New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-17
SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH IN RELATION
TO THEM.
DISCUSSION BY THE EcUMENcAL METHODIST
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FOR THURSDAYS
UPRoAR AND HARMONY AGAIN
RESTORED.

washington. oct. 16.-The Rev. +. W. Bourne. presl-
dent Of the Bible Methodist Church Of occupied
the chair at the beginning OF the ninth days session Of
the Ecumenical Methodist Council. The subject OF
Methodist federation, which adjourned from yeser~
day, taken up. The Rev. DR.. Waller. of England,
rising TO a question Of privilege, dsclaimed any In
teHton OF rejecting IN any way upon DR.. stephenson
in his remarks YESTERDAY Dr. Buckley OF NewYOrk,
said that the Americans present did not understand the
English methods Of ruling and the English delegates
did not understand tile force Of the "pdnt OF
order" in American legislative practice These mis-
understandings might account for the friction In yes
terday's proceedings He then spoke on the subject
Of Methodist unity, presented in the report made
by the Committee Federation upon the resolutions
introduced by Mr. snap, Of Liverpool. DR.. Hugh Price
Hughes eamesA- advocated the adoption Of the com
mttees report. After few remarks by the Rev Dr.
Arthur counselling moderation, and by DR.. stephen
son. expressing his regret that anything had occurred
yesterday to greve his friends the Primitive MethOdists
for whom the weseyans had the most hearty respect
and affection, the report agreed to unanimously.
The Business Committee reported a resolution thank
ing God that the Contagious Diseases acts have been
abolished in the United Kingdom. Upon motion OF
Dr. Hughes the resolution adopted without debate
The committee also reported resolutions deprecatng
the opium vice in India. They adopted
Mr.. Atkinson, rising a personal explanation. said
that he bad spoken In parliamentary terms yesterday
He would not make any explanation under duress and
when somebody held a pistol 10 his head. But now
he would say that when he had yesterday talked about
Bible Christians and Primitive Methodists. he had
spoken he had often before. when he pre-
sided meetings Of these bodies and gave of his
substance to aid them In England In that country
he should have felt degraded to have explain that
he had always gone hand in hand with all Methodist
bodies, and had the highest regard for all OF them
One Of the Primitive Methodsts and expressed
the grateful appreciation Of the delegation TO Dr.
Stephenson for his kindly words but failed 10 notice
Mr. Atkinsons remarks although the latter inquired
II his words had not been kindly.
The topic Of the morning session, Social Problems
then taken up Alden speare, president of the Bos
ton Chamber Of Commerce, read an essay on 1.-THE
Church In Her Relation 10 Labor and Capital He
said The Church has elevated millions Of her mem
bership from habits and conditions that lead only to
poverty and crime. TO habits Of industry and thrift
In return labor and capital should give their best
efforts to the Church. To furnish constant. divers
ted and wen-pad employment Mr.. Webster would
have enacted by the General Government such tariff
IS would furnish the money 70 pay National eN-
penses aud that should guard our home industries
II We were 10 follow the teachings Of Engands great
est political leader II needs seer TO forecast the
results. We are in accord with the proposition so
generally accepted that politics shall be the sub
loot Of pulpit discussion also fully persuaded
that the pulpit should speak with uncertain sound
on all subjects apperainng to the wellbeing, pros
perty and happiness of the people. The Lord will
hold each responsible for the made of the abilities
and opportunities given.
The Rev. j. Berry, Of the Australasan Methodist
Church, Wellington, New-Zcaland delivered ad-
dress on 1.-THE Moral Aspect Of Labor Combinations
and Strikes He said 1t IS not easy 10 measure
the strength to be quite sure Of the direction
of this great labor movement. The position OF
Methodism In the twentieth century viii depend
largely upon her att tude toward the labor movement
In the last decade Of the nineteenth We lost great
opportunity half century ago. because we DID no,
adopt and lead the great temperance movement Among
our constituency Of 100000, there are multtudes
Of workingnen known as "The Army OF the Dlscc1'
| tented Are they mstakeni Then it IS our duty to
| tel them So Have they good reason for this dis
contenti Then ought TO espOuse their cause and
TO smite their oppressors Those who object 10 strikes
because they mean warfare need to be reminded that
competition is warfare also There can be no peace
between employer and employed until the principle OF
uroHt-sharng is recognized as the equitable settle
rnent OF the wages question and adopted wherever
practicable The non contormist preachers OF England
| might have been the leaders Of workingmen # they
| had shown themselves fit, and may yet II they are
wise in their generation
| Dr. l. T. Inch Of the Methodist Church IN Canada,
smoke on the subject Of @TBe Moral Aspects OF Com
bina+ons OF Capital" To condemn combinations,
whether OF capital or labor, would be TO
| condemn civilization Combination gives power-power
over nature power men. The line OF dlherentia-
ton between legitimate and ilegitimate combinations
| Is
lions are legitimate which, by subdung and utilizing
the forces OF nature tend TO make the world better
dwelling place for men. All combinations are HaIen-
cent which aims monopoze the sources OF wealth. ana
| so TO control production and trade Further ue
power of combination legtmately acquired must also
be legtmately exercised. The speaker gave several
details in regard to the operation of trusts ana
closed nv suggesting causes Of these commercial and
social evils and remedies to which recourse must
be had for their removal.
The Rev Dr. Worthngton. Of England said that
he had come in the interest Of labOnng men, His male
ancestors had every been killed in the coal mines
The working classes would come to Gods house when
the bodies as well as their souls would be cared for
He protested against the first paper. Wages among
| the laboring classes In America were not materially
higher than in England. but their expenses were much
! greater In the first e. Hear, hear" from the
English delegates)
J. D. TAYLOR. N Ohio said he had been workman
himself He had concluded that there adequate
remedy on the face OF the earth for the complaints ID
labor except the Christian religion and the abolition OF
the liquor traffic. The Rev. Frank Ballard, Of Eng
land said that Christianity had never been tried as
remedy for troubles. strong clear voice should
go forth from this council to the Methodist world on
! this subject
recess then taken.
Bishop W. W Duncan, Of the Methodist Episcopal
| Church South spartanburg, ;. C., presided at the
afternoon session The Rev. Peter Thompson, OF the
London Mission Wesleyan Methodist Church, read an
essay upon the Obligations Of the Church in RELATION
to the social Condition Of the People He said the
subject was at present forced upon the Church with
great urgency and the study Of it, however fml OF sur
prise and pain and peril must be earnestly pur
! sued Already some work had been done, but there
was possibility of much more, In view Of the terrible
oppression Of the poor. OF the population oil Lon
DON over 800 900 in poverty more or less acute
There has cupabe neglect and indifference on the
part Of all churches and the rapid changes OF recent
years, involving the degradation ana ruin Oh muiu-
tudes had not been watched and dealt with as they
| should have been The Church must discover ana
abolish those things in reference 10 social life whose
| fruits are terrible.
| Nal m