The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-09

ing offered by Rev. Griffin W.. Wilson,
OF England, who has achieved n notable
reputation Us n missionary among the
Fecjce islanders. When those ser.
vices were concluded, the secretary,
Rev. DR.. King, called the roll Of dole.
gates.
The business committee named Bishop
Merrill, OF Chicago, and Rev. DR.. Ar
thur, OF London, to preside ovcr the
conference during tho second session OF
the third day and the first session OF the
fourth day respectively.
The subject assignedin thcprogrammc
Tor consideration during the morning
session was '"Thc Present Status OF
Methodism in the Eastern Section and
the essay was delivered by Rev. DR..
Waller, OF London, Secretary OF the
Wesleyan conference.
DR.. Waller in speaking OF the status
OF Methodisln in Great Britain and Ire
land said it was important to bear in
mind the sphere in which it has had to
move, tho ecclesiastical atmosphere it
has had TO breathe and TIE influences
wan hiAAIIl II HIS lul 10 COllltnu.
When in liza John Wesley sent to
DR.. Coke to establish the Methodist
Episcopal church in the United States
he said: an America there are no
bishops, neither any parish ministers
SO that Tor hundreds OF miles together
there is no n either to bnptize or to
minister the Lords supper"
GREAT OBSTACLES.
1t is difficult, he said, to cxaggerate
the social, political and ecclesiastical
forces with which M~ethodism has had
to contend. Victories have been
achieved in the presence OF almost in
supcrable obstacles.
In Ireland the work has had to be
carried forward against an ~intolerant
Romanism, u power with which the
American will yet have TO reckon. DR..
Waller then gave statistics to show the
phenomenal progress the church has
made during the past thirty years. Dur
Ing the decade, said DR.. Waller, the pop
ulation in England has. increased Iii
per cent, and in Scotland it has in.
creased 10 per cent, bu: in the same
period.the membership OF the Wesleyan
Methodist church IN Great Britain has
increased 2l.2 per cent and in the other
Methodist churches there has been
an increase OF l0.l per cent.
This statue OF q church, said
DR.. Waller, is determined to Il
great extent by the way in which it en-
tiers into the educational work Of the
nation. No church car live, grow or
prosper that does not care wisely and
lovingly for the children OF Tic people.
In England there are nearly 1000, 600
scholars in the Sunday schools. The
status OF Methodism. continued DR..
Waller, is determined by its missionary
zeal. Recently there has been q re-
markablc revival OF home missionary
enterprise. The way in which Method
ism is cnGcavoring to solve the prob.
lens OF city life and the manne in
which she is striving to make her
strength effective in the redemption OF
the masses OF mankind from the bond
aye OF poverty, degradation and sin is
attracting the attention and admiration
OF ell classes OF the community.
THE PROGRESS.
DR.. Waller then gave statistics 10
show the large increase made during
the past ten years in the number OF
church members and OF children in the
Sunday schools. III Ireland he said the
increase in the number OF church mem
beers is only SIS, hut during the decade
there has been 4 decrease in the D
lation Of Q per cent. But the fruit OF
Irish Method;sm is to be found III many
lands, and especially in the United
States. French Methodism alone shows
4 decrease, but the circumstances have
been exceptional.
III conclusion DR.. Waller referred to
the prophetic uttcruncc OF John Wesley
when he declared that it was the pur-
pose OF God in raising up NIcthodism
mot to form 4 new sect, but TO reform
the nation, particularly the church."
Mcthodism is not and never has been
sect. Its catholic spirit and doctrine
have prevented it from falling into n
narrow sectarianism.
Rev. John Mcdicrait, OF Manchester,
representing the English Methodist
Now Connection, followed Mr.. Waller,
lsey. James Donnc!ly, OF Newrv, Ire
land, Vice President OF the Irish Nletho-
dist Conference, was the next speaker.
AN rhlN t'itS lIiC SIluiSll NlS III uyllnpT
from n spirit OF self glory. Some times
he iclt reason 10 regret the parade and
boasts that M%cthodism was thu. largest
Protestant church in the world. The
Methodist church in Europe was gather
ing up the little waits from the streets,
it was looking to public morals, whether
it was gambling in high or low life.
The secretary announced the receipt
OF 4 memorial from the general assem-
bly, 0: the Presbyterian church concern
ing the settlement OF international dill
cultics by arbitration. 4 recess was
then taken.
AMERICAN METHODIST.
The afternoon session OF the council
opened with devotional exercises, after
which Rev. Bishop Chas. II. Fowler, OF
San Francisco, read M essay upon. The
present status OF Methodism in tho
Western t.Amcrican) section.
"M~ethodism," he said, never whip
ped 4 Quaker or burned . witch, nor
banishcd n Baptist. History tells us
that the present status OF American
Mcthodism is tho resultant of Il num-
bcred forces OF heart and brain, tide
ard tempest, OF climate and tcmpera-
+. ture, OF transit and eclipse through
countless ages. A hundred wears oil
. growth on this soil and in this free
80 " a..