The Forrest City times., 1901-09-06
IN 0[D N[S.EY CHAPEL.
The Ecumenical Methodist Confer enee Begins Its Sessions Where
 Wesley Preached.
THE KlE6 AND PRESIDENT PRAYED FOR.
Bishop Galloway. of Jackson, Miss
 Delivered the Opening Sermon
 Setting Forth the Aim. of Meth odists Throughout the World and
 the Value of Wesley. Teachings.

London, Sept. 5.-The Ecumenical Methodist conference opened in Wes- ley's chapel with a good attendance in the devotional exercises King Ed ward and President Mckinley were prayed for. Bishop Joseph C. Hart zel, missionary bishop of the Metho- dist Episcopal church in Africa. made the opening prayer. and Bishop Gallo way. of Jackson, Miss, preached an eloquent sermon. setting forth the aims of Methodists throughout the world and emphasizing the value of the tenets Of John Wesley Commit niou followed. The arch bishop of Canterbury, Most Rev. Frederick Tenn pie. b. D.. and the bishop of London. Rt. Rev. 4. r. W. Ingram. D. b. sent friendly messages. the archbishop of Canterbury praying that Gods bless ing may rest on the deliberations The bishop of London sent a similar message. but adding the hope that some day the Aethodists will be re- united with She Episcopalians
 The Council and It's Make Up
 The Ecumenical Methodist confer ence is meeting in the City Road chapel. built by John Wesley in I760 It Is sometimes calAd the cathedral of Methodism, and is filed with me morials Of all denominations tracing their origin to Wesley. Marble col umns representing Methodist branches in he rsnr-h = .A- States and Canada are among those holding up the gallery They were presented after the first conference that assembled here exactly 20 years ago.
 The representation. which is on the basis of about one delegate to 2o.Do0 members. gives the United States and Canada seo out of the 5o0 delegates composing the council. The chairman will be changed daily. so that nearly all the divisions represented will have 6 chairman nship. For convenience in arranging business. the conference B divided into eastern and western sec tious.
 The Eastern Section
 T 84F &Na-4[A A sr-AAgAHs V &44fG taxes ID all branches Of English Methodists. together with affiliated conferences in Australasia. South Africa and the West Indies, consists Of 215 mem bers. aportioDed as follows: Wesleyan Methodists, sG; New Connection Meth odists, 10; Primitive Methocists. 34: United Methodist Free churches. 20: Bible Christians. 10; Irish Methodists. 10; minor Methodist bodies. [; French Methodists, 2; West Indian Aetho- dists, C; Australasian Wesleyan Meth odist church. 12, and South African Methodist church. 10.
 The Western Section.
 The western section includes Amer ican and Canadian Methodism. and because of it's relatively greater strength, has 500 delegates. The Methodist Episcopal church of the United States sent l29 representatives, among them Bishops Hurst. Vincent, Hamilton and Hartzel. The Meth odist Episcopal church, south. is rep resented by 70 delegates, including Bishops Fitzgerald, Galloway, Gran. bery and Aldcrson. The Methodist chourch of Canada, among it's 70 rep resentatiyes, has Dr. Briggs, Dr. Potts, Prof. J. $. Antliff and Chancel- Tor Brovnash. of Toronto
 The Colored Methodixts
 The colored Methodist churches of America are represented by $ dele gates, including 20 colored bishops.
 Though the conference does not have legislative and administrative power over the churches represented their policy will probably be affected both directly and indirectly, by the discussions on the religious and social problems that will come before it.
 Subject. to He Considered.
 Among the subjects that will be considered are: The Present Position Of Methodism," The Influence of Methodism in the Promotion of Inter- national Peace" Biblical Criticism and the Christian Faith" "Principles of Protestantism Versus Sacredotal- ism "Methodism and Education;" Christianity and Modern Cnbelief," Modern Indiffercntism;" Methodist Literature and Journalism" and Practical Methods of Dealing With the Liquor Traffic"
 A public meeting will be held at which 'The Moral Unity of the En- clish-Speaking Peoples" will be the subject discussed.