Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1892 — MARCH OF METHODISM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MARCH OF METHODISM.

THEIR TWENTY - FIRST QUADRENNIAL CONFERENCE. Gathering at Omaha of Some of the Most Eminent Divines of the World—Reports fi-om the Bishops of India and Africa. An August Body. Omaha has been the scene of a most Interesting conference of Methodist ministers, the twenty-first quadrennial

session of the legislative body of that ohurch. At the opening meeting In Boyd’s Opera House, 609 of the 522 delegates • were present, including many from the United Kingdom. All the blßhops were present.

The body was called to order. by Bishop Bowman, and after appropriate ceremonies, Dr. Monroe was chosen Secretary, and the lay 1 delegates, at their own request, were accorded seats «ipart from the ministers. After the usual soramble for eligible seats, two (hours’ time was given to the episcopal .address, which was delivered by Bishop Foster. The past quadrennial, the reiport stated, had been a prosperous one for the church. Work in the foreign field had been given special care, and numerous visits by the bishop to foreign lands (had been made with beneficial results. The book concerns of the church are the largest in the world. There have been no dissensions in the church and there is more intelligence and less bigotry in the pulpit. The membership during the past four years has grown rapidly, and now num-

bers 2,293,614 communicants; 442,000 souls have been added to the church during the four years by confession of faith; churches have increased 264, with an increased valuation of $18,321,321; | contributions to all societies have increased $334,135. The Epworth

League received great praise as a mediator between the Sunday school and the ohurch. It has in three years sprung uj> from naught to 8,000 chapters with 500,000 members. The 'National University at Washington is annoanoed as a oertainty and liberal endowments asked for, as millions will be necessary for its equipment. The woman’s college in Baltimore was also commended. “The church demands an Americanized franchise as well as a naturalized

franchise,” said the Bishop. “The continuation of foreign languages and customs in this oountry is wrong, and we .are) openly opposed 't>o| the teadhing of for-j e Ig n languages in schools. T h.e oen-.tralization-of wealth) is denounced,.and If) not -arrested there, wilt be danger to the social .and state! unc-1

tions. The church must act. It cannot side with wealth; it must go with the toiling mass. Total abstinence Is imperative, and complete' prohibition is urgent.* Bishop Thobum, of India and Mayalasia, in his report, said the Methodist Church was teaching and preaching the

gospel In India and Mayalasia in thirteen different languages. The work in India was in excellent condition, but the need was great. The working force from Amer1c a had fallen off some, but the work had continued to* grow. The membership had increased

nearly 30,000 during bishop ooodsbll. ! the quadrennial. Tbe Methodist .-Sunday Schools in India now have a .membership of over 55,000, an increase .of : 15,000 during the four years past. In the day schools the churoh lhad 29,000 native pupils •of India. The .report warmly commended the work.of women! In the missions of India. The church has established three publishing (houses, i and is sending out pamphlets .and .peri-, odicals in nine different languages from its own presses. “The day .of email: things is past,” said tbe Bishop. “We; must take up the work before cue .and carry practically the responsibilities laid upon us. We do not know what may happen to-morrow, but we do know that; the sun never sets in the morning. It is j just morning in India. Let us up .and be doing while the daylight lasts. ” Bishop Taylor, of Africa, undertook. to read his report, but having been a\ .preacher for fifty years without ever

having read & sermon, he broke down on his manuscript. By consent of the conference he was permitted to lay aisde his paper and talk. Being one of the most ready and powerful speakers in the Meth- ’ odist Church, he had fair sailing, and soon had everything his

own way. Although about SO years of age, he does more work than almost any other preacher In the convention, and is held in the highest regard by the clergy and the laity. He is one of the marked characters among the bishops, though age is telling on him. At the- close of the bishop’s address he presented to the conference a native African girl about 4 years old, and only nine months out of heathen Africa. The little girl was placed upon the speakers’ table amid great cheering. When Bishop Taylor said that the child Lad been out of heathendom only nine months, Bishop Fowler added: “And is now in the general conference." This sally brought down thsSwuse. Bishop Bowman stepped to the table and took tLe child by the hand, at which a colored-delegate shouted that now prophecy is fulfilled in that ‘Ethiopia has stretched forth its hands unto God." The blushes of Bishop Bowman, as he was the one that took the outstretched hand, created a storm of applause. This was one of the most pleasant incidents of the conference so far.

In the discussion of the American university and Christian education, all the addresses were with reference to the proposed great university at Washington, which will be open only to college graduates and the doors of which are not to be thrown open until an endowment fund of $5,000,000 has been secured. The nature of the scheme was set forth by Bishop Hurst while presiding. Rev. Dr. Moulton, the English delegate, was called for by the audience, and responded briefly, expressing his approval of the magnificent scheme and faith in its consummation. It was announced that several "subscriptions had already been promised, Mrs. McCabe taking the first share of st,ooo. Another sum across the water la only waiting for some one to go after it. A resolution was adopted asking the bishops to designate Oct. 16 as Columbian day, when

