Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-18
LAST OF THE CONFERENCE
A LOVE FEAST WINDS UP THE
INTERESTING SESSION.

| - ~ ~ A AAEA04 w lNDo VI
INTERESTING SESSION.
WOman's Valuable Aid in Methodism's
Behalf EIOquentIy Acknowledged
The Influence a Shrewish Wife Ex-
erted on John Wesley-The EmbodI-
ments of the Pastoral Letter.
| BALTIMORE, Dec. I7.-Rev. E. r. Hendrix.
of Missouri, presided over the deliberations
| OF the Centenary Conference this morning
and Rev. W. P. Stowe, of Chicago, opened
| the session with prayer. This being the last
day of the conference, the reading and cor
rection of the roll occupied an hour and a
half, great care being taken that no mistakes
may be found IN the published records of the
conference.
Rev. DR.. McFerrin offered resolution of
thanks for the personal interest that had
spiritual profit that had been diffused among
the delegates. Speaking on the resolution, he
said that one year ago he did not expect to
attend this conference and to live to sign
such paper. lie believed that the MethO-
dist Episcopal Church was on equal
grounds with all other branches
of MethOdism, but he would live and die in
full fellowship with the great body of Method
ism In all Its branches. Bishop Harris hoped
that permission would be granted to add, in
addition to the names already attached to the
paper. the name of representative of each
branch of MethOdism. The conferences per-
mission was granted and the paper was
adopted.
WOMAN AND RELIGION.
The first essay of the day was read by Rev.
Owes to Woman" ''Woman." he said. s.is
naturally more disposed to piety and devotion
than man. They are more confiding and less
liable to doubt. They are more responsive to
music and oratOry, and they are the principal
supporters OF religion, true or false. They are
the most untlring servants of ROmanism, and
though they are not as influential in Protest
antlsm they are still very strong and power
full. They were the last at the cross and the
first at the sepulchre. Methodism owes much
to woman. The first woman worthy of men
tion in connection with MethOdsm. Susannah
Wesley.is credited with having nurtured in the
mind other son John Wesley the great ideas he
afterwards gave to the world. Next perhaps
is Sarah Crosby, who possessed great powers
as an eXhorter, and was c0mplimented
by the great " esley on the good work she had
done. Methodism is greatly indebted to John
Wesley's shrewlsh wife, though it has been
said by some that she was of unsOund mind.
wEsLEY's sHREWIsH WIFE.
John Wesley himself said that if his domes-
tic life had been happier than it was, and his
wife more amiable, he might have been
begulled into pleasing her whims and have
his mind drawn away from the great work of
saving souls. The women of American
Methodism are fully as deserving as their
sisters on the other side of the water.
Rev. ID. H. p. Walker was expected to pre-
Lay Element in MethOdism," but he was not
present, and the Committee on Business was
instructed to have prepared suitable paper
on that subject to be printed in the centennial
volume.
At the afternoon session the minutes were
read. after which the pastoral address pre-
pared by the committee of Bishops was read.
THE PASTORAL LETTER.
The pastoral address of the Bishops read at
the closing OF the conference this afternoon is
a Christian cOngratulatiOn on the state of the
church, review of its doctrine and future
mission. 1t is addressed as follows:
To The AethOdist people in the United States
Gnd Canada, Beloved in the Lord: The Bishops,
ministers and delegates in the centennial con-
ference of Episcopal MethOdlsm, in session in
the city OF Baltimore. Md, Dec. 9 to II, 1884,
greet you as fellow disciples and rejoice with
you in the grace of our God, which has made
us a people who were not people, and in the
spiritual blessings which have come to us
through the gospel, as well as in the unpar-
alleled achievement wrought upon this contl-
nent through the instrumentality of our forms
of doctrine and work, and we also sincerely
invoke IN your behalf a continuance of that
special mercy of our Heavenly Father, which
shall build you up in faith and
in all wisdom and righteousness.
