The evening times., 1901-09-06
THE METHODIST CONGRESS
All Parts III the World Represent
cd i'm the London Conference.


tury Ago, the Idea originating iu
Americn-A WcmurnL!c Meeting in
the city of Washington ia 1891.
Methodists in an parts of the world are
kecnly interested I'm the progress o. ths
Ecum,uical Conference now i'm session at
London. The representation. which is ul
a basis OF about one delegate g" -'-"''
members. gives the United States and
Canada 800 out Of the 800 who compose
the conference. A copy of the London
Chronicle" has been received here con
tanning the following detailed Information
concerning the world congress Of the
Methodists:
The idea Of such conference first
found voice in America at the General
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church twenty-five years ago Two years
later DR.. Harden was deputrd TO lay the
plan before the British Conference meet
ing In Bradford in 1873. Its objects ana
aims were then and there agreed 10 as
First. To demonstrate that an the
branches OF Methodisu an the world over
which historically trace their origin 10
John Wesley are a people essentially one
in doctrine spirit. and purpose. ana 10y
manifestation of that unity To strengthen
and pcrpetuate IL
Second Such adjustment Of mission
work as 10 prevent friction and waste
Third Suggestions as to modes and
agencies for the most successful perform
ance of the church.s work OF eVangeAza-
Fourth To give a great impulse to all
the benefccnt activities OF the church
Fifth To gain light on the relation OF
McthOdiSm as a whole 20 toucal1n, 10
civil government. to other religious bod
les. and TO the worldwide missionary
sixth. An increase of Christian iuteIIi-
genCe. Of conscious spiritual power and
of faith in the redemption or "a race a
more earnest conservation. an interser
glow OF enthusiasm, more caring pun
pose of evangelism. and cuuseg gItuIlN
more powerful reyivals and larger bench
seventh. The challenging Of the atten-
tiCn Of scholars thinkers. and rtfOrmerS
10 the whole Methodist history, work, and
TO these objects the following were
added by the British Conference:
90 Promoting the practical cooperation
OF all the numerous and widespread
Methodist churches the securing Of happy
and peaceful relations between all the
communities represented. and especially
cementing real friendship between the
British Empire and the United states,
with which are bound up the interests Of
freedom and evangelical religion through
Twenty years ago-on September z,
1SSl,-the representatives met in CITY
Road Chapel, London, which is also the
meeting place OF the 1901 conference. II
was a much larger gathering than the
great denominational assemblies which
had preceded il. The Pan-AnElican Sy-
nod OF 1861 consisted Of seventy-fve Bish-
ops-British. Colonial, and American The
Pan-Presbyterian Council had an attend
ance short of 30 The ECumeuiCal Meth
Odist Conference had delegates from each
OF the seven sections Of British and Irish
MethOdism. from thirteen distinct MCtho-
dist bodies in the United States. from
Canada, South America, AFRICA. austria
laSia. India. China, and all parts Of Eu-
rope. They represented churches com
prised between 100000 and 100000 church
members. p e1) ministers. 5000 lay preach
ers and close upon 10000 adherents
That first memorable conference OPEN
ed with a sermon by Bishop Simpson. one
Methodism has yet produced The
late Rev. DR.. Osborn. President OF
the wesleyan Conference. presided
the first day and delivered
the opening address After the second
day which was devoted fttingly to the
Origin and Progress of Methodism' and
70 kindred subjects. the topics discussed
were The Evangelical Agencies Of Meth
odism,' The Itinerant Ministry, Possible
Ferlls of Methodism, Education. The
Use Of the Press Home and Foreign
Missions, and Christian Unity
Ten years later namely in 1881 the
second Ecumenica1 Conference was held
in Washington. and was If possible, even
more successful in its aims and objects
than The first. British Methodism was
represented by 2JJ men. The present con-
ference is in point of numbers larg-
er than the two preceding II consists
of 500 chosen delegates. for the most part
ministers and laymen fin equal proper
tiOnS. The Eastern Section. which in
cludes British Nethodism, also Irish and
Colonial. consists OF 2DJ members and
comprises the following
Wesleyan MethodistS So, Primitive
Meth0dlSJS. 81. New Connection Method
ists- 10; Bible Christians. 10, United Meth
Odist Free Churches %: Irish Methodists,
10, Wesleyan Reform Union. .. IudeDeud-
ent Methodists - French NIethodiSts .
Methodist Church. u, South African
Methodist Church, 10. The Western sec
tion, on account Of its greater strength
and numbers. has 3lH members, and OF
these the Methodist Episcopal Church is
represented by 10 delegates, including
such well-knowu Givints as DIT Jesse
Bowman YouES. Cincinnati: DIT. J. w.
Butler, Mexico City Dr. p ). Merrill,
Buffalo, y. Y. Dr. l. 3. Wilson, Wash
ingtOn. with such laymen as Horace Ben
ton. Cleveland and Anderson Fowler
New York city. The Methodist Episcopal
Church South has seventy delegates in
Guiding Bishop O. P Fitzgerald @ T.
Galloway. J. G. GraubeTy. and Chancellor
J II Kirkland. OF Nashville, Tenn The
Methodist colored churches Of America
are largely represented, the African Meth
Odist Episcopal Church sending IS, OF
whom are black bishops. The African
Methodist Episcopal Zion church has u
delegates. including cDlorcd bishops. Ca
madam Methodism sends 20 Of its leaders
ministerial ana Law.
fTbe programme "a comprehensive and
attractive one. touches almost every as
pect Of Methodist life and work. 1t nat
ural!y deals. first Of all. with the present
rOSitiOn Of hcthOClSm IN its two world
wide sections. and then proceeds 20 The
influence which MethOdism exercises in
the promotion Of international peace
Rev. DR. Townsend. OF the New C0nnec-
tfon Methodist Church. deals with the re-
Iation Of Methodlsm 10 the Evaugellca
Free Church movement A whole day is
10 be- given to Biblical Criticism and tho
Christian Faith Among other subjects
OF present day interest are The Principles
OF Professionalism versus Modern Sacer-
dotalisn.' Christianity and Modern Tn
NgsHH So lar ism e ami
Modern Iudinererrism.' also Apathy ir
The Church Mr.. r. @. Osborn. NJ A. OF
Colwyn BAY. an Acknowledged education
al pXpl II. is 10 deal with Methodism and
Education in the Twentieth Century
An interesting debate may De looked
for on the question us MethOdiSm Re
tanning It's Spiritual Vitality Pressing
social problems Ike the liquor traffic and
gambling are 20 be fully discussed alsC
the periis Of Increasing wealth and lux
ury Bishop Tanner and Dr. Rankin ART
10 deal with The Elements Of Pulpit Ef
fectiveUcss.' Later on IN the Conference
Missions. Home "ad Foreign are 20 come
under review Exceptional care has beer
taken in the selection Of men who are tC
read papers
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