Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-03
THE mETHODIsTs IN COUNCIL.


The General Council of the Methodist Epis-
oopal Church South meets in quadrennial
session at Nashville today. This body is
the law-making power of the church, and
many questions of importance are to be dis
cussed and decided. Among these is the
proposition TO dispense with the sufix
South" and to unity the Methodist Church
in the United States In 1874 the Methodist
denomination divided on the subject of
slavery. Nearly all the conferences in the
slave-holding States voted TO establish sep
arate Jurisdiction and adopted the name of
the Methodist Episcopal Church South, to
distinguish il from the same denomination
North. In the conference which meets to-
day an effort will be made to drop the sufix
South" and to consolidate the two churches.
The division of the Methodist Church on the
question of slavery did much toward alien
atipg the two sections, and now that slavery
and sectional hatreds are dead, it is to the in
terest of the country and the Methodist Church
that the strifes of the past be forgiven and
forgotten. Another matter of great impor-
lance will be the election of several new
bishops-two having died since the last con-
AcEcnCc, anu uNt Ol lnOsc Bull ltN1IR are
unable to perform active duty. The people
of the whole country will watch with deep
concern the proceedings of the conference
which commences its laboIs to-day. 1t is
about $50 years since John Wesley formed
the branch which grew into distinctive
church organization called Methodist, now
constituting about 100000 communicates.
Unity in doctrine, fraternity in feeling and
oneness of general purpose seems to be the
aim of IFS members, and we presume the
Nashville conference will emphasize by
its action the determination to accom- |
plish this great object. The separate
branches that represent the Methodist Church |
are distinct as the pillows, but one the sea-"
by becoming one great common family |
they will augment their strength and use |
fulness. The Methodists have always been |
the videttes in the cause of religion. They |
are the first to unfold their banners on the |
outposts of civilization. Their system is a |
very effective one, because it is moved by |
vital forces. Their system of popular |
preaching may not always be wise or fine |
preaching, but it shows earnestness, which is
essential to success. John Wesley entered |
upon his mission at time when christianity
was at very low ebb. He was converted
through the influence of the Moravians, who
preached the doctrine of vital religion.
Under this preaching fame of revival
spread abroad, and evangelism became the
chief work OF Methodism. Wesley was a
popular preacher, and he drew TO himself |
others equally as popular. The troop of
takers swept over England. Some OF them,
who had never been ordained, became mis-
sionaries in the country, and started blaze |
as If they had been Goals of fire. Wesley and i
his followers gave to religion a new impetus. |
They talked well and successfully, because |
the matter of which they we're full inspired |
them, and this is still the secret which !
spreads the conquests of this great and pow
erful denomination. The divisions in the |
Methodist Church have resulted in a waste
in evange Iistic forces. and it is hoped the
effort for organic unity will be successful, as
it increases the possibilities for still greater
usefulness, and will show to the country that
another, and perhaps the last, of the causes
for sectional hatred has been removed.