subscriptions will be faken for the American university. A resolution unanimously passed asking all the societies' of the Methodist Church to decline to ask for or receive any financial aid from the United States Government for any educational or religious work —whether among the Indians or others. It was stated that the Methodist Churoh.as a church, had never asked for or reoeived any such aid, though some quasl-Methodlst organization had reoeived a few thousand dollars. The Methodist Church goes on record as being utterly opposed to the government assisting any religious body in a financial way. If any denomination cannot live without government aid, the feeling was that it would be better for it to make an assignment and go out of business. A complete separation of church and state Is an absolute necessity, and by this action of the General Conference the Methodist Church has joined hands with the great Baptist Churoh, which, so it is claimed, has never received any government aid for denominational purposes. The farewell remarks of Dr. Moulton, the Wesleyan delegate, were in good taste, and were heartily applauded. Bishop Vincent’s response in behalf of the conference was eloquent and comprehensive. " The conference joined in singing two verses of the hymn beginning “Blest be the tie that binds,” and Dr. Moulton left for his home la London.

Most disorderly scones were the rule during the discussion of the rules of order, for the laymen are jealous of their rights, and the clerical brethren are equally desirous not to lose any of their prerogatives. So much time has been wasted that it would seem it would be well to adopt a set of rules that will not have to be tinkered with every quadrennium. There are too many parliamentary martinets who can tell the difference betwixt the north and northwest side of a hair. Those who are sticklers for the niceties of parliamentary law obstruct legislation, though they exhibit their skill in debate.

Tbe laymen were anxious t© have a rule passed that would give them the advantage in putting the clerical delegates on record, but by a separate vote of orders they failed. The lay vote for this change of rule was 113. and clerical 48; total 161. But 216 clerical delegates and 37 lay voted against, and the motion was lost, and the cileries -scored a big ipoint. Among the pleasant incidents of the session was the (marriage of the oldest •delegate, Dr. John L. (Smith of Valparaiso, Ind., who has passed, his eightieth mile-stone, (suit who is as vigorous as (most men of 60. The'bride is probably 50 years of Age and is sprightly and

'handsome, arid’no one wohders why the veteran .minister' has chosen such a companion for the olosing years of a busy and suooossfhl life. The venerable groom tecas ■-■gallant and as happy as if • only coming out of this teens. The committee on the World’s Columbian Exposition reported, and the ■report was .'adopted. It sets forth the <Christian' character of the discoverers of America-amd of the founders of this Republic. It recounts the expressed opinions of tfce fathers of the nation, and of Abraham Linpoln. and other such men. The following resolutions in substance wereiunanimously adopted; Resolved,.That to open the gates of the ■ exposition on the Sabbath would be to .afflict 2,500.000 Method t(.t-i and 10,000,040 adherents.' and would shock the moral senitlments of All-civilized nations and violate the law ofiGod. 'Resolved. That Congress should condition .all Appropriations upon the written agreement that fehargatss shall be Closed on the Sabbath.

The:actian- of: the general conference lhas been: telegraphed to both houses of Congress and to the President and to the .officers-of the World’s Columbian Exposition. ‘While the conference is iheartily- In flavor of the exposition it is -heartily opposed to its opening on the Lord’s day, and the utterance of the highest. and most influential body In the Methodist Churoh will powerfully affect ’the entire denomination, and will have much ■to do-.with the exhibits and the attendance, upon the exposition. The great debate of the conference .upon -changing the -constitution of the -dhuroh was carried on at almost in-terminable-length, extending over several days, but always with lively interest. The.main question was the right of representation of daymen. The final action was .regarded as a victory for those whoheld-that the,plan of lay representation is not a part of the constitution, but it was hot satisfactory to the committee, because there were many other things in the report that they wished to Lave discussed.

Dr. 3. M. Ring, of New "York, a leading candidate for the episcopacy, offered a resolution for.a proposed .amendment to the Constitution of the United States It relates to the protection -of the publio schools In the United States against religious encroachments and to define the attitude of the churches wish relation to the schools. ®r. King spoke earnestly in behalf otf the resolution. He wanted the conference to indorse the bill which has been prepared .upon the subject of the complete divorcement of chureh and state. The passage of this bill would save the public schools from sectarian Influence, he said, and would remove a great deal of politico from the churches. The resolution was adopted.

One of the colored delegates offered a resolution pledging the colored Methodists to loyalty to the church, and one of the most interesting debates of the session took place, being conducted entirely by colored delegates. Four speeches were made and the speakers compared well with any of the white brethren. One of the speakers said that the complaint named by Dr. Buckley as bteliop-pnobia had attacked the colored preachers as well as the white, but as the colored preachers were the pupils of the white it would Be natural for the pupils to follow the example and teachings of their intructors. It was decided that there was no necesity for any utterance concerning the loyalty of the oolored people, as for twenty-five years they have been faithful and true to all the interests of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Nearly all the evangelical churches in Omaha, led by their pastors, showed marked attention to the general conference, opening their pulpits on the Sabbath and their church edifices during the week for committee purposes. In return for this courtesy the conference voted to place chairs on the platform with the bishops for the use of the pastors of Omaha. Chicago saloon-keepers are in favor of having the World’s Fair closed on Sunday. This is one of the things the good people have overlooked.—Grand Rapids Gazette.

BISHOP NEWMAN.

BISHOP FITZGERALD.

BISHOP WALKEN.

JOHN WESLEY.

BOYD'S OPERA HOUSE.