The record-union., 1891-10-17
Special TO the REcoRp-uN1oN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Oct 16-The Rev. F. w.
Bourne, President of the Bible Methodist
Church of England, occupied the chair at
to-day's session of the Ecumenical Meth
odist Council.
The resolution presented yesterday in
relation to the Methodist federation was
again brought forward.
After few remarks the question was
put on the adoption of the resolution, and
1t was agreed to unanimously.
Among the resolutions adopted was one
demanding complete suppression Of the
opium trade in all parts of the world.
The topic of the morning session, $50
cial Problems" was then taken up.
The Hon. Allen Spears, President of
the Boston Chamber of Commerce, read
an essay on 1.-THE Church in Her Relation
70 Labor and Capital
Mr.. Spears, in the course of his re-
marks, said the church, by the spiritual
changes which it has brought about in
The lives of millions of her membership,
has elevated them from habits and condi-
lions that lead only to poverty and crime.
In return for such priceless benefits,
labor and capital should give their first
and best efforts to the church for its ex-
tension and prosperity. The elective
franchise should not be given any for
eigner till he can read and write the Ian
guage of the country of his adoption, and
long enough residence to become thor
0ughlY conversant with the laws and
customs Of the land, be that time ten or
Jwenty-one years. Mr.. Spears thought
the question of hours that should consti-
tUte a days labor was more vital to the
Wage-earner than to capital. For the
last ten years average return to capital
has not been 4 per cent. II further
pressed, the ''goose that now lays the
golden egg" of constant and well re-
munerated employment is killed. Manu-
factories must be closed and the laborer
left without employment, if the en-
hanced cost of production is not added to
he goods produced, and which must be
paid by consumers, of whom wage-earn-
ers and their families are the great ma
jority.
Rev. ]. Berry of New Zealand dwelt
on the strike question. He said that
The position of Methodism in the twenti-
eth century viii depend largely upon her
attitude toward the labor movement in
he last decade of the nineteenth. There
can be no peace between employer and
employed until the principle Of profit
sharing is recognized as an equitable set
dement, of the wage question and adopted
wherever practicable. Let us make
laste to wipe out the reproach that the
Christian pulpit hardly touches upon the
duty of the rich to the poor, except by an
occasional sermon upon the duty of be-
-ng charitable. Until justice is done
here is no place for charity.
/. r. Inch. of the Methodist Church in
Canada, spoke on ''Ihe Moral Aspects of
The Com binations of Capital" He dealt
severe blows to trusts.
Congressman J. ID. Taylor of Ohio said
ne had been a workman himself, and he
.lad concluded that there was no ade-
puate remedy on the face of the earth for
complaints of labor except Christian re-
igion 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-
lensively discussed. Rev. VIM. Morley
Of New Zealand and Rev. MIR. Townsend
OF England suggested that a great ex-
tension of the mission field is demanded,
especially in Africa and China.
Rev. 4. 3. Leonard of New York
dwelt on missions in Christian lands The
rast influx ofimmigrants into the United
states and Canada make those countries
in particular missionary grounds. There
is little hope of relief from stringent
immigration laws. No political party
is likely to adopt such a policy as
would lead to certain defeat. The time
has come for evangelical churches TO take
ZIP the line of march for foreignized coun-
tries. On both sides of the Atlantic there
are common foes TO be vanquished. Ad-
vocates of all fakeisms, materialism.
sgnosticism, spiritualism and atheism are
disseminating their poisonous teachings
In every possible manner DIR. Leonard
was severe on the Catholic Church. This
llierachy, said he, would stop all men
from thinking independent, close all
places of Protestant worship, destroy free
government, place priestly censorship
over the press and priestly supervision
over the public schools. TO successfully
combat all enemies Methodist fedora
ton is necessitated.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
PITTsBURG, Oct. 16.-The annual con-
vention Of missionary societies of the
Church of the Disciples of Christ began
in Allegheny City to-day, and will con-
tinue for a week.