The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-13
CANADIAN mErnopIsTs.
The Strength Of the Union and How 1t
Was Brought About.


This great movement may now be re-
garded rs an accomplished fact. The con-
tracing parties in this union Of the Cana
dian Methodiuls arc the Methodist Church
Of Canada, the Methodist Episcopal
Church, the Primitive Methodist Church
and the bible Christian Church. The first
Of these is the largest, embracing about
twelve hundred ministers and half a mil
lion adherents. The other three aggregate
about half as many ministers and adher-
eats. In reponse to general feeling in
favor Of union in these churches, at their
conferences Of last year delegates were ap-
pointed to q union committee, which met
In Toronto in the months Of November anu
DeCe 1882. Alter much deliberation
a basis OF union was formed which was
Professionally accepted by these delegates,
II provided for the introduction Of laymen
into The annual conferences, a feature oil
the Primitive Methodist and Bible Chris
TRAN churches, and for the adoption Of the
principle OF episcopacy OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church, so far as to admit the
presence OF the general superintendent oil
Inc United Church in the annual confer
eace, presiding alternately day by day with
tneir elected presidents. This basis had
10 be submitted to the official boards Of
each "circuit" or station Of the several
churches, to their annual conferences and
to the general conferences oil the two Larger
bodies Only upon the acceptance Of The
basis by each Of these could general con-
ferenced for the United Church be conyen.
ed and this iourfold union be carried into
effect. Itwassoon found that considerable
opposition 10 the basis existed, and 0
wortly warfare pro and con was continued
for months in the church organs anti secu-
lar press. Nevertheless, when the voting
in the Church courts took place the basis
was accepted by nearly nine.tenths OF the
official boards OF the two larger churches,
and by less proportion in the smaller
bodies,
In the ministerial conferences OF the
Methodist Church Of Canada 1t was much
less iayorably received. In the Montreal
Conference il escaped defeat by only four.
teen votes. In the London Conference, az
ter long aud acrimonious debate, 1t was
defeated by vote Of l0l to S.. In the 10.
1onto Conference, however, 1t was carried
by vote OF 1877 to 81. In the Conference
OF Nova Scotia, New Brunswick Newldund-
land and Manitoba 1t was successfully car
ried in the latter unanimously-a signif.
icant fact, as in that province and the
Northwest the riyalries OF divided Meth
odism were most imminent and most pref
judicial.
When the adjourned General Confer.
euce Of the Methodist Church of Canada
assembled in the city Of Belleyille, on
August 10th, ior the final acceptance or re-
lection OF the basis, 1t was evident that the
battle Of union must be fought over again.
One circumstance that complicated the de-
bate was this THE Biblo Christian
Church, which holds an affiliated relation
with the parent body in England, in
which the church property OF the Canadian
wing is vested, asked the permission oil
that body to 60 into the proposed union.
That permission was refused, whereupon
the Canadian body held special confer.
ence and resolved by an almost unani-
nous vote TO enter into the union without
the consent Of the parent body. The OPP
pouents OF the basis commended that by
this failure OF concurrence the compact was
inyalidated and that union Tor the present
was estopped. Strenuous opposition was
also offered, especially by several leading
delegates of the London conference, 10 even
the modified form Of Episcopal supervision
in the annual conference provided for in
the basis. After an earnest and able de-
bate, extending over four days, the basis
WAS adopted by vote OF l23 So. Amend.
ment practically shelving the question was
adopted BY vote OF III to 10. 1t is re-
markable that in this general conference,
composed Of an equal number OF minis
ters and laymen, among the latter being
eminent judges, lawyers, Senators and
members Of Parliament, only four Lay. voles
were recorded against the basis. 1t is to
be noted, too, that same prominent minis
terial opponents oithis basis ut an earlier
period recognized the "logic Of events" and
spoke and voted for its adoption.
It now remains only for the delegates Of
the four several bodies to meet in united
general conference and to provlde for carry
ing the union into effect, Tor the consolida-
tion of publishing, educational and mission.
airy interests, for the equitable adjust.
ment OF benevolent and other funds and
the rearrangementof ministerial labor, by
which great economy in the employment
OF both men and money shall be effected
The friends Of this movement anticipate
from it only the happiest results-the ces-
sation Of UNCONVENTIONAL rivalries in the
crowded fields Of the other provinces and
in the vast and yet sparsely settled regions
OF the Canadian northwest territories and
The increased efficiency and economy Of
eyangelis,ic operations at home aud mis-
sionary efforts abroad. 1t is believed, that
this uniGcation Of Methodist forces in Can.
ada will be followed by similar unions Of
the divided Methodists Of New Zealand,
Tasmania and Australia, as well as in
Great Britain and in the United States.