Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-10-20
IN A CENTURY AND A HALF.
The Methodist Ecumenical Council Which
is to Assemble at Washington.

WASHINGTON, October 13 To-day
the ecumenical Methodist council will
begin its session in this city. Once be-
fore in the history Of the church found
ed $50 years ago in England by the
Wesley brothers have the branches
tpringing off from the parent stock
come together, and laying aside all diff
ferences and avoiding all schmisatic
discussion, listened to the suggestions
Of the best men OF all divisions. and
sought to find means to promote their
own cause and the common good. That
was in London ten years ago, and so
fruitful was the seed then sown and so
abundant the ensuing harvest OF good
works that it was resolved to reassem-
BILE for conference at the expiration OF
Dvcry decade. The council which con-
vcnes here to-day is, therefore, the sec
Ond in the history of the Methodist
church. All denominations and branch
cs of this great church in all parts OF
the world will be represented by 800
delegates. No less than POO of these
are expected to come from the British
division, the Oldest wing of the Meth0-
dist church, including in its rank. be-
side ecclesiastical dignitaries, many
statesmen of renown ard men Of world
wide scientific and legal ability. There
will also be delegates representing
twelve distinct branches OF MethOdism)
from France from Australia, from Ire
land. from South Africa and from the
West Indies. Then more numerous in
sectional divisions there will be 300 del
egates from the New World. They rep
resent seventeen branches Of the Meth
odist church on this continent. The
delegates are classified as follows:
Methodist Episcopal, 1876: Methodist
Episcopal church south, 81: African
Methodist Episcopal, is: African Meth
Odst Episcopal Zion, 10: Coored Meth
odist Episcopal, 8; American Wesley, E:
Union American Methodist Eplscopal,3 3;
African Union Methodist Protestant, 3;
Methodist Protestant, s.: Free Metho-
dists, 3: Congregation Method. 3: Meth
cd Church Canada, "a; Primitive Meth
odists, 3; Independent Method, 3: Unit
ed Brethren in Christ, I; Union Broth
rem in Christ lold construction. 2; Brit
ish Methodist Episcopal, 3. Twenty
nine divisions of the Methodist church
will be represented in the council
Among the American churchmen
are many bishops. Among the English
there are none, as the Office is unknown
to them. This council, like its prede-
cessor, is to be confined to discussions.
From it's nature there can be no legis-
lation. No delegates or organizations
will be bound by what is said or done
here. The animating purpose is to
bring out the brightest and most prac-
ticable ideas of the most thoughtful and
wisest representatives of the church.
and the application of these ideas will
be left to the discretion of the separate
divisions. The most radical differences
to be noted between the coming council
and the one held in London is revealed
in the list of subjects selected for dis
cussion. In the first council Methodism
formed the principal topic OF discussion.
In this council the program has been
diversified so as to touch upon Ques-
tions of the day.
The discussion of abstract ecclesiasti.
cal dOgmas finds small space, but whole
days are set apart for the consideration
of questions relating to temperance, ed
ucation, missions, Romanism, social
problems, issues between capital and
labor, the relation of Methodism to sci
entiic thought, and practical church
work. The various committees have
made all necessary arrangements for
the comfort of the delegates and the
conduct OF the sessions. The council
will be held in the Metropolitan Meth
odist Episcopal church. and the first
session begins at 10 o'clock to-day.
The morning session is to be devoted
to religious services. The Rev. VIM.
Arthur NJ. A. of London. will deliver
sermon and the communion will be ad-