
II III orotherly love. We know that the yalue or
Hgood fellowship is 30 great in religion that il
81 cannot safely be dispensed with and we are
xh&ppy to congratulate the Methodists of tho
a world that they lave been able to provo thcir
81 right to be considered n common LrotLorl,,oi