The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-02-25
Notes Of Summer Travel.

NCLCS O1 AIAtOAs
The Great Methodist Ecumenical Confer |
ence-Dr. Sturgeon the Great Baptist
Preacher-Hampton Court, Its Grandeur,
Beauty and Charlottesville Kew Botan- !
ical Gardens.
LONDON, Sept. 10, 1881.
Ny DEAR NELL: !
The great Methodist Ecumenical Con-
ference, so long anticipated, is drawing
near its day Of adjournment. Its regular
sessions hsye taken place in the City
Road Chapel where Jno. Wesley offici-
ated, but several public meetings have
been held in Exeter Hall, the use Of
which vas profcred by the Young Mems
Christian Association. in this Confer
ence are represented twenty-seyen diff
ferent organizations, among whom pre-
walls considerable divergence of views
as to church polity, yet all are united in
common loyalty to the great source of
all their various churches-John Wesley.
When l attended the Lutheran church
in Munich, was surprised to find
crucifix on the altar, a minister robed in
black gown, and liturgical service.
The American traveller, familiar with
Methodsm in the United States, is, per-
haps, still less prepared to see the posi-
ton occupied by the Wesleyan church in
England. The black gown is worn
frequently, though not universally,
among their ministers; and they use tho
church Of England prayer-book, without
abridgement. They have never formally
separated from the English church, and
to this day, they commonly speak of
their own church as a "Society." Most
of their elder ministers cherish a warm
regard for the English church and are
opposed to disestablishment. The only
marvel is, that holding SO closely to tho
church Of England in doctrine and prac-
tice, they should remain apart from her.
But anything like organic union was
never moro Improbable than now, as
have clearly cleaned in conversation
with several Wesleyan gentlemen whom
1 have met at the Conference. They
frankly admit that Jno. Wesley never
left the church of England, nor over
they contend that Wesley, wise and good
and great as he was, could not altogether
break away from the dominant supersti-
tions Of his age. He could not quite
get over the belief in Apostolic Success
sion which had been SO firmly ingrained
into his nature it was because of such
stfang existing prejudices that the
Wesleyaps have never had the Episcopal
form Of government which was adopted
by their brethren in the United States.
Wesley acted according to the light given
him; now, in the clear MONDAY of the
pineteenth century, his followers need
be no longer blinded by the mists and
fogs that obscured his vision. The
growing tendency of the present time is
TO break away, altogether, from the in
herited prejudices which have bound
them to the church of England. Within
. few years the prayer-book will proba-
bly, he thrown aside, and the next great
Ecumenical Conference will no doubt
find the public services Of the Wesleyan
chapels in all respects similar to those of
our American Methodist churches.
Among the distinguished gentlemen
present at the Conference as delegates
are Bishops Simpson, Peck and Warren,
Rev. Dir. Tiffany and Rev. DR.. Buckley
of the NJ. +. Church North. DR.. Buckley
is the capable editor of the New York
Christian 4drocate. Parson Newman,
whose name is familiar enough in the
South is also here. The Southern Method
ist church is represented by Bishop
McTyeire, DR.. Wilson, Dr. McFerrin, Dr.
Andrews and others-gentlemen i'll whom
their people may feel honored
The openin. sermon, Oil the 9TH Sept
was preached by Bishop Simpson, whose
bowed form and silyered head lent i'm
prcssiveness to his eloquent words. Hi.
discourse upon the text "The words thai
Ispeak unto you, they are spirit ant
they are life" was comparatively brief
his sermon being chiefly glowing eulog,
upon the life and labors of John Wesley
OF course, Nell, can not within TIL
compass of a single letter, review th
pnnerous topics, which nave been dis
cusscd by the Conference; but l ma
simply specify few Of them: eth
grateful recognition Of the hand of Go
in the origin and progress of Methodisn1,
Scriptural holmes, aud the special fiji
ness of Methodist means Of grace to pr,
mote it," "The training of children S
as to bring them to Christ, aud attac
them to Metho,lisnl,'' " Possible perils
Methodism from Papacy, FROM sacerd,
talism and its connected errors, froI
syorldliness and Scepticism," ''The bes
inethods of reaching the unconverte
sections of the richer classcs,'' "Mi
sions," 1.-The Temperance movement
sic.
have referred to the public meeti,l
in Exeter Hall. On Que of these occ
sions Dr. Tiffany gave an address on Il
NJ. Z. Church North, displaying mo-
e'aruence than discretion, for he unwise
revived the dead issues OF the war, all
ding to tue slavequestion, anl reminds
his audience that "the NJ. E. Chnrt
North had sent more men aud mo