The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-10-06
Ghe gateltfgetrter
OUR LONDON LETTER.
The Last Day OF the EGumCnICal COnfer.
ence-The News OF GRrheId's Death
The Next Conference In 1857.

Ene LASt uay OF the EcuMchAchl NoAIeF
ence-The News OF GRFAeId's DEATH
The Next Conference In 1857.
LONDON, September 81.
Special correspondence Of the IntelllScnecr.
The last day OF the Ecumenical Confer
ence was the day following that on whicl
President Garfield died, and the delegates
consequently, came to their work with SUI
hearts. The Local Committee had dapet
the platform in mourning, and the Presi
dent for the day, DIR, Pope, OF St. Johns
New Brunswick, showed a delicate sense o
the fitness Of things in the mourniul turn
he gave to the opening exercises Thu
scriptural lesson, funeral selection from
the psalms, was read by Dr. ], NJ. Reid
Missionary Secretary of the NJ, +. Church
who afterwartl led the conference in an up
propriate and very affecting prayer. DIR
Reid prayed, OF course, for the afflicted
family OF the murdered President and fol
the nation so sadly bereit in his death. liz
was also thoughtful enough to make suppl
cation for him who was to be Garfeld''
successor. Later in the proceedings, when
the resolution Of coincidence was offered
DR.. John T.. Newman made further allu'
sions to President Arthur, speaking OF him
as man eminently qualified for the posi-
ton he had to I'LL, and earnestly requesting
for him continued interest in the pHyers
OF all good men.
The British tribute to General Garlleld's
memory was made by Revs. H. H. Jenkins
and William Arthur, the latter Of whom
sid that for eleven weeks the people Of
England had.been counting thepulse throbs
OF the distinguished sufferer, and now, be-
cause his heart beat no more, strange
hush and deep sadness had settled upon
their hearts. Canada's tribute was made
in fitting terms by DR.. George Douglas,
while tie sorrow Of the nation bereaved
WIS feelingly voiced by Drs. Tiffany and
McFerrin. The latter gentleman, being Il
Soulherner, from Nashville, spoke special-
~ for the South. In that section, he said,
there was only one sentiment, that OF most
profound regret and horror. During the
progress Of these memorial services all
present were very deeply moved, and the
scene thus presented Of representatives
from so many climes blending their tears
and interchanging mutual expressions OF
confidence and sorrow over what had oc-
Cured, was a proof Of the hold the dead
President had gained on mankind, the
most gratifying thatcould beimagined, and
seemed to declare beyond u doubt that
General Garfield was indeed man whom
the whole world delighted to honor, and
in whose death the world at large had SUI.
tereda great bereavement,
The subject for discussion on this memo
rNble last day was christian Unity" a
theme which had been given this position
on the programme, in the hope, doubtless,
that their associations together on the pre-
vious eleven days would prepare the dele
gates to discuss 1t with the requisite degree
Of feeling, and there were some, probably,
who even hoped that by this time the dir
erent purts of the conference would be
ready to blend into q common mass, and to
astonish the world by declaring for an or.
ganically united 'Mtcthodism. There was
method displayed also in The selection OF
the man to lead off on this theme, for who
was more likely to speak strongly in favor
OF unity, or to possess the power to win
others to his own way Of thinking, than
DR.. George, the one through whose genius
ind energy mainly the conference had been
convened. But "thc best laid schemes OF
mice and men gang aft aglee," and 30 It
turned out in this instance. Eleven days
OF association in debate, far from oblitera-
ting the differences Of the various bodies
represented, or from rendering these less
marked, had served rather to bring them
out in bold outline. The discussions had
also shown how welded was each body to
its own peCuliarities, and had made II evi.
dent that, giving unanimous vote Is favor
OF all becoming one, the difficult question
still remaining to be settled would be
which should be the one. AS for DR..
George, II that gentleman had ever seri.
ously expected anything tangible from
the conference in the line Of organic
union, his hopes must have fall
en- many degrees by the time he stood up
to read his essay and II would be no sur.
prise to your correspondent learn that
document, as read, was considerably
changed from what Il was us first produced
at long range in his study at Chicago. But
the doctor came to his task quite bnvely,
and aid some good things. The multiple.
cation Of sects, he affirmed was the weak
pOint in Professionalism, and especially in
Meihodism. A union Of forces WIS neces.
sary, he held, not only in foreign, but In
home fields OF labor, and in support Of this
proposition he instanced m American city,
Of not more than ten thousand inhabitants,
in which he said there were five different
Methodist churches, with another under
contemplation. These churches belonged
respectively to the NJ 4. Church, the NJ.
Il. Church South, the Methodist Protestant,
the American WesleyanS, the Free MethO.
tlists and the United Brethren. DR.. George
pointed with pride and Joy to recent
unions Of Methodist bodies in Ireland and
Canada, and ventured to express the hope
TINT this union spirit would spread until
England and the United States should wit.
ness similar anialgamations. Meanwhile
the Methodist bodies Of the world, lie said,
should enter into sort Of confederation,
and should have a supreme council, ConStl.
ttited similarly to the present EcumeniCal,
to meet at occasional intervals, for the pur.
pose Of giving genenll direction to the work
being done, and Of aFbitrating whatever
differences might arise.
Dr. Cocker, Of the Methodist New Con.
nection Church Of Great BRYAN, who fol.
lowed DR.. George, was less enthusiastic
than that gentleman, and his remarks had
much less point In them.
Others who participated in the debate
were Dr.. o. ii. Tiffany, Of Philadelphia;
and Rev. William Arthur, ni London,
each Of whom expressed the view that or.
aini0 union would lcssrn the power OF
Methodism by rendering her less free TO
adapt herself 10 those national and indi.
yidial peculiarities which prevail in the
world.
NJ. Arlhut's remarks are always oharaO-
terized by breadth and vigoF, and, in
speaking Of the probable results Of the
Conference, he observed that those who
should say that 1t lad accomplished no
good would be rs foolish "a those who
should go to the engine room Of great
factory and say that nothing was being &C.
compiished there, HksG matter NJ fact, .
said Mr.. Arthur, "cverytklng IL being &c.