The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-07
Appointments Of Minister Made by Bishop
Ninde and the Session Of the Northwest In
diana NJ. E. Conference Closed.
Close of the Richmond Yearly Meeting-Dr.
Briggs's Case Set for Trial New 4-Ssys
lie Is Satisfied with the Situation.
COUNCIL OF METHoDIsrs.
Delegates from Every Branch to Meet
General Convention To-Day.


Delegates from Every Branch to Meet I'm
General Convention To-Day.
WASHINGTON. Oct. G. Tomorrow the
Ecumenical Methodist Council will begin
its sessions in this city. Once before in
the history Of the church, founded 15o years
ago In England, by the Wesley brothers,
have the branches springing off from the
parent stock come together, and laying
aside all differences and avoiding all sehis-
matic discussion. listened to the sugges-
tIons 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 il was
resolved to reassemble for conference at
the expiration of every decade. The coun-
Gil which conyenes here tomorrow ls,
therefore. the second in the history Of the
Methodist Church. All denominations and
branches of this great church in all parts
of the world win be represented by 500 del
egates. No less than 200 of these
are expected to como 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 scien.
tific and legal ability. There will also be
delegates representing twelve distinct
branches of fMethodism). from France. from
Australia, from Ireland. from South Afri-
ca, and from the West Indies Then more
numerous in sectional divisions there will
be three hundred delegates from the new
world. They represent seventeen branches
of the Methodist Church in this continent
These delegates are classified as follows:
Methodist Episcopal. 126; Methodist Epis-
copal Church, South, "a: African Methodist
Episcopal, Is; African Methodist Episco-
pal, Zion, 10. Colored Methodist Episcopal.
9; American Wesley. 6; Union American
Methodist Episcopal, 3; African Union
Methodist Protestant, 8; Methodist Protest
ant, 9; Free Methodist 9: Congregation
a; Primitive Methodist. 3; Independent
Methodist. 2; United Brethren In Christ, 2;
Union Brethren in Christ (old constitution),
2; British Methodist Episcopal, 8. Twen-
ty.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 predecessor, is TO be
confined to discussions. From its nature
there can be no legislation. No delegates
or organization VIII be bound by what is
said or done here. The animatinQ 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 discussion. In
the first council Methodism formed
the principal tonic of discussion.
In this council the programme has
been diversified so as to touch upon ques-
tions or the day. Discussion of abstract
ecclesiastical dogmas finds small space, but
whole days are set apart for the considera-
tion of questions relating to temperance,
education, missions, social problems, issues
between capital and labor, the relation of
Methodism to scientific thought, and
practical church work.
necessary arrangements for the comfort OF
the delegates and tho conduct of the
sessions. The council will be held in tho
Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal Church,
and the first sesslon will begin at 10 o'clock
tomorrow. The morning session will be
VIM. Arthur, III. A.. Of London. will deliver
a sermon and the communion Will be adj
miDlstered. At the afternoon session adj
dresses of welcome will be delivered by
Bishop Hurst, of this city and others. and
the business meeting will then follow.
Two hundred delegates representing for
eign churches have arrived and il is ex-
pected that all the delegates to the confer
ence Will be In the city tomorrow. To-
night the four permanent secretaries of the
conference were chosen by the business
committee. They are the Rev. j. NJ. King,
ID. d., of New York; Rev. A. Il. Hickman, ID.
D., of Ottawa; Rev. John Bond. of London,
and Mr. Thomas Snape. of Liverpool.