Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-11-02
The Methodist EermenicaI Conference.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS.

The results of the ecumenical council in
London are well summarized by leading
journal: The work of the conference has
been upon the lines Of practical use, OF the
study Of methods, of observation, COMPARE
son, or even invention, of ways and means
for administering a system OF religious
teaching in itself unchanged. Bishop
Simpsons opening sermon on the doctrine
of divine creation, with subsequent refer
ences to skeptical philosophy, were suffi-
cient announcements that modern thought
has yet made slight inroads upon the
Methodist persuasion.
The conference condemned travel by
minister on Sundays-lhey should travel
ON the Saturdays and be over night where
they desire next day to be.
1t is strange that the conference should
apparently tail to see any possible connec
lion between the fact that Sunday schools
have frequently become "A serious Obst, Gle
to home training, and the loss Of children
Of Methodist IN America to other donOml-
n ,tluns, which, it Is said, j. :" most disas
trOus.' ltineraBcy Of the preachers was 81
warmly commended thar il seems 10 be y
question settled by pahctlce beyond argu
luent. Some of the Amer ic,n delegates
urged wider extension of the principle.
han before, so that iinert ants should not
be confined even to nation OF country.
But this was not approved. Higher edu
cation than that current was niue. esirt.d.
and especially by one Of the negro bush
ops, who thought it would tend To
| improve his race. There was strong
feeling against sending the children OF
Methodists to be educated in Roman Cath
Ollie schools.
| A resolution concerning the opium trade
was referred to the business committee, be-
cause it contained a censure on the
British government" The opium traffic
was finally condemned.
| Much diversity of opinion appeared
concerning the use of the press, and the
question seems to have been left open.
The discussion revealed equal difference
of opinion touching the value of the exist
ing press. The religious journals were
pretty uniformly set down AS narrow
minded, but the tone of the secular news
papers was alternately condemned and
praised. The condemnation came from
the British delegates, the praise from
Americans The latter said that the
secular press was very helpful and useful
about all religious causes.
Much was said about temperance
-signiving total abstinence from intoxi.
eating drink-and the conclusion was that
il ought everywhere to be preached, and
that no effect could be produced unless
those who preached the doctrine also
practiced it.
The conference appears to have been
well received. In a country of an estab'
lshment it is not exactly good form &c
be nonconformist. and a church congress
or Lambeth conference would have made
much more impression on society and the
news papers. Still the WesIeyans are
not quite like other dissenters. They are
viewed somewhat rs church-folk gone 8
bit as ray, who may come back after q
,hile, and their drill and organization
make II corporate reunion comparativel J
Easy if it were once determined-a thing
very difficult to be managed in any event
with the loosely aggregated sects about
them.
With all allowance made, the conference
has done its woak we'll. Ii was in itself
masterpiece of good management anC
bu,lnrss-llke ways. 1t will meet again II
America in 1887, when we shall doubtless
recognize agatn the strangely abiding i'm
press of John WesIey's genius-tha
most practical of churchmen." thai
" born administrator of spiritual forces,
of whom the Edutburgh keUiew has jus
= said: He system ,tized everything b'
touched, through the constrain. of ma
lure which impelcd him, rs it does tn
bee, to store the tresure only in symm ell
rcal forms"