New-York tribune., 1901-09-12
WORLDWIDE METHODISM.
THE CONFERENCE IN CITY ROAD WITH
ITS HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT A
SCHEME OF PRACTICAL WORK.

ference opening on september r. w ueu ooAiA
Wesley laid the cornerstone Of the chapel oppo-
site Bunhil Fields and built the modest brick
house where he was to pass his closing years.
there a country road leading from Moorgate
through swamps and meadows TO the Angel at
Islington. The Wesleyan Chapel then lay out
side London, with only house between IT
and 1slington. 1t now stands in the heart OF a
warehouse section OF the metropolis. where the
pulse OF the worldwide interests may be felt.
The district is closely built up all the way to
Islington and many miles beyond, and there is
heavy traffic in the streets. There Is one restful
spot. which can be reached after ten minutes
walk from the Bank. Beyond Finsbury Square
Is the artillery ground Of the oldest military
body in the United Kingdom. Beyond 1t is the
cemetery where John Bunyan. Daniel Defoe.
Isaac Watts and Susannah Wesley were buried.
On the opposite side is the famous Wesleyan
Chapel. hanked by the Wesley house. John
Wesley's grave is behind the chapel and his
statue is in front Of it. 1t is the natural meet
Ing place of the Ecumenical Conference. repre-
sentng a powerful religious organization, which
mas carried out the spirit of John Wesley's own
words repeated in the memorial in Westminster
Abbey: Il look upon all the world as my parish
Pious Wesleyans have done what they could
to convert City Road into the Mecca OF their
faith The Foundry. which John Wesley's
centre OF work for forty years. has disappeared.
Owing to the alteration of street lines ii is not
easy to identify with precision the site Of the
dilapidated armory, which was turned into
dissenting place of worship after being wrecked
by explosion in the recasting of of
Marlboroughs French cannon 1t stood near the
Finsbury end of Tabernacle-st not far from
the present chapel. and the great leader lived
in modest apartments above charity school,
ard preached early as O'Clock in the morn
ing to worEmen in the Foundry chapel. That
lar dmark vanished long ago; but many
MORALS of the beginnings of Methodism remain
The Charter House, where John Wesley at
school for six years and where he a fire.
quent visitor in old age is not far away The
house where he lived and died has been thor
oughly repaired and endowed a memorial
of the pious founder of Methodism. 1t is
pretentiou3 and commonplace structure. but
every room is a stored place. On the ground
fcor are the parlor. where John Wesley talked
familiarly with his friends: the dingy library,
where he used to write and where the deathbed
scene occurred. and the little triangular closet.
where he wont to pray early in the day.
Charles Wesley was Westminster boy. living
in Little Deans Yard and his grave dug
in the yard of Marylebone Old Church. but he
constant visitor in City Road. and wrote
some of his best hymns IN room of the Wes-
Icy house, not far from the spot where Milton
drew his last breath The first Wesleyan Chapel
built in London adions the Wesley house, and
II is there that the discussions of the Ecumeni-
cal Conference to be carried for twelve
days in September.
The conference will meet daily at 10 o'clock
for it's devotional services and debates prac-
tical themes; but this is a late hour. in the
light of Wesleyan traditions. John Wesley was
in his prayer closet by in the morning, and
) was his favorite hour for preaching A fort
rfpht heTO hfS he, he N-oS al iphf
eight he was out of his bed at o'clock tn start
for Leatherhead, where his last sermon
preached in the dining room Of a magistrate.
When he died the funeral was appointed for
; o'clock, so that working people could have
their last glimpse OF him in gown. cassock and
band, with a Bible in one hand and a hand
kerchief In the other; and it was before that
hour that six poor men earned IL each for
carrying the coffin into the chapel. where his
own wishes were respected: "No hearse. no
coach. no escutcheon. no pomp. except the tears
of those that love and following me to
Abraharn's bosom" The hours of Wesleyansm
are later. but there has been no departure from
the unstudied simplicity of his teachings and
the practical and homely spirit of his methods.
The plain. unpretentious chapel In City Road
is the cathedral where the MethOdists OF the
East and West will be represented by five hun
dred delegates. speaking In the name OF over
the opening service each day will be patterned
after the devotional exercises which he himself
conducted in the same place. When the ad-
dresses of welcome have been delivered and
answered the delegates will settle down to
orderly and businessike discussion for twelve
DAYS and will take up practical question
after another connected with the religious well
fare of the world. John Wesley still lives in
the work of a great religious following, and
what is styled an ecumenical council is as
simple and homely affair parish meet
ing II is indeed. meeting of his parish. for
the little windows OF the Wesley house looked
out not upon City Road and Susannah Wes-
ley's grave. but upon benighted world, TO be
evangelical by orderly and systematic organi-
zation.
The programme OF the session indicates the
workaday spirit Of Methodism. There will be
two meetings each day In City Road and five
sDs cial meetings In st. James's Hail. Each Will
be preceded by simple devotional exercises. with
prayer and hymn. The first business will be an
informal taking OF sto * of the affairs of British
Methodism and of American and Canadian
Methodism, with practical accountants from
England ireland. Australia. the United States
and Canada Next will come discussion of the
influence of Methodism in the promotion of
international peace with supplementary de-
bates on the Evangelical Free Church move
ment Christian unity and interdenominational
| fellowship A Bible day viii follow, with an
ESSAY on new criticism and addresses recent
| corroborations of the Scriptural narrative. and
the appeal OF the Old Testament TO the life and
conscience of the day. a more controversial
theme will be Principles of Professionalism
versus Modern Sacerdotalsm. with debates on
.Education in the Twentieth Century" 'Secu-
larism" Modern Unbelief and Indifferentism
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