Morning journal and courier., 1891-10-19
THE ECUN1ENICAL CONFERENCE.
Subjects Discussed by the Mefho dist Gathering at w washington-Scfent Thought-yyOman's Work in the Church-CIoserC Cooperation in Mis- sion Fields.

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 sion Fields.
 WASHINGTON, D. O., Oct. 16.
 Tothe Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 AS this great conference approaches it's close there will be a widespread demand for some estimate of what it's results are likely to be. To form such an estimate one must consider, first, the composition of the body and the limitations imposed upon it. Those who have expected it to formulate any scheme of legislation, or who have thought that it might commit Methodism, either as whole or in its va rious parts, to any course contrary to pres ent usage, must bear in mind that it has no power to do this. Its functions are purely deliberative and advisory. It may recommend variety of things, if only it can agree upon them, but the adoption rejection of what is suggested is matter which, by common consent, has been left, not with this Ecumenical conference, but with the law-making bodies of the no less than twenty-eight churches which are taking part in this gathering. Another limitation is in the rule which stipulates that no vote shall be taken upon any ques- ton affecting the internal arrangements of any of these twenty eight churches. With out such proviso as this an Ecumenical conference could not have been held, and the reader will readily see that, with such @ proviso in force, the body, besides being denuded of legislative powers, is also re- stricted, to very material extent. in even it's deliberative and advisory prerogatives. Contrasting this with the first Ecumeni- cal, held ten years ago, one is struck with the remarkable progress indicated. In the former the representatives of the different churches remained to the close at arms length from each other. They were like | long lost brotherf who, when first meet l ing, are sure to be polite, and are certain | to use many kind expressions, but who | can have little communion for some time | because, notwithstanding the tie of broth | erhood, they are still so little known to | each other. This was how it was at that | first Ecumenical. The proceedings were | highly proper, and the intercourse, as far as it went, was sincere enough; but there was little flowing together of soul, little | warmth, and as to the desire for union, l which has been so often and so emphati- l cally expressed in this gathering, such a | desire-though feebly uttered now and then by some daring spirit who delighted to put himself in advance of the times was chiefly conspicuous in that first Ecu | menical by it's absence. The brethren, | too, found themselves at loggerheads on the temperance question, the advanced ut | terances of Americans eliciting no ade- | quate response from the British Metho- dists, and the half apologetic tone of many of the English being far beneath the | stalwart attitude of Brother Jonathan as | to seem to him positively contemptible. But in this conference the showing is quite different. Not day has passed that the liquor traffic has not been visited with
 some whitening madediction; and the sin
 gular fact is that Herod has found himself
 wholly out-Heroded at his own particular
 business; for the English brethren have SC
 completely taken the lead in denouncing
 drink as the 'blistering curse of civiliza-
 tion," and in holding up to popular scorn
 'tpolitical parties buttressed by the beer
 barrel and drawing their inspiration from
 distilleries, that even Dr. Leonard, fol
 the time, has found his occupation gone
 he, with the other Americans, seeming tc
 tacitly admit, by their comparative reti
 cence on the subject, that the cause oi
 temperance is at present sufficiently but
 tressed and sufficiently inspired by thii | new aCc6SSlOn OI 1OTceS ITOIu aCIOSS tHs l sea.
 Another striking point of difference be
 tween the former Ecumenical and the pres ent is in the broader horizon of view takeI by the latter. At the first meeting O
 these long separated brothers they could
 talk of nothing but themselves. Nearl,
 all the topics wore a Methodist complex
 ion, and most of the speeches were satura ted and tipped with Methodist ideas an'
 facts Not little that has been distinc
 lively denominational has found a place
 and very properly so-in the proceeding of the present conference. The secont day brought us Methodist statistics il a such bewildering affiuence as to almCs
 make our heads swim; and still there wa
 fear that some which should have bee1 , presented had gotten away somehow; else
 why the committee which the conferenc ! has appointed to shell the woods for suc t possible [deserters. To the suggestion l thrown out, that the emphasis laid O , these figures looked little like numberin
 Israel, it was retorted that, whether sue a numbering of the Lords hosts was pel e missible or not under the old dispensatior e it was certainly allowed under the new V and that. in the distinct mention of th three thousand added to the church on th Il day of Pentecost, it had the obvious sanC d tion of the apostles. It was well, how = ever as Dr. A. s. Hunt fittingly remarked
 that but one day should be given to topi
 like this, and quite the thing that immed tt ately there after the broader topic of Chri ,- tian union and cooperation should con up for debate; for this gave a chance fc
 the soa1ing eagle of Methodistic eloquent e to cast its approving eye upon much th'