The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-09-02

Church q did not want to attend this
 Conference; I could see no good in it.
 But I'm glad now that I came and
 want to say that there isn't a man here
 to whom l cannot give the hand of fel-
 lowship." It was disgruntled Method
 ist giant who was speaking, and ms
 proffered hand of fellowship was grasp
 CT later by another Methodist giant or
 the same kind.
 And somewhat similar to this scene
 was still another that was enacted Tn
 that first of these Methodist Ecumeni-
 calls. If there had been strife and dl-
 visions in England so had there like
 wise been in America, It was knotty point twenty years ago as to how the
 white and colored Methodists of the
 South would blend in Ecclesiastical conclave, not to speak of how the white
 hosts of the North and South would get on together But here again did the nobest sentiments prevail, and who that saw the sight will ever forget how that Conference was moved when, af-
 ter an eloquent speech by colored delegate, Dr. c. K. Marshall, one of the most striking figures in the delegation from the Church South, sprang from his seat and reaching over several pews, gragsped the black mans hand, saying, with an unction that thrilled 1 everybody-'I greet you as a brother, and I thank God that your people are l free"
 l Undoubtedly the continuance of these Methodist Ecumenicals will elmininate finally all bad feelings in both countries and for all practical purposes will make the various Methodist Churches one. At the last Ecumenical the subject of Methodist Union did net seem so popu- lar as at the first, the chief reason for this probably being that, from having ten years before looked at the matter in a merely sentimental light the diff ferent churches had come in the inter- val face to face with the practical dlfli- culties of the question. The only clear note on the American side, the only real plea for Methodist union, was that of Bishop Foster. pr. Hoss, the bril- liant editor of the Nashville Christian Advocate said that before union could be expected the churches North and South must quit manoeuvring against each other adding that where one branch of Methodism was established In small town and another came along and tried to get a foothold, the devil did not need to be personally present in that town" In saying this pr. Hoss was no doubt correct. No doubt, too, Hugh Price Hughes made good point when he said Methodist Bishop had told him that union would be possible in America only when there l.. T Iz4 ,f, ,ntat But this was ten years ago, and there have been lot of prominent funerals since then. Who, knows, therefore. how soon it may transpire that all the Methodist hatchets of division have been buried? This conference will show, at any rate, that there has been a large increase of fraternity and CO., operation in the last decade, both be- tween the Methodisms of England and on the part of the Northern and South ern Methodisms of the United States.
 There will of course, be the freest possible discussion in this Conference, and it Is a foregone certainty that as usual the best things will be those not down on the programme. Yet the pro- gramme itself offers great attractions. pr. Tigert, of Nashville, will present an essay on Biblical Criticism and the Christian Faith" pr. Hoss, of the | same city, will discuss "The New De- mands Upon Methodist Authorship To President Charles J. Little of Evan | ston has been assigned "Methodism l and Education" while other prominent | assignments on the American side are Bishop J. w. Hamilton, on "Secularism and Christianity; Dr. J. NJ. King of New York on "The Antidote to Apathy and Indifference; Dr. Charles B. of Minneapolis and Bishop J. .. Cranberry on the question, "1s Retaining Its Spirituality; Hon. G. W. Atkinson of Wheeling, w. va., on the "The Liquor Traffic; Bish- ,p Dubbs of Chicago on "The Perils of Wealth and Luxury''; Dr. A. B. Leon- lrd, on 'The Outlook" and pr. W. I. Haven, on Young Peoples Societies."
 HENRY TUCKLEY.