The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-10-20
METHODIST ADDRESS
The Ecumenical Council Puts
Forth One to the World.
ON MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
The Church and re-going-Temperanc
Natural Observation-Disclosures OF
AethOdism in the Home.

the Wesleyan Reform union Of England,
in the chair
The committee made report upon the
subject of week OF prayer, recommend
ing the week beginning November 10 next
ne set aside for that purpose. The report
was adopted.
The committee on Methodist statistics
reported that since the London Ecumeni-
cal council there had been an increase of 30
per cent. in Methodist believers. The re-
port shows the ministers number e, 695;
members, 6. 495, 1893, and adherents, %, 37o,-
100. Adopted.
a resolution was adopted making to-mor-
rows session the last of The conference.
The report OF the committee on executive
session recommended that the third
ecumenical council DO held in 1891, aud that
an executive committee to con-
sist of eight members, divided
into two sections, to be called
respectively the eastern section and the
western section, of this body to arrange
Tor and make the necessary arrangements
Tor the next conference The report went
over until tomorrow and the topic of the
Jay, Church and Public MorallJy," was
taken up.
After reading an essay by B. w. B. Hin,
of Macon, Ga, on Legal Restraint of the
of the Wesleyan Methodist churcn, Hull,
England, delivered the first appointed ad-
! dress of the morning session. His subject
was the same as the essay.
Judge H. l.. Sidley, Of Marietta, Ohio,
spoke on msrriage and divorce laws. His
proposition was that the right to divorce is
complemental TO and demanded by the
right TO marriage, not only In cases Of
adultery, but also Of desertion. Marriage
was a means, not an end, special cases
| excepted. God and nature had made this
relation the universal right of mature men
and women. This included the right of
each party to the union to its essen tial
benefits. Desertions deprived the limo
cent party of these unless made the
is in the principle deducible alike from
reason and Scripture that the right to
marriage in its essential benefits and as
the only condition for righteous propaga-
ton, becomes paramount TO the rules of its
permanence, IN cases OF wrong to an limo
cent partner whereby the fundamental o.
legations of the relation are abnegated.
Finally it leaves to innocent parties escape
from the propagation with the foulness of
unknown adultery and from being forced
by the weakness Of desertion into life of
celibacy.
Thomas Puddle, head master of the Bible
Christian college, Devon, England, spoke
on the attitude of the church toward
amusements He said there is nothing in
the spirit of the New Testament opposed to
a moderated and rational use of amuse-
ments. 1t is obviously not her duty to be
hostile towards them.
Bishop Foss, of Philadelphia, said the
urgent need of children was play, and as
for athletics, the jollier the better if they
were harmless. but if training made moth
ing but splendid brutes the church colleges
oh 11l6 mt lam n1lt Toy nay a1.
he said, was indictable before the bar OF
God and the church stood with it particeps
crIminis.
Rev. Mr. Bolmer. of Manchester. Eng
land, said 1t was strange the church failed
, to recognize the need of the people for
amusement. He strolled once into the
Lyceum theatre and found so many preach.
ers there that he thought for moment
he was in an ecumenicai council. People
would go to the theatre; the theatres were
, full, while the chapels were half empty
The church should purify the theatre, anG
to do it church members would have TO &c
, there. Mingled cries Of ''Non and "Yor
/ are right
Mr. Hubbard, of Baltimore feared that
the gates were too widely opened. awe
have got in the dance and the theatre, an(
bye and bye we will get in the circus ,
f said ne.
. During the afternoon session DR.. Chap
man, of England, from the COMMITTEES
charged with its preparation, read thu
address Of the Ecumeuical conference &
/ Methodists throughout the world. 1t send
3 greeting to the brethren il every land tt
/ which the common faith has spread, ant
q glorifies God for the prosperity he ha
\ given Methodist churches under which
they have. grown until they number 25
600, 600 adherents. 1t says that by the mos
inexorable tests Methodism has beer
ha cin lo,-iry n +o6 ~,
8 needs OF man. although many adjust
t ments aud developments must undoubtedl,
be made to accom- plish our mission, let u
Il oeware of thinking that any vital change
are necessary. Faithfully using our pres
q ent means, under the blessing 0
s God our prosperity will grow. w
rejoice to recognize the sLbstantia
!. unity which exists among various Metho
p dist ladies' the firm basis in commo
y creed We are proud Of the same spirit
r lal ancestry, we sing the same holy hymns
s our modes of worship are very similar an
what is most important of all, the type c
religious experience is fundamentally tn
same throughout the Methodist world. Re
I jocing in these things we think the tim
;, has come for closer cooperation of Metho
r dist churches both at nome and abroad
J. which shall prevent waste Of power an
L unhallowed rivalry. We need TO cOmbin
Y our energies for tbs work we have TO do
n vast and urgent. Skepticism and il
~ difference, SO natural TO the human hear
Il have been reinforced by the abuse
e science and philosophy. The hard lots o
1t millions make it difficult for them to be
> lieve in God. There Is so much that th
If churches have not done TO redress th
p wrongs and heal toe sUfferings of mankind
2. that il is hard for many to believe in the
C. divine mission. Let US preach AMI live th
r. gospel of Christ in its integrity, dismlssin
lie all narrow conception of our duty. Let I
2 trace the moral evil of men TO its trt
n sources in their surroundings, their phys
in cal natures, their ignorance, their passion
l., and their will. and set ourselves TO de-
S. comprebensively with them. To do this
y will be necessary for the members of on
9 churches to make full use Of their polite
l. rights, for to allow the great powers Of la
1s and government and their still greater il
le fiuence to fall into the hands of ungOd
~ men would be incredible folly and sin. &c
IL forbid that any OF our churches should bt
es come the instrument Of political partie
IS When a member takes place IN that po
teal convention which is most IN harmon
with his IDEAS and conyictions, let hi
never forget that there are great moral il
IN terests superior to all party exigencies,
which he must seek first the kingdom
III God and His righteousness. Every pr
Do posal that imperils the sanctity of Il
he home, the purity of women, the innooen
n of children, that violates the Christian Sa
ed BATH that sanctions and increases wron
y, should be impartially and earnestly +
lie sisted.
es ''Of few of the great evi
az which admit it in some degree
a public treatment we cannot
it. silent. Intempsrence, the fruitful moth
w of brood of evils, is largely created
legal temptation. Is it too much to q