The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-10-24

Aue ECuInerlcai OOuuCt.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.-The eleventh
days session of the ecumenical Metho-
dist council opened with William Marden
Wesleyan of England in the chair.
The committee on Methodist statistics
made a report which in substance states
that returns had been obtained from all
the churches represented in the con-
ference and tabulated, first geographical
ly and second enthusiastically. The term
"adherents' included in every case,
ministers and members as well as fami-
lies connected with congregations. In
some cases estimates were made but in
no case do they exceed figures given IN
the government censuses and in some
they are below. While no official stats
tics were adopted by the London
ecumenical conference, the figures show
that since that conference there has
been an increase of 30 per cent in Metho-
dist believers. Some of the details of
the report were read by Rev. DR.. Morley
as follows:
Eastern Section-Europe: Ministers.
4,4Sl; members, 915.2S4; adherents,
4,209,601.
Asia-Ministcrs, 533; members, "a 33l;
adherents, 1l4.9GS.
Africa-Ministers, 20i; members, H.
l41; adherents, 2S3,37G.
Australasia and Observation-Disclosures
1856; members, 93,14O; adherents, 4SS, 1873.
Totals-For eastern section: Minis
tors, G,094; members, 1,113.905: adher-
ents, GOGGLES. Western section: Minis
tiers, :G,GO1; members, 5,3SO,594; adher-
ents, 2O,2S1,97G. Grand totals: Minis
tiers, 1868; members, G,494, 399; adher-
cnts, 2O.2Sl,2I9G Grand totals: Minis
tiers, i2,G95; members, C,495,399; adher-
ents, 25,3IS.l0
The report, which was explained. not
quite complete, was criticised by several
members. one, DR.. Turner of England,
holding that it would. if adopted, vitiate
the returns in England. DR.. Stephenson
suggested that a foot note be attached to
each item of the report stating the basis
of the estimate and with an amendment
in this respect the report was adopted.
a resolution was adopted making to-
morrow's session the last of the confer
ence.
DR.. Hamilton presented the report of
the committee to whom was referred
questions concerning the third ecumeni-
cal Methodist conference, which recon-
mends that such conference be held in
the year 1901. subject to the approval
and direction Of all the several
bodics of Methodists. The commit
tee recommends the appointment of
an executive commission which shall
Ice constituted on the basis of o%rganiza-
ton of the ccumcnlcal conference and
which shall consist of eighty members.
The commission shall he divided into
two So tons called, rcspcctivcly,thc west
crn section. TO consist of fifty members,
and an eastern section, to consist of thir-
ty members. .3ftcr some discussion the
further consideration of the report went
over until tomorrow and the topic of the
day. "Church and Public Morality" was
taken up. Ia the absence Of Hon. b. w.
b. Hill of Macon, ia. his essay on the
legal restraint on the vices Of society was
read by Rev. DIR. ". V. Tudor of Rich
mond, Va. Rev. Joseph p. Snctt. OF the
Wesleyan Methodist church, England,
delivered an address on the same sub
iect.
Judge II. L. Slblcy OF Marietta, Ohio.
spoke on Marriage and Divorce Laws
Bishop Hendrix Of the Methodist
Episcopal church south. Kansas City,
occupied the chair in the afternoon.
The first essay was upon Lords Day"
by Rev. Y. &. Stewart of the A. NJ. f..
church of Baltimore who favored a
sacred day without amuscments. Rev.
L. Bromage of the Wesleyan Reform
union said it should be observed as the
Lords day in our home, not with "a long
face and spirit but as a bright, happy
day. Thomas Ruddle, B. A., head mas
ter OF a bible Christian college in Sheb-
bear Devon, England, spoke on the atti-
tude OF the church toward amusements.
Bishop Foss of the NJ. T.. church said the
urgent need Of children was play. As
for athletics the iollier the better
if they were harmless. But if
training made nothing but splendid
brutes church colleges should put them
out. The Sunday paper was indictable
before the bar of God and the church
with it particeps criminis. Rev. j.
W. Haney of the Methodist church of
illinois, denied that the church was re-
sponsible for the Sunday paper. The
subject was debated further, the theater |
being included. The regular program
ended at this point and Secretary King
announced that the subcommittee which
had been charged with the preparation
or an address from the ecunenical con- |
ference to the Methodist churches and
Methodists throughout the world had
completed its work and the report was
presented by DR.. Chapman of England.
The address offers congratulation at
the growth of the church; calls attention
to the simple scriptural Methodist theol-
ogy; urges Methodist federation for a
spread OF the kingdom of Christ; opposes
IN politics every hurtful proposal; asks
the people to combine to use all legal in
struments to abate intemperance: dis
courages gambling and reckless specula-
ton; emphasizes the good results and
need Of lay preachers; en-
women's work in the church: ap-
proves all Sunday school work and
young peoples societies.
The Ensin. Blew Up.
louisville, Pa. Oct. 10 AT Gao
= IL. n.