Inc numerous papers read before
this conference, and which will be given to
the public, so fully record the lessons of our
history and with such force and clearness,
that nothing remains for us but to exhort you
to give such praiseful consideration to those
faithful representations Of the marvellous to-
kens of Divine favor which have marked the
steps of our advancement through the centu-
ry, as the vital interests involved will both
justify and demand.
MORE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
Permit us, however, to remind you, dear
brethren, while we extend hearty congratu-
latlons upon the success of the past, and ex-
press the profOundest conviction that even
nobler and grander achievements await us in
the future, that the mission gwen us by PrOvi-
Unt m lG
we entreat you brethren, do not forget that
hitherto the Methodists have been dis
tingulshed by the emphasis they have given
TO the essential doctrines of Christianity IN all
the years of our history, the truths relating
to God, to moral government, to Immortality,
and to eternal retributions, have been sacredly
maintained and asserted with great distinct
ness, and that we have held in common with
all Christian people, to the inspiration and
divine authority of the Scriptures, the divine
origin. of the Church, the vocation of the
ministry, the value of the sacraments, and the
lndlspensableness of the strctest morality.
according to the New Testament standard.
and that yet beyond all these poRs64
Nervousness of sin, the necessity Of
atonement, the universally of provisional
redemption, the freedom of will and fullness
OF grace. Not one of those can be discarded
or distorted without marring the scheme of
salvation revealed in the gospel. But even
these foundation truths, however emphasized.
will not meet the demands of the soul and
Methodist life and history.
OTHER DOCTRINES TO BE EMPHASIZED.
There are other doctrines to be emphasized,
doctrines which relate to salvation, applied
as well as provided doctrines, which underlie
the experiences OF the soul in its emergence
out of the darkness and death of sin into the
light and life in Righteousness. These other
doctrines have been the rallying cry of Metho-
dism in the past and must be in the future.
They are repentance. justification, adoption,
meekness Of spirit, sanctificaton and Chris
tlan perfection. Out of these come all our
experiences, all our Joys and hopes, our in
splratlOn and zeal, and upon these are built
all our special forms and means of grace, our
charities, our benevOlences, and our correc-
tlonal institutions. These doctrines above all
others nave given tone and shape and spirit to
organize and determine its works and place
in history. Take from Methodism these doc
trlnes of experience, or even the emphasis
given them, or Overlay them with lifeless
forms and ceremonies, or mar them by hu-
man speculatiOns concerning the mode
of divine procedure in them, or confuse
them by any conceivable departure from
their simplicity so that they shall become
only doctrines of creed, unverifed IN soul as
the very essence Of salvation, and then our
glory is departed forever. We therefore
plead with you, brethren, as you value the
purity of the church and its power to convert
the people and spread Scriptural holiness,
hold fast to these doctrines, as they come from
the fathers as they appear in the Scriptures
and as they have been attested by the eX-
periences of the church in past ages.
RELIGION IN THE HOMES.
The address urges the maintenance of
family religion. 1.-THE holiest sanctuary on
earth is the Christian home. Neither church |
nor Sunday school can do the work OF the |
home or become an adequate substitute for
the influence of piety in the household. See |
to it that the children be all taught of the |
Lord with sound instruction. Let the hand |
Of restraint be employed, yet with such firm |
ness and gentleness as to win and help chill |
dren as well as to hold them in subsection to |
authority"
1t speaks OF the Sabbath as the pillar of |
Christian civilization. 1.-THE spiritual church |
without the Sabbath is an impossibllity. God |
has consecrated one seventh of our days to |
rest and worship. The law enjOining its OBJ
servance is both positive and moral, imbedded
in decalogue, enforced in the New Testament,
and interpreted and illustrated in the prac-
tice of the primitive church. The grand |
march for the conquest of all the lands for |
Christ has begun. The voice of the Lord bids |
us go forward. We dare not accepc a second |
ary place. With our schools and colleges, |
with our wealth and culture, with our social |
power and our vast numbers we must have |
large share in the worlds evangelization."
A love feast closed the proceedings Of the |
day and conference.
AN ANARCHISTS DEFIANCE.
ReinsdOrf Shows no TrepidatiOu Before |