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

hopes It will occur, for such things notonly
presage good for hethodism, but they tend
also to relieve the monotony OF the sessions
OF this body, which, beginning, continuing
and having their end in talk, arc uecessari
" for the most part rathertedious,
The themes OF commanding interest thus
far discuss ed by the Conference have been,
"The Statistical Results Of Methodism;n
HWomen and Their Work in Methodism;"
''Scriptural Holiness" 1.-THE Influence OF
Nlethodism on Other Denominations"
"rhe Christian Sabbath and "remper-
ance," In the discussion OF the first
named theme it transpired that Methodtsm
has 81, 453 local preachers; ~, lBS itineant
preachers; AGE, 009 members; 80, $50 SUN
day schools, and 4,4Sl, 900 Sunday school
scholars, The discussion in regard to the
work OF women was chiefly remarkable for
its strong conservative tone, Some had eX.
pected that this representative gatherings OF
the worlds MethOdism would favor the
general opening OF Methodist pulpits to
women, and the comforting upon them,
when desired, OF the ministerial orders
known to the Church, How utterly those
who entertained such expectations were
disappointed will be well understood when
it is slated that the eSsayist, Dr. Antliil, OF
the Primitive Methodist Church, favored
the admission OF women to the pulpit only
in exceptional instances, while the invited
speaker, DR.. Payne, President OF Ohio
Wesleyan University, said nothing on the
subject pro or con, the cause OF female
preaching finding, us Il matter Of TACT, but
one special advocate in all the Confer
enCe. The discussion OF "Scriptural Holt
ness claims special mention, not so much
for the ability displayed by DR., Newman,
j, b. M'Ferrin, and others in its treatment,
as for the fact that the Conference by n
large vote suspended its rules to allow the
consideration OF this theme to extend be-
yond the allotted hour, the understanding
being that the remarks should take on the
form OF experience This was the only in
stance in which the Conference had sus-
pended Its rules for any purpose. 1t had
refused to extend the time OF prominent
speaker, even after the assurance from the
gentleman that he had only another sem
fence to utter. The fact therefore, that
the Conference did for the theme in ques-
ton what it refused to do In other !chses,
shows the rapid progress that particular
doctrine is making in. the high places OF
the Church. DR.. Buckley and others spoke
in opposition to the suspension of the rules
for this purpose, but II few words from
Rev, 4. L. jenkins, Cx-President OF the
British Wesleyan Conference, brought the
Conference to his way OF thinking, and the
Ecumcnical holiness meeting was accord
ingly held
In the course OF the discussion on "ThG
Influence which MethOdism has EXerted
upon other Denomination" 1t trnspired
that the church was doing really great
work in this direction. ut was the remark
OF great man." said one speaker, that
MethOdism was Gods wooden spoon tostir
M the churches" She was doing this, it
was shown, by provoking other denOmna-
tiOns to activity and enterprise in the
building OF churches, and in the occupancy
of mission fields, 1t also appeared that
many ministers now eminent in the Church
of England md other bodies, hNd the good
habit in curly life Of attending Methodist
preaching houses, and that not Il few were
converted there As Il notable incident Of
Mcthodism's good work in the latter line,
the case OF the peOt Baptist preacher,
Charles II, Sturgeon, was cited. Mr..
Sturgeon was brought to the experience Of
| religion through the efforts Of II Primitive
Methodist local preacher. He frequently
refers to this fact in his ministutiOns, and
always has warm side for the friends Of
his youth. Last Sabbath out of Difference,
it Is supposed to the Conference, and to
the presence in his tabernacle OF large
number OF delegates, this worlds preacher
discoursed on that iayorite tenet of early
MCthodism, Holiness, advancing views that
were fully abreast, II Is said, Of hose held
bycvcn the most Ndvanccdmodern special
lists on this doctrine, The Methodists here
take pride in Sturgeon, claiming that he is
what he is largely through his curly as
ISOLATION with them; Mr., Sturgeon, as
already intimated, also takes some pride In
the MCthodists, but his love is not blind,
ind occasionally he gives them piece OF
his mind not ut all PLEASANT to ponder over.
Your readers will recall statement in my
lust letter indicatingH growing tendency in
the Western body 10 adopt certain High
Church practices, such rs the opening Of
| their services with the use Of the BOOK OF
Common Prayer, Not long ago Sturgeon
dealt this tendency II severe rcbuke. He
N''' .,,,,oI,,,l ti,". r'sst T..
tle Ige, anu muu Iel liun .l"t mucn Oh u
was ~ VIZ WTT2Ing uiteCsioh, wien ne 40;
auceu MGl,Iou 1t " STlIElhg example ol
!,lSi r, MG.n H,a MI,, SII'! III, e1,hg 10
inc G b 'ale UluEt W. IN goinS 10 l'olhe'
ana Rome IL sol"g 10 'ne ueNlh
The one theme which up to this writing
has awakened the greatest interest was
that Of temperance. This was inevitable ut
gathering OF Metlodists; And the discus
sion Of the theme ut this gathering was in
vested with special interest, owing to the
fact that the Eastern and Western sections
arc not in perfect agreement on the subject.
In this country total abstinence prevails
among Mcthodists only to limited extent.
Probably nearly all the American dele
gatcs have been asked to partakc OF either
wine or beer at the Methodists homes