New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-07
superior virtue; for subterfuges, deceits OF dis-
THE ECUMENICAL METHODIST CONFER
ENCE.

ENCE.
| body representing upward OF twenty-five
millions of intelligent and law-abiding people
deserves something more than passing NOTICE.
even though it does not represent them IN any
formal or official way. Such body IS the
Ecumenical Methodist Conference, which De-
gins its sessions in Washington this morning.
As its name implies, the delegates to this Con-
ference represent every branch of Methodlsm
throughout the world and the object in thus
meeting together is to promote Christian TEL
| lowship. and to discuss the problems and phases
of religion that are more or less common to
Nctbodism in general The first Conference,
held in London a few years ago, was highly
successful, and it is expected that the present
Conference will be even more so. Inc de-
alterations of the Conference have no Dindlng
authority on any branch of the Methodist
Church but the utterances OF many emiiehO
Methodists from all parts of the world on the
religious problems of the day Will dououeSs
excite widespread interest and attention.
Though the youngest Of the great develop
ments of Christianity, Methodism has had a
brilliant and eventful history, and 1t IS To-Day
one of the dominating factors in Protestant
Christianity. Emphasizing, as it does, the ldea
of experimental religion, it stands arrayed
against that theory of sacramental grace that
cxaIts outward ordinances, and minlmzes the
message of the Saviour to the individual soul
Of the believer Vital piety is the supreme test
of true religion in McthodiSm. Naturally mere
fore. Methodsm has been most successful with
the plain people of the middle classes, because
their emotional life is strongest. 1t has not
been conspicuously successful among the very
ignorant and degraded, or among the very hlgh-
~ cultured for the emotional life of the former
is either dead or latent, and that Of the latter
il repressed by culture. Methodism has It's
limitations. therefore, but within its own sphere
il has been and is a powerful force. English
civilization and Christianity owe 1t deot OF
gratitude, which even its most conservative OPP
ponents must acknowledge, and the world mas
been made the better for its appearance.
Nevertheless, MethodiSm is about to confront
new conditions and to face new problems that
will test to the uttermost its capacity as system
of propagating Christianity. Thus far it has not
been disturbed by the spirit of questioning UNI
rest that has so profoundly affected some OF the
other religious bodies. But it cannot always
hone for such immunity. At any moment IT
NAV be called upon to say how it STANDS on the
questions relating to the nature Of the Church
and the authority of the Scriptures; and 1t Is
pretty certain that when this happens there Will
be as much diversity of opinion among Its mem
bers on these subjects there is in other BODIES
1t is indeed true that the genius of Methodism
is opposed to ecclesiastical dogmatism. 1t arose
as a protest against ecclesasticism. But
whether or not it is unecclesiastical enough to
tolerate the methods and conclusions of the So
called new theology is question which as yet
has had no practical answer.