The morning call., 1891-10-07
FOR METRODISM.
The EcumenicaI Conference That
Opens To-Day in Washington.

To-day sees the opening in Washington.
d. c., of the Methodist Ecumenical Confer
ence, which is to continue until October goth.
This is the second conference of the kind
in the history of Meth0dism, the first hay-
ing been held in London, England. in Sep
TENDER. 1881. That council was in the high
est degree success and fully warranted the
assertion made by one enthusiastic dele
gate that at was au education that would
have been cheaply procured at the cost Of
six months time and travel"
1t was the pleasure and benefit OF the Pam
Anglican Council, primarily, and the sue
cess of the Pan Presbyterian Council at Bel
fast that inspired the idea Of the Ecumenica
Conference in the minds OF the leaders OF
Methodism. The word ecumenical has been
applied, net upon the claim that MethOdism
is to be a universal religion, but that TINS
conference consists OF delegates from all the
branches of MethodiSm and those bodies
more closely affiliated with it than with any
other UNCONVENTIONAL root.
The conference will first consist of two
sections-eastern and western, and for con-
venience of organization and for the pur-
poses of equity and fraternity the whole
Methodist community will be included in
four general divisions, as follows: FIRST
the Methodist Episcopal Church and the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Sec
ond, other Methodist churches in the United
States and Canada; third, the British Meth
odist Wesleyan churches; fourth, other
British Methodist churches-the several
churches described being inclusive of their
respective mission fields and affiliated con-
ferenceS.
The Business Committee will consist CT
twenty members-five from each Division
and it shall be their duty to receive and re-
port upon all resolutions, proposals, queS-
tions or communications not included III the
regular programme; to appoint the presld-
ing officer of the conference for each day,
selecting from the various divisions in their
order and TO nominate the secretaries III
the same mode of distribution.
There will be but two evening sessions in
the four cen days, and two sessions on all
other days. The topics for addresses and dis
cussiOns are: "Ecunenical Methodism,"
The Christian Church-ItS Essential Unity
aud Genuine Catholicity," The Church
and Scientific Thought" THE Church and
Her Agencies" "Education," Roman
ISM" "Temperance," Social Prub ems. q"
Missions" WAR and Peace" 9TH e
Church and Public Morality" and The
Outlook"
An interesting feature Of the arrange
ments TOR this conference is the fact that
the question of women delegates, tHat so
rent MethOdism at the time of the last Gen
eral Conference, has again arisen.
There is not single woman delegate
among all the 500 that Will assemble ut Its de-
liberat;Ons. There are few earnest sisters
whose zeal in the cause of Methodism has
greatly aided its success, who are earnestly
asking why this is, but the explanation
youchsafed is not entirely satisfactory. The
matter was brought to the attention Of the
Ecumenical Conference Committee, ami this
is the reason assigned why there are TO DE
no representatives, from the larger proper
tion of the membership of the peoples
church" as the Methodist Church has been
called.
Each conference in the Methodist Episco-
pal Church was called upon to nominate
ministerial and lay delegates TO the ecumeni-
cal conference, and the instructions called
for about three times as many nominees as
could possibly be appointed. The selecting
and appointing power was vested in COM
mission composed of the board Of bishops
and several laymen of emiuence.
To these gentlemen, in company with
other and similar communications, was sent
the nomination of Frances Z. Willard By the
Rock River QN) Conference. When the
commission reached this nomination it was
discussed and laid aside with the other re-
iected ones Those who ought to know say
that there was no discrimination because of
Miss WtilaTj'S unavoidable sex; she was
not singled out because she was woman.
Three out of every four of the nominees
were necessarily not appointed, and it so
happened that Miss Willard was one OF a
group of three, instead Of being one of the
lucky fourths. Thus it is that a layman,
who is man, will assist in representing the
Rock River Conference.
as said before, this explanation is far
from satisfactory to those who are inter-
ested in seeing women actively and person.
ally represented in the councils of the great
evangelical church; but there is no exter-
nal evidence of commOtion. No one cares
to discuss the matter publicly, and Miss
Willard is said to deprecate any refer
euce to the conclusion arrived at by the
commission.