The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-10-09
Ecumenical Methodist Com fnrencn.


WASHINGTON, Oct SIN the Ecumenical
Methodist conference this morning, Rev. DR..
Waller, OF London. read paper on the present
status OF Methodism in the eastern section
which comprises Europe and the British de-
tendencies. He showed that the church is
making great progress in this territory.
Rev. John Medlcraft of Manchester repre-
senting the English Methodist new connection
lolloWeu Dr. Waller. He said that Methodism
was performing great and good work in the
whole world outside OF America; throughout
vast regions In Europe Asia and Australia
MethodiSm was eXerting great influence.
Rev. James Donnelly of Newrv ireland
Vlce-presldent OF the irish Methodist confer
ence, SAID the church was in danger from the
spirit of self-glory. In Ireland Methodism had
never done much in growing timber but it had
brought forth much fruit.
DR.. Hugh Pryce Hughes, of West London
mission, said the church OF England itself was
minority IN England A cruel law forced non
contormlstS to send their children to church
schools. a mistake was made in not taking
Dr. Arthurs advice twenty years ago and es-
tabllShlng non-sectarian schools. His own
church has inaugurated the movement
Rev. j. Travis, Primitive Methodist of Eng
land, spoke of the education institutions OF his
country and CONGRATULATED the church upon it's
growth. Recess.
AT the afternoon session Bishop Fowler, of
san francisco, read an essay upon the present
status OF Methodlsm IN the western American
section. "Methodlsm,' he said, never whipped
Quaker nor burned witch, nor banished a
Baptist. History tells us thar the present
status OF the American Methodist is the result
of the unnumbered forces of heart and brain
time and tempest, climate and temperature
transit and eclipse, through countless ages. A
hundred years growth on this soil and in this
free state has produced condition of life dis
similar from any other development among
men. A hundred years ago there was but one
MethodlsI denomination, one annual confer
s snG 6 esghtgthTee trayeling preachers
fifteen denominations of Methodists
The one conference has multiplied into about
three hundred, the eighty-Jhree travelling
preachers have multiplied iUto 81 765 besides
80 % local pre- cheers and the 1885 actual COM
munlcantS have multiplied into over 5000 o.
with 5,UO2,OOJ sunday school cllldren and a fol-
loving OF over go eco souls in the republic
Methodism crossed into this century leaning on
solitary staff. She VIII cross over out of this
century with more than two bands, besides
tocks, herds camels and asses, for she has over
55UO churches and about $4,000 parsonages with
church property worth moro than 100000.
The first act of American Meth
G ia oD Tas to f G1aain college 4s Pub
back OF the bench, of the pulpit. of the ballots
and OF bullets. The great problem of governing
these millions OF America is d simple question
of forming public opinion Methodism having
nearly half the people OF this country has only
to be worthy OF her Inheritance and true to her
God o make this land land OF promise for the
ignorant and oppressed and the approaching
century the golden age for the races''
Bishop Fowler spoke OF the vigorous work of
the different branches of the church ami said:
"Methodism is supernatural or she is nothing
In the chilling fog of the higher criticism
which is higher only in name and assumption
all warmth and wins omneSs of Christianity IS
destroyed. The great centre and secret of
Methodism, the reason of her existence
is to bear0 testimony to a movable
religion, to secure and repeat the
witness of the holy spirit with our
spirit to our present state of grace. Our next
need is ideas. We must reach out in all direc-
tions; we ought to capture and utilize every
secret that brings success to any other church;
there must be no power too great for US to
master; again we must fight for the centers of
population. The cities are the forts Who
ever holds them, holds the future The church
must thus settle the labor difficulty. If we al
low any other agency to settle it, we must give
place to that agency and seriously reduce our
usefulness among men. Another want is con-
secrated money. Already all the great cues
tons of saving this world are reduced TO Gues-
lions of money"
The bishop, in closing, said unity is strength.
and this law holds with undated power Cvar
every branch of the Christian church Bishop
Fowler was greeted with prolonged applause
Bishop Galloway, of Mississippi represent
ing the Methodist Episcopal church of the
south. devoted his remarks largely to the sub
ject of the status Of Method ism in this cInntrv
and speaking for the SOUTH SAID it had a rich
Methodist heritage. There had been healrhv
growth in that division.
Rev. DR., Briggs, Of Toronto Ont described
the enormous boundaries of the Dominion the
growth of the church in Canada, etc. saving il
was the largest in membership of any ProTes.
tant church in Canada. and included one third
of the Protestant commandments
Bishop Arnett of Ohio, representing the Afri-
can Methodist Episcopal church. reminded his
hearers there was dark as well as a light side
to every question. He recalled that the coored
people had participated in every step of the
growth of MethodiSm. There were peculiar
missions for the African church Ii had to show
the negro not only how TO wear the golden slip
pers over there, but how to get and wear his
shoes on Pennsylvania avenue; that he should
be educated; hould earn and keep money for
by fat pocket-boak would be find the wav to
the Anglo-Saxon heari. Great laughter
DR.. Leponard, OF New York, described the
work of the missionary society in detail
Among other things he said that every two
years the Methodist church was building as
many churches as the Roman Catholics had in
all lands.
Rev. DR.. Simmons described the growth Of
Methodism in California and the territories in
early days, and the difficulties encountered.
Adjourned.