Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1881-09-24
THE WORLDS METHODISTS.

Some of the Central Figures in the Ecunen.
ical Countil-The American Delegates.
The London correspondent of the Chicago
Times says: The great event of the past week
in London has been the ecumenicai council of
Methodists. The meetings have been held in
in the City Road chapel, which is the Mecca
of the denomination, and whose caaba is the
graves Of John Wesley, his wife and his broth
e1 Charles, and Adam Clarke. The cosmopol-
itau character OF the assembly is remarkable,
and, for the multiplicity of tongues spoken, is
little short of Pentecostal gathering like that
at Jerusalem. The proceedings thus far have
been very animated and usually harmonious,
although there have been occasional clashes
between the go-ahead aggressveness of the
American and the obstinacy and conservatism
of the British representatives. The Americans
seem to take the lead in every radical move
ment They are wide-awake, ready debaters,
t ions OF In % POINT push Of ' oaatory .usss III
the honors rest with the brethren from
the new world. The American delegates have
q way Of saying what they have to say without
hesitation, with clear enunciatiou, and distinct
ness of ideas. AS rule the American speak
ars in this body have u large vein of hlmor
and rarely make speech, regardless of the
subject, without having the audience roaring
with laughter at intervals Among the Ameri-
cans who are best al keeping mp ali end Of a
discussion may be mentioned Rev. W. X
Ninde, D. D., OF Evanston, Ill.,, who has made
/. most favorable impression by his clear and
eloquent presentation of tho work OF prov-
t'euce in carrying on Methodism Row Arthur
Edwards of Chicago read a paper on statis-
tics of the denomination, which was very able
although the British representatives seem to
think that it was somewhat animated by the
spirit of American exaggeration. Rev. Dr. A.
g. George OF Chicago, who is one Of the Sec
getarles Of the council, attracts much attention
by his fine appearance, clear and elegant artic-
nlatlon, and promptness i'll any emergency In
all respects
BISHOP SIMPSON IS THE MOST NOTICEABLE MAN
ia the congress. Tall, stately, dignifed, vener-
able, alert, he is conspicuous in appearance,
weighty and commanding in debate. Bishop
McTyeire of Nashville is another dignitary who
sas taken frst-class position. Somewhat
lnoroua. his mind is full of historical facts and
illustrations. Another very prominent figure
is Bishop Warren Of Atlanta, who has shown
himself to be one Of the most accomplished and
scholarly, as we'll rs finished representatives
present Some dozen colored delegates, main
1y from the South, have done themselves and
the conference no discredit thus fer. Bishop
Wood Of Fayetteville, N. C., held the audience
Intensely interested while he spoke of the con-
slilion Of Methodism among the blacks of his
episcopate Mr.. Prince. a colored delegate
from the south, made very credltaDle speech
on the power Of Methodism to elevate the
South and the negroes. Soon aftor DR.. Mar
shall Of Vicksburg made an address on the
slme subject, during the course Of which be
expressed warm fellowship for his colored CO.
laborers, and then reached over and shook
warmly the hand Of Mr.. Prince The scene
was quite dramatic, business being suspended
by applause lasting two or three minutes The
Africans rank as orators next below the whites.
The American representatives are considerably
above the average of the others. AS rule
THE AMERICAN DELEGATES
are much younger than the others, and have
Also the appearance OF being more mon Of the
world. The other delegates are more like.
Church-of England clergymen i'll the matter of
dress, appearance, action, looks: and senti-
nen5. The American delegates seem to have
s tendency to drag the others forward and the
others appear to have disposition to adopt
largely the modes Of thinking, etc, in vogue
among preachers Of the established church.
the American diyines have been waking up
their brethren Of other lands by a series Of
electrical shocks applied from batteries Of elo-
auence, progression, and speedy movement
The eHstern section present carefully prepared
essays. while the western men depend on Off
hand efforts, which seem to carry everything
E}etore them like torrents.
The contrast between the English and the
American members of tho council and, among
lhe Americans, the contrast between those
from ths eastern and those from the western
states, suggest the influence that it's surround
ings have exerted on the Methodist church,
while the Methodist church has been exerting
no ineonsiderable influence on its surround
ings The slow, cautious, and at least in ap-
pearance, the unready English Wesleyan re-
semblins in hs general get up the clergyman
81 the Church OF England. and in many in
stances using in divine worship the liturgy Of
the establishment would not be welcome IN
gaany American Methodist pulpits. The
scholarly, essay-reading Methodist doctor Of
the eastern states is much less acceptable to
western Methodist congregations than the
pastors to whom they are accustomed-men
who look with little favor, and sometimes with
suspicion on the matter where an excess Of at
tention il paid to the matter, men whose style
in the pulpit is much like that Of the politician
on the stump.
n;ctwoeo Tiho,,