The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-09
ECUMENICAL COUNCIL.
Interesting Addresses Made by Prominent
Methodist Leaders.

w ASHlNGGON, OCl. Oil Vic GCuultUlChl
Methodist Conference this morning. Rev. DR..
Waller of London read paper on 1.-THE
Present Status of Methodism in the Eastern
Section" which comprises Europe and the
British dependencies. He showed that the
church is making great progress in this
territory.
Rev. John Medicraft of Manchester. rep
resenting the English Methodist connection,
followed DR.. Waller. He said Methodism
was performing great and good work in the
whole world outside of America. Through
out the vast regions OF Europe, Asia and
Australia MtthUdiSm was eXeItng great
influence.
Rev. James Donnelly of Newry, Ireland,
Vice-Presdent of the Irish Methodist Con-
ference. said the church was in danger from
the spirit of self-glory. In Ireland Method
ism had never done much in growing timber,
but it brought forth much fruit.
DIR. Hugh Pryge Hughes of the West
London Mission said the Church of En-
gland itself was a minority in England.
The cruel law forced nonconiormsts to
take was made in not taking DR.. Arthur's
advice twenty years ago and establishing
nOn-sectarian schools. His own church has
ibaugurated the movement
The Rev. J. Travis of the Primitive
Methodists of England spoke of the educa-
graduated the church upon its growth.
BISHOP FowLER's ADDRESS.
At tie afternoon session Bishop Charles
II. Fowler of San Francisco read an essay
upon the pr sent status OF MethcdIsm in
the Western (American) section. Method
ism." he said, ''never whipped Quaker
nor burned witch, nor banishei Baptist
History tells us that the present status of
American Methodism Is the result of the
unnumbered forces of heart and brain, tide
and tempest, climate aud temperature.
transit and eclipse through countless ages.
A hundred years growth Of this soil and in
this free State has produced a condition of
life disSimilar from any other development
among men. A hundred years ago there
was but one Methodist denomination,
one annual conference, eighty-three tray-
cling preachers and 14,9SS members.
To-day there are fifteen denominations
Of Meth0dSts. The one conference has
multiplied into about 800. The SO travelling
preachers have multiplied into 81, 765, be-
sides $4,000 local preachers and the 1883
members actual communicates have null
tiplIed into over 100000, with 100000
Sunday-SchOOl children and following OF
over 100000 souls in the republic.
Methodism crossed into this century leaning
on solitary staff. She will cross over out
of this century with more than two bands,
besides flOcks, herds, camels aud asses, for
she has over 5000 churches and about
lO,UuU pdISOuHBes, Win cuuICu property
worth more than S20O,0OO,O0O. The first
act of American Methodsm was to Ordain
a college. Public opinion, that is the
power back of the bench, of the pulpit, of
ballots aud of bullets. The great problem
of governing these millions of America
is the simple question OF forming public
opinion. MethOdsm, having nearly half OF
the people Of this country, has only to be
worthy of her Inheritance and true to her
God TO make this land the land of promise
for the ignorant and oppressed, and the APP
preaching century the golden age for the
race"
NEEDS OF METHODIST.
Bishop Fowler spoke of tile vigorous
work of the different branches Of the
church, and said: Her highest want is
firm grip upon the supernatural. Unless
MethOdlsm is supernatural she is nothing.
In tie chilling fog of higher criticism,
which is higher only in name and aSsump-
ton, all the warmth and winsOmeness Of
Christianity is destroyed. The great cen
ter and secret Of MethOdism, the reason of
her existence, is 10 bear testimony to IL
knowledge of religion-to secure and repeat
the witness Of the holy Spirit with our
spirit TO our present state OF grace. Our
next need is ideas. We must reach out IN
all directions. We ought to capture and
utilize every secret that brings success
to any other church MethOdism needs
the courage to seize and utilize all
lucas. llekt must ne no power LOO great lOI
us 10 master. Again, we must fight for the
cente.s of population. The cities are the
forts whoever holds them holds the future.
The church must thus settle the labor diff
Guilty; II we allow any other agency TO set
tie it, We must give place to that agency and
seriously reduce our usefulness among men.
Another want is cOnsecrated money. Al
ready all the great questions OF saving this
world are reduced to questions Of money"
The Bishop, in closing, said: Unity Is
strength. and this law holds with unabated
power over every branch of the Christian
church." Bishop Fowler was greeted with
prolonged applause.
OTHER ABLE ADDRESSES.
Bishop Galloway of Mississippi, repre-
sentng the NJ. L. Church South, devoted
his remarks largely to the subject of the
status OF Methodlsm in this country, and,
speaking fer the South, said it had a rich
Methodist heritage. There has been a
healthy growth in that division.
Rev. DR.. Briggs Of Toronto described the
enormous boundaries of the Dominion and
the growth of the church In Canada, etc,
saying that it was the largest in member
ship Of any Protestant church In Canada,
anu included one-thiTd Of the Protestant
communicates.
Bishop ATnstt OF Ohio, representing the
Afri( an- Methodist Episcopal Church. re-
minded his hearers that there was a dark as
well as a light side TO every question. He
recalled that the colored people had partici-
pated in every step in the growth of Metho-
dism. There were peculiar missions for the
African church. at had to show the negro
not only how to wear the golden slippers
over there. but how TO get and wear his
shoes on Pennsylvania avenue; that be
should be educated; should earn and keep
money, for by fat pocket-bo0k would he
find the way to the Anglo-SaXon heart
[Great laughter.l
DR.. Leonard OF New York described the
work of the missionary society ia detail
Among other things he said that every twI
years the Methodist Church was building
as many churches as sumo other denomina-
tons had in all the land
Rev. DR.. Simmons described the growth
of Mrthodism in California and the Terri
tories in the early days and the difficulties
encountered. The conference then ad-
jOurnet.