, 1891-10-21
THE SESSION CLOSED.
Methodist Ecumenical Council
Adjourned Yesterday.
Questions Which Came Up for
Final Discussion.
Foreign Delegates Are Pleased
With Their Reception.
The Methodists.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20.-At the after,
noon session of the Methodists a resolu.
tionwas adopted stating that the conference
views with deep concern the subtle and
persistent efforts OF the Roman hierarchy
to make its power felt outside its own
proper sphere in many lands, to the detrl.
ment and danger of civil and religious
liberties of the people. The conference
feels bound to remind the members oil
the churches it represents of the sacred
rights and privileges they enjoy, won fol
them by the sacrifice and fidelity OF then
forefathers and to call on them to unite
with the members other protestant
churches in maintaining their great in
heritance Of freedom and handing down
the same intact, to succeeding generations.
The last essay of the conference was on
the Church Of the Future" read by
Rev. DR.. Buckley. editor of the New
York Christian Advocate. He spoke OF
the evil portents of the present time,
mentioning business dishonesty, lack Of
self denial, extravaganza in living, relin'
quishments IN large part by the church OF
the Sabbath to the world, etc. But this
Is only one side and there are numerous
tendencies OF a hopeful character. The
rise OF new denominations seeking after
spiritual piety may be expected. No
union OF professionalism and Romanism is
possible. The ultimate church will en-.
force no theory OF inspiration; 1t will have
a simple vet comprehensive creed, reveal
ing the essentials of salvation. The mania
for making new laws upon points upon
which inspiration has not spoken will
give place 10 the Christian liberty exhib-
tied by St. james and endorsed and illus
trated by St. Paul. Caste and cant will
disappear; Christian living will be mid
way between asceticism and luxury; sci
ence and religion will walk hand in hand
through till at last there NAV be irrelig.
ious scientists and some Christians sc
ignorant or timid as to Tear that an in
crease of knowledge in the sphere o
nature necessarily implies destruction O
faith.
Rev. DR.. Dawson of England said tn
church of the future must essentially b
a church of the past. The fundamental
could not be altered. The first note of tb
church of the future would be simpli
~ication. Too long had the church beeI
keeping its eve upon heaven and failin,
to see injustice Cd earth. Democracy II
the state meant democracy in the churcl
and the most democratic church would
win. Christians were followers of a divine
socialist. If men could not get the
socialism of Jesus they would get the
socialism OF the devil. The socialism Of
Jesus did not make us all equal; it made
us all brothers. The church should not
ignore evolution; and the church wilfully
blind could not be the church of the
future.
At the conclusion of the last address by
request Of the business committee DR..
Stephenson presented resolutions vcicing
the thanks of the conference in various
directions. He made a speech in moving
the resolution, treating it by sections. He
referred to the hospitality shown foreign
delegates, etc, referred to the president
visit to the conference and said he had
done honor to the conference and to him
self aud set q noble example to heads OF
every great community in the world. DR..
Stephenson was very grateful to the Asso-
ciated Press, which had done for this con-
ference Yesterday what had never been
done for the Methodist conference before,
in sending to 500 papers the admirable
address issued.
The resolutions were unanimously
adopted, the entire audience rising and
s%pplauding.
Bishop Hurst OF Washington briefly re-
sponded and the second ecumenical con.
ference, after a half an hours's prayer,
adjourned SINE die.