The Van Buren press., 1901-09-07
IN Old WESLEY CHAPEL.
The Ecumenical Methodist Confer.
ence Begins Its Sessions Where
Wesley Preached.
The KING AND PRESIDENT PRAYED FOR.

bishop Galloway, of jackson, Miss.
Delivered the Opening Sermon
Setting Forth the Aims of Meth.
Odists Throughout the World and
the Value of Wesley's Teachings
London, Sept. 5.-The Ecumenical
Methodist conference opened in Yves
ley's chapel with good attendance.
in the devotional exercises King Ed
ward and President Mckinley were
prayed for. Bishop Joseph c. Hart
cell, 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. Commu-
Mon followed. The archbishop of
Canterbury, Most Rev. Frederick Tenn
pie, ID. d., and the bishop of London,
Rt. Rev. A. +. W, Ingram, ID. d., 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 Methodsts will be re-
united with the Episcopalians.
The Council and Its Make Up.
The Ecumenical Methodist confer
ence is meeting in the City Road
chapel, built by John Wesley in 1860,
1t is sometimes called the cathedral
of Methodism, and is filled with me-
MORALS of all denominations tracing
their origin to Wesley, Marble col
representing Methodist branches
in the north and south OF the United
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 10000
members, gives the United States and
Canada 300 out of the 500 delegates
composing the council. The chairman
will be changed daily, so that nearly
all the divisions represented will have
craftsmanship. For convenience in
arranging business, the conference ID
divided into eastern and western Sec
tions.
The Eastern Section.
The eastern section, which takes in
all branches of English Methodists,
together with affiliated conferences in
Australasia, South Africa and the
West Indies, consists OF 206 members,
aportioned as follows: Wesleyan
Methodists, Sc; New Connection Meth.
odists. 10; Primitive Methodists, "a
United Methodist Free churches, 20;
Bible Christians, 10; Irish Methodsts
10 minor Methodist bodies, 6; French
Methodists, 2; West Indian Metho'
dists, 8; Australasian Wesleyan Meth
odist church, IL, and South African
Methodist church, 10.
The Western section.
The western section includes Amer
lean and Canadian Methodism, and
because of It's relatively greater
strength, has 800 delegates, The
Methodist Episcopal church OF the
United States sent 100 representatives
among them Bishops Hurst, Vincent
Hamilton and Hartzcll. The Meth
odist Episcopal church, south, Is rep
resented by 10 delegates, including
bishops Fitzgerald, Galloway, Gran
berry and Anderson. The Methods,
chourch of Canada, among It's 20 rep
resentatives, has DR.. Briggs, DR.
Potts, Prof. ]. $. Antltf and Chancel
lor Brownash, of Toronto.
The Colored Methodists.
The colored Methodist churches OF
America are represented by So dele
gates, including 20 colorcd bishops,
Though the conference does no,
have legislative and admlnIstratlv,
power over the churches represented
their policy will probably be affected
both directly and indirectly, by The
discussions on the religious and socia
problems that will come before 1t.
Subjects 20 he Considered,
Among the subjects That Will h
considered are; "fhc Present Position
Of Melhodism," "The Influence o.
MethotlIsm in tho Promotion OF Inter
national Peace" "Biblical Criticism
aud the Christian Faith" principles
Of Professionalism Versus Sacrcdotal
ism;" "Mcthodism and Educaiion;'
christianity and Modern Unbclief;
"Modcrn lndillercntsm;" Methods
Literature and Journalism" ant
"prncicnl Methods OF Dealing viii
the Liquor TraI'ic'"
A public meeting will BE held a'
which "Thc Morol Unity OF the En-
gllsh.speoking Peoples" will be thu
auhIrct discussed