The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-09-26
THE LONDON EcuMENICAL COUNCIL.

1nterestlng letter from our Special Cor.
respondent Topics Discussed Woman
ia the PuiPIt-NOlIneSs McCting-A
lively TImc over tho Temperance
Question.
LONDON, September l3,-With the excep-
ton Of several MISUNDERSTANDING and con-
troversies between the Eastern and West
ern sections on matters Of business the
Conference proceeded smoothly to the
close Of the first week. There was "muChee
talkee," MS the Chinaman would say, and
with four hundred professional speakers
gathered together, having nothing else to
do, this was inevitable. 1t is felt now that
a mistake was made in so completely tying
the hands Of the Conference in matters OF
legislation. Should another Ecumencal
be held four years hence, as Is probable,
that gathering be allowed more latitude
than the present body, and its proceedings,
per consequence, will be more interesting
II Is evident, however, that this first Ecu
menical Conference, limited asare Its pow
ers, will not be wholly barren Of results. 1t
will be sure to lead to an economizng OF
the Foreign Missionary forces Of Nctho.
dism, and there is u probability now that it
will issue a sort OF pastoral address, which
coming from so dignihed and truly repre-
sentativea body, will command universal nj.
tention, and pointing out, as it will the perils
and demands Of the hour, cannot fail to do
much good, This Conference will also
strengthen the fraternal feelings and bring
the bodies represented in 1t to better I'M.
derstanding Of one another. There are
already many indications that the Confer.
ence will benefit American MetLodism by
ceinenting more strongly the ties by which
IN these days the long separated North and
South arc being drawn together. The in.
fluence Of the gathering in this direction
was torcibly illustrated by scene which
occurred on Thursday. A twenty-five min.
utes' speech had been made by Rev. j. G.
Price, u colorcd man from North Carolina.
One point In his speech was that Method.
ism had ameliorated the hardships of
slavery. II had sOitened the heart OF the
master toward the slaves, the speaker snid,
and,at the satnut time had CAUSED the Chris.
tian slave 10 think kindly OF his muster.
This speech made Il great impression OH the
Conference, and 1T It's close Dr.. G. II. Mar.
shall, o leading representative Of NJ. Il.
Church, South, arose. and amid loud demon.
STATIONS Of applause, extended his hand to
the black man who. had Just sat down. say.
ing As he did 80, III greet you asa brother,
aud thank God that your people are free"
This episode was greatly enjoyed By all
present, but TO the American delegates
II had peculiar Significance, and
brought, oil course, peculiar gratillCa.
tionf In this connection II should be
stated that a speech was made yesterday
which reminded the Conference that there
had been serious differences between some
Of the English Methodist bodies, and
which also demonstrated that this gathcr-
ing was likely 10 effect the removal OF these
differences, The author Of this speech was
Rev. wni. Griffith, Of the Methodist Free
Churches. Thirty years ago this gentle.
man and two Others, Revs. Everett and
Dunn, were expelled from the conference
Of the British Wesleyan Church for having
used the Press 10 pass anonymous stric.
lures on several prominent ministers Of the
Church, Their expulsion was brought
about mainly through the agency Of Dr.
Geo. Osborn, the leading representative Of
British Wesleyahism at this Eumenical
Conference, Since that time Mr.. Griffith
and DR.. Osborn have never spoken to each
Other. Yesterday, however, the former