The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-07

morrow the Ecumenical Methodist
Council will begin its sessions in this
city. Once before in the history of the
church, founded one hundred and fifty
years ago in England by the Wesley
brothers, have the branches sprinrinr
OF from tho parent stock come together
and, laying aside all differences and
avoiding all schismatic discussion lis
tened to suggestions of tho best mon of
all divisions and sought to find means
10 promote the common cause and COM
mon good. That was in London ten
years ago. and so fruitful was the seed
then sown and so abundant the ensuing
harvest OF good works that it was re,
solved to reassemblo for conference at
the expiration of every decade.
The council which convenes hero to-
morrowls therefore the second in tho his
tory OF tho Methodist Church. All do.
nominations and branches of this great
church in all parts of the world will be
represented by 500 delegates. No less
than 200 of these are expected to come
from the British division, tho Oldest
wing OF tho Methodist Church, includ-
Ing in its ranks, besides ecclesiastical
o1gnltarles, many sta tesmeu of renown
and men OF worldwide scientific and
legal ability. There will also be dele
ga es representing twelve distinct
branches of Methodism from France,
Australia, Ireland. South Africa and
West Indies.
There will be 300 delegates from the
new world. They will represent sew.
entecn branches of the Methodist
Church on tho continent. Tho dele
gates are classified as follows: Method
ist Episcopal 126; Methodist Episcopal
Church South, "a; African Methodist
Episcoral, Is; African Methods Epis-
copal, Zion, 10; Colored Methodist Epis-
copal, 8; American Wesleyan, 6; Union
American Methodist Episcopal, 8; Az
rican Union Methodist Protestant, 3:
Methodist Protestant, 0; Free Method
1st, 3; Congregational Methodist 3;
The Methodist Church Of Canada, "a;
Primitive Methodist, 81 independent
Methodist, 2; United Brethren in
Christ Told constitution), 2: British
Me 'hodist Episcopal, 3.
SO twenty divisions of the Methodist
Church will be represented in the Jun
Gil. Among American churchmen are
many bishops; among English there are
none, as the Office is unknown to them.
This council, like It's predecessor, is
to be confined to discussion. From its
nature there can BIO no legislation; no
delegate or organization will BIO bound
by what is said or done here.
The animating purpose is TO bring out
the brightest and most practical ideas
of the the most thoughtful and wisest
representatives of the church, and tho
application of these ideas will be left to
the discretion of the separate discus
sions.
The. most radical difference to be
noted between the coming council and
the one hold in London is revealed in
the list OF subjects selected for dis
cussion. In the first council "Metho-
dism' formed the principal topic of dis.
cussion. Iu this council tho programme
has oeen diversified so as to touch upon
the questions of the day. Discussion
of the abstract ecclesiastical dogmas
finds small space, but whole DAYS
are set apart for tho consideration of
the questions relating to temperance,
education, missions, Romanism, social
problems, issues between capital and
labor, the relations of Methodism to
scientific thought and practical church
work.
Various committees have made all
the necessary arrangements for the
comfort of the delegates and the con-
duct OF the sessions, The council will
be held in the Metropolitan Methodist
Episcopal Church, and the first session
will begin at 10 O'clock to-morrow
morning. The session will be- devoted
to religious services. Rev. William
Arthur, nj. A., OF London, will deliver
the sermon. and communion will be
administered.
AT the afternoon session addresses OF
welcome will be delivered by Bishop
Hurst. OF this city. and others, and the
business meeting will then begin.
THE BANK WRECK.