The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-10-05

vided into two sections ns-the East
ern, including British and Cont
mental Methodism and its affiliated
Conferences. and the Western, in
cludiag the Methodism Of the
United States and Canada as well
AS it's various mission fields. The
delegates who haze been appoint
ed to attend the Conference num-
Der nearly four hundred, about
onc-half Of whom represent the
Mcthodism Of America. The other
haIf represent the Mcthodism Of
the British Isles, the Continent Of
Europe, and Australasia, the An
lipodean delegates numbering six
teen. 1t has been the desire OF
the arrangers of the Conference
that the clerical and lay elements
should be equally represented. and
that desire seems TO have been
successfully realized. From the
North American States come 80
delegates, and from the South,
which keeps up its separate Or
ganization, come 38. The African
Methodist Episcopal Church of
the United States is represented
by % delegates, and other minor
bodies in proportion. The Am eri-
can representatives include IA
bishops, 81 doctors Of divinity,
and 81 men Of color. British
Methodism is represented by 80
Wesleyan Methodist, IS Primitive
Methotists, % United Methodist
Free Churchists, twelve Metho-
dislS New Connexionists. ten
Irish Wesleyan Metbodists, ten
Bible Christians, four Wesleyan
Reform Unlonists, and two United
Free Gospel Churchmen. The
principal object Of the Conference
is TO devise means for prosecutin 6
the home and foreign work so as
10 result in the greatest economy
and efficiency, to promote frater-
nifty, to increase the moral and
evangelical power of a common
Methodism, and 10 secure the
more speedy conversion Of the
world A large number of pa
pcrs on various subjects have been
prepared for discussion. The read
ing of each paper is to be followed
by the observations Of some
specially invited speaker, and an
open discussion. 1t is so arranged
that the reader and the first
speaker shall be representatives of
different parts Of the world. The
Conference will occupy twelve
days, not including Sunday, and
there will be two sittings each
day.
The platform, aud the whole of
the floor Of the City-road Chapel,
| 9Th the exception Of 200 seats to-
wards the back of the chapel, have
been reserved for the members of
the Conference. In this space
there are 436 sittings. The re-
naming 200 seats en- the floor
have been allotted to those min
listers and laymen who have
served on Committees in promo
tion Of the Conference but who
have not been elected as repre-
sentatives, and to the ministers of
the several denominations repre-
scntcd. The gallery, containing
600 seats, is left open to those Of
the public who have procured
tickets.
The first Session Of the Con-
ference commenced with a SER
mon in the morning by the Rev.
Bishop NJ. Simpson, Of the Metbo'
dist Episcopal Church. The Rev.
DR.. Osborn, Precedent OF the Brit
ish Wesleyan Methodist Confer
ence, and President of the days
proceedings, occupied the princi-
pal chair. Bishop Simpson read
his text from what is known as
'Wesley's Field Bible, respecting
which there is dispute as to
whether it has been so called be-
cause it was published by a person
named Field, or because Wesley
was in the habit Of carrying it
about with him whenever be had
to preach in fields or in the open
air. The text was taken from
st. John. vi. 63, The words that
| speak unto you-they are spirit,
and they are life The discourse
occupied one hour and q half. The
| preacher gave sketch Of the his
tory Of MethodiSm, and dweit
pointedIy upon the great progress
| it has made. The progress, he