REUNION OF METHODISM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 669, 20 November 1909, Page 9

REUNION OF METHODISM.

THE FIVE CHURCHES MEET IN LONDON, 'Wesley's Chapel in. City! Koad on. October ..' well justified its familiar designation of "th Mecca of Methodism." , There/ were few vaoan seats when the first Methodist Assembly, .full; represehtativo of ,tho- five Methodist; Churohe in England, opened its. sessions, and :as th day * advanced it. became evident that the As sembly is