Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-17
THE FOLLOWED OF WESLEY.
Interesting Proceedings Of the Methodist
Centennial Conference Yesterday.

Centennial Conference Yesterday.
IBy telegraph to the Dspatch.l
BALTIMORE, December l6.-Rev. Or.
McAnally, editor OF the II. Louis CFtStidR
Advocate, presided at the session o. lie
Conference to-day. Bishop Andrews An
pounced, on the part OF the Business Com
mittee, that the Western Book Concern. the
New York Book Concern, and the Southern
Method dist Publishing Society were autho-
rized to publish the Centennial Nolume"
containing the sermons and proceedings OF
the present Conference. The editors OF the
Volume will be Rev. II. X. Carroll, W. L.
Harrison, and j. II. Bayliss.
Bishop Walden offered resolution that
the BUSHES. Committee suggest date on
which to call an Ecumenical Council OF
Methodism. II was suggested that the
year 1889 would be an appropriate year.
The Conference decided 1t would be mex
pedieai to call such a council.
The regular order OF the day was pro-
ceedei with, which was the reading OF an
essay on the "Four Points OF Methodlsm-
Heart Conversion, Assurance, Christian
Experience, and Sancti6caton," by Rev.
j. +. Evans.
At its conclusion Rev. James ". King
read an essay on the Influence OF Metho-
dism on Other Denominations" Metho-
dism. he said. was revolution in the
method OF saving souls. II has moulded
the character OF the English-speaking de-
nominations Of the world. Its influence on
The social character OF the people is not
less inn )riant. Religious principe in Eng
laud " nearly extinct when Wesley came
TO quicken the pulse Of the religious world.
The founders Of Melhodsm aided to mould
the characters Of men to make them better
end lead lives that would illustrate their
creed. II is not by new theology, but
by new method OF Interpretation, that
MethOdsm has succeeded.
At the end OF this discourse 4 dispatch
was received from o. l.. Taylor, the Oldest
Presbyterlan minister in the United States,
congratulating the Conference on the occa.
sion Of their centennial! celebration. DR..
TAYLOR, now in Rochester, \. Y, is one
hundred years old to. day.
Leutcnant-Go Governor Stands. from the
committee authorized 10 consider the pro-
priely and advislbiIity Of establishing the
Oxford League, reported fayOrably upon
the project. Each church may provide its
own plans OF organic ition, aud literature
IL shall introduce to it. members. Tue
ua,tor Of the church shall be er-obiCio pres.
id,nt. with power to appoint al assistant.
The League is designed to encourage the
reading and studyO the Scriptures. beney'
olent and missionary work by the members,
and social intercourse for the mutual ad-
vantage OF those who belong 10 the organi-
zaiion Considerable discussion followed,
alter which the report was adopted.
Rev. J. II. Bayliss announced the death
81 Rev. DR.. Rice. senior superintendent OF
the Methodist Church in Canada, aud reso-
lutions OF respect to his memory were
adopted.
At the afternoon session Rev. james Il.
st. James Fry read paper on the L" Value
Of the Press 10 MethOdism,' and Rev. y.
7. fitzgerald 4 paper on the 'Na!ue OF
the Periodical Press 10 MethOdism."
Tomorrow the work for which the Con-
ference was called will be completed. The
morning session Will be occupied by the
reading OF papers. but the afternoon ses-
sion will be entirely devotional, closing
with lOye-feast.