St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-07
Twenty-Five Divisions Of the
Church Will Muster at
Washington.
Second EcumenicaI Council
Scope Of the Work to Be
Done.
The Trial Of DR.. Briggs for
Heresy Will Commence
Nov. 4.
No Fear Of the Result by the
Accused Teacher--Othep
Opinions.

WASHINGTON, Oct. g. Tomorrow
the ecumenical Methodist council will
begin its session in this city. Once be-
founded $50 years ago in England, by
the Wesley brothers, have the branches
springlng off from the parent stock
come together and, laying aside all
differences and avoiding all Schismatic
discussion, listened to the suggestions
of the best men of all divisions and
sought to find means to promote the
common cause and the common good.
That was in London ten years ago, and
SO fruitful was the seed then sowE and
SO abundant the ensuing harvest of
good works that it was resolved to re-
assemble for conference at the eXpira-
ton of every decade.
The council which conveneS hereito-
morrow is, therefore, the second in the
history of the Methodist church. All
denominations and branches of this
great church in all parts of the world
VIII he represented by 500 delegates.
No less than 200 of these are expected
to come from
The British Division.
the oldest wing of the Methodist church,
including in its ranks ecclesiastical dig
nitarIeS, many statesmen of renoWn and
men of worldwide scientific and legal
ability. There will also be delegates
representing twelve distinct branches
of Methodism) from France, from Aus
tralia, from Ireland, from South Africa,
and from the West Indies.
Then, more numerous in sectional
divisions, there will be 300 delegates
from the new world. The represent
seventeen branches of the Methodist
church in this continent. These dele
gates are classified as follows: MethO-
dist Episcopal, l26; Methodist Episcopal
church, South, GA; African Methodist
Episcopal, Is; African Methodist Epis
copal Zion, Is; COlOred Methodist Epis-
copal; Union American Methodist Epis-
copal, 3; African Union Methodist
Free Methodist, 3; Congregation Meth
odist, 3; Methodist church, Canada, 4;
Primitive Methodist, 8; Independ-
ent Methodist, q; United Brethren
in Christ, z; Union Brethren
in Christ (old constitution 2; British
Methodist Episcopal, 3. So twenty-nine
divisions of the Methodist church will
be represented in the council. Among
the American churchmen are many
bishops, but among the English there
are none, as the Office is unknown to
them. This council, like its predeces-
sor, is to be confined to discussions.
There can be no legislation. No dele
gate or organization will be bound by
what is said or done here.
The Animating Purpose
is to bring out the brightest and most
practical ideas of the most thoughtful
and wlSest representatives OF the
church. and the application of these
ideas will be left to the discretion of
the separate divisions. The most radia
cal difference to be noted between the
coming council and the one held i'll
London is revealed in the test of sub
jectS selected for discussion.
In the first council "Methodism"
formed the principal topic of discus
sion. In this council the programme has
been diversified so as to touch upon
questions of the day. Discussion of
abstract ecclesiastical dogmas finds
small space, but whole days are also
set apart for the consideration of cues
tons relating to temperance, education,
missions, Romanism, social problems,
the issues between capital and labor.
the relation of Methodism to scientific
thought and practical church work.
The various committees have made
all necessary arrangements for the COM
forts of the delegates and the conduct
of the sessions. The council will be
held in the Metropolitan Methodist
Episcopal church, and the first session
will begin at 10 o'clock tomorrow. The
morning session will be devoted to re-
ligious services. Rev. William Arthur.
NJ A, of London, will deliver a sermon
and the communion will be admins
tered. 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 be-
gin.