Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-17
In FAVOR OF UNION.
The Methodist Council Votes
for Federation.
The Suppression of the Opium
Trade Demanded.
Relation of the Church to Capital and
Labor.
The Social Question, Missionary Sub
jects and other Topics Discussed by
the Ecumenical Conference
at Washington.
Associated Press Dispatches.


of the Methodist Church of England (,
occupied the chair at today's session OF
the ecumenical Methodist council. The
resolution presented yesterday in rela-
ton to Methodist federation was again
taken up. After few remarks the
question was put on the adoption of the
resolution and it was agreed to unani-
mously.
Among the resolutions adopted was
one demanding the complete suppress
sion of the opium trade in all parts Of
the world.
The topic of the morning session was
Social Problems. Hon. Alden Spears,
president of the Boston chamber Of
commerce, read an essay on The Church
in Her Relation to Labor and Capital.
Mr.. Speers, in the course of his re-
marks, said the church, by the spiritual
changes which it has wrought in the
lives of millions of her membership, has
elevated them from habits and condi-
tions that lead only to poverty and
crime. In return tor such priceless ben
efits, labor and capital should give their
first and best efforts to the church Tor
its extension and prosperity. The elect
i've franchise should not be given to any
foreigner till he can read and write the
language of the country of his adoption,
and until he is long enough resident to
become thoroughly conversant with the
laws and customs OF the land, be that
time ten or twenty-one years.
Speers thought the question of the
hours that should constitute days la
L, k,1 t1nw
than to capital. For the last ten years
the average return to capital had not
been four per cent. If further pressed,
the goose that now lays the golden egg
of the constant and we'll remunerated
employed is killed. Manufactures must
be closed and the laborer left without
employment if the enhanced cost of pro-
duction is not added to the goods pro-
duced, and which must be paid by the
consumers, of whom the wage learners
and their families are the great major
ity.
Rev. j. Berry, of New Zealand, dwelt
on the strike question. He held that
the position of Methodism in the Goth
century will depend largely upon her
attitude toward the labor movement in
the last decade OF the 10th century.
There can be no peace between en-
ployer and employed until the principle
OF proft-sharing is recognized as an
equitable settlement of the wage ques
tion, and adopted wherever practicable.
"Let us make haste to wipe out the re-
proach that the Christian pulpit hardly
touches upon the duty of the rich to the
poor, except by an occa sional sermon
upon the duty of being charitable. Until
Justice is done there is no place for
charity"
l. K. Inch, OF the Methodist church in
Canada, spoke on Moral Aspects of Com
bination of Capital. He dealt severe
blows to trusts.
Congressman j. D. Taylor, of Ohio,
said he had been workman himself,
and he had concluded there was no ade-
quate remedy on the face OF the earth
for the complaints of labor, except the
Christian religion and the abolition Of
the liquor traffic.
Numerous other addresses were made
on the subject, and in the afternoon
the obligation OF the church in relation
to the social condition of the people was
discussed.
At the evening session the subject of
missions, foreign and domestic, was ex-
tensively discussed.
Rev. William Morley, of New Zea-
land, and Rev. Mr.. Townsend, OF Eng
land, suggested that great extension
of the mission field is demanded,
especially in Africa and China.
Rev. A. B. Leonard, OF New York,
dwelt on missions in Christian lands.
The vast influx of immigrants into
the United States and Canada
make those countries in particular
missionary ground. There is little hope
from stringent immigration laws. No
political party is likely to adopt such
policy, as it would lead to certain de-
feat. The time has come for the evan
gelical churches to take up the line OF
march for the foreignized city centers.
On both sides of the Atlantic there are
common foes to be vanquished. The
advocates of all fakeisms, materialism,
agnosticism, spiritualism and atheism
are disseminating their poisonous teach
ings in every possible manner.
DR.. Leonard was severe on the Catho-
lie church. This hierarcy, said he, would
stop all men from thinking independent
ly; close all places of Protestant worship
destroy free government; place priest
ly censorship over the press, and priest
ly supervision over the public schools.
To successfully combat all enemies,
Methodist federation is necessity.
METHoDIsTs OPPOSED TO UNION.
The feeling of the Washington confer
ence toward the union of the churches
has not the entire sympathy of the
Methodists here. To the approaches OF
the non-Conformist council for closer
relation, the Wesleyan council in ses-
sion this week gave absolute refusal.
WORLDS FAIR BOOMERS.
Mr.. James Dredge and Sir Henry
Wood, of the royal commission, to
represent Great Britain at the worlds
fair, have prepared a draft of report
euloglzing the prospects and arrange
ments OF the fair, and urging wide and
active participation by the people OF
Great Britain.
THE RUINoUs MCKINLEY LAW.
Exports from Bradford to the Unite
States for September show decrease OF