The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-10-12

The Rev. DR.. George, formerly OF this
city, is credited by the London corespon-
dent of the Chicago TijJ,hewiths eopspic.
uous part in originating and carrying out
the project for the Ecpmenical Council. He
read a paper on tho closing day Of the
Council entitled "Church Unity" He is
quoted as expressing himself as follows on
that subject;
The different bodies OF 3Tethodism, he
said, must seek to make themselves bright
and shining examples OF the virtue OF
ehurchly unity by keeping out Oi each 9TH
ems way, by acting toward one another,
not as rivals, but as brethren working IN
the same cause and for the same end by
frequent exchanges OF pulpits on the part oil
ministers; by having, II possible, q common
HYMN book and ritual; by corporation IN
foreign missionary work, and by being
banded together in Holy league Tor CONF
bined warfare against u common enemy
Tho MULTIPLICATION of seCts was, he al
iirrned, the weak point in Professionalism,
and especially in Alethodism. There was
need, he said, for union at home as well as
in foreign fields Of labor, and in support OF
this proposition, he cited the case Of city
in the United States having not more than
10000 inhabitants which already had five
churches belonging TO different branches
Of the Methodist family, with movement
now on foot TO establish sixth. These
churches, DR.. George explained, belonged
respectively to the n. +. Church, the NJ.
Il, Church South. the Methodist Protest
ants, the American Wesleyans, the Free
AlethOdists and the United Brethren,
In the discussion which ensued on this
subject all conflicts and controversies be-
tween different branches Of the church
we're deprecated, as matter Of course, but
the predominant opinion seemed to be,
nevertheless, that SIethOdism, divided MS
she now Is into many sects and operating
under many forms, was really stronger
than she could possibly he Il united and
operating under one form, and that, as DR..
Rigg expressed it, "organic union was
neither practicable nor desirable"
The final address adopted by tho Council
tothe world isascribcd to the pen ofBishop
Peck, and Is said to be q strong document.
Itcamo from committee Of leading repre-
sentatiyes of the various sects Of Method
ism represented in the Council. II opens
by congratulating Methodists everywhere
thaton oil essential points the Conference
had reach substantial agreement and then
calls upon them to strive TO be known
henCciOrth, in their spirit and work, II not
in name, as one church and people. The
importance Of maintaining their peculiar
means Of grace is next insisted upon, and
they are particularly urged toresurrect and
witty the class meeting. In the matter Of
church buildings, extravaganza and dis
play with their accompanying evil
Of debt, are to be avoided, and
everything possible is recommended
TO be done to attract and save
the poor. The church Is also to be made
I'M attractive place for young people and
children, and It's increased efficiency in
reaching these is to be secured by a closer
union between the church proper and the
Sabbath school, the nursery Of the church.
Methodists, 1t is further urged, must throw
the weight Of their influence on the right
side Of all moral questions. They must
contend earnestly for the perpetuity Of the
Christian Sabbath, and battle against in.
Temperance. On the last named point the
address is very emphatic. This evil, it de
clares, viii not yield to mild remedies and
AGethodists, 1t continues, lowe it to the
memory Of their great founder, to their
own history, and to the truth OF the re-
ligion they profess, to stand in the front
rank Of those who are sworn to crush It to
the earth.o
Among the important resolutions adopted
ut the close Of the conference, and which
were never given in cable reports, was one
declaring in favor OF international peace
onecondemning the opium traffic as carried
on by the British government in China
one recommending the women OF the
church to give increasing attention to the
work Of fostering missions; one deprecating
state regulation Of the social evil; ono
advising friendly conference and co.opera.
ton between Methodist bodies laboring
side by side in foreign mission fields,
and one demanding Sunday closing
law for England. OF the resolutions
proposed and discussed, but not
adopted, tho most important were those
recommending the use by all the Methodist
bodies Of common hymnal, liturgy and
catechism, and one on temperance One
objection to common hymn book was
that each country must necessarily have
poetic productions Of It's own, which It
would be desirable to use in worship, and
also national hymns adapted to It's own pc.
culiar form Of government. Another diff.
Guilty was financial one, some Of the lead.
ing churches having recently, at'great ex.
ponse, brought out revised editions OF their
own hymn books. .lHt .l.
The next general conference, which will
be held in this country, Is likely to be 70
larger and even more important assembly
than the one just closed, us II Is probable
nearly every Methodist minister in the
United States will endeayor to he present
eitlief as member or as a spectator Of the
: proceedings.