Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-10-08
NUAlAICAL COUNCIL
Opening - the Distinruished
Assting In Washinxtoa-
sEGasD u TIE CHgRfHs HISTORY
Asrsd Delegates From All
ss~Ash>s sf thu As<asaist eharch
ss.s AttsDdaae<. Twssfy-niAs
'asistsas Represented

WASHINGTON. Oe< The Ecu-
menieal Methodist council has begun
1ts sessions In this city. Once be-
sors In tho history of the church.
sounded $50 years ago IN England by
John Wesley, have the branches
sPfihg1ng on from the parent stock
come together. and. laying aside
al differences and avoiding all
echismatic discussion. listened 10
sne suggestions OF the best men
OF al divisions and sought To find
means 10 promote tho common cause
And tue common good That was in
London ten years ago, and Sd fruitful
- A. the seed then sown and SO album
oans the ensuing harvest Of good works
Nat u was resolved TO reasse nble for
eeaferencs at the expiration Of every
decade The council which has con-
venec here Is therefore the second in
The history Of the Methodist church.
All denominations and branches Of
shis great church in all parts of the
world are represented by 500 dele
GateA No less than 200 Of these
come FROM the British division.
. the Oldest wing Of the Methodist
church, including in its ranks,
besides ecclesiastical dignitaries, many
Statesmen Of renown and men
of world wide scientific and
legal ability. There are also dele
gates representing twelve distinct
Branches OF Methodisrn) from France,
from Australia. from ireland. from
South Africa and from the West IndieA
Then more numerous in sectional di-
Visions are 500 delegates from the
new sworId They represent seven
teen branches of the Methodist church
In this continent These delegates are
classified as follows:
Methodist Episcopal iss; Methodist Episco-
Pal church. south. 81. Afrteaa Methodist Epis
copal 10; African Methodist Episcopal Zion.
-, ColoFsd Methodist Episcopal y; Amer
team Wesley q. Union American Methodist
Episcepal Q. African Unlon Methodist
Protsstant 3; Methodist Protestant, o; Free
Methodist, g Congregational Methodist a.
Methodist Church. Canada, "a; Primitive
Methodist. 3; Independent Methodist .;
Tnitea Brethren IN ChrisL =; Union Brethren
1ist Episcopal.
so twenty nine divisions of the
bIethodiss church are represented in
vnO NSaAtsk- AA4OaS tao
ehurchrnen are many bishops Among
tho English there are none, as the Of
ice Is unknown there This council,
like It's predecessor. is 20 be confined To
discussions From its nature there
can be no legislation No delegate or
organization win be bound by
what is said or done here. Its
aninating purpose Is to bring out
tho brightest and most practicable
IDEAS of the most thoughtful and wisest
representatives of the church. and the
application OF these ideas will be left
20 the discretion OF the separste divis-
IONS. The most radical difference to
: .Ns noted between the coming council
and the one held in London Is
revealed In the list OF subjects
seleetsd for discussion In the
Arst council ''Methodism" formed
che principal topic of discussion. In
shis council the programme has been
diversified 80 a. TO touch upon ques-
tions OF the day. Discussions of abb
stract ecclesiastical dog mas find small
space, but whole days are set apart for
,ths consideration Of questions relating
80 temperance. education, missions,
} social problems, the issues between
capital and labor, the relations OF
Nethodism to scientific thought and
! practical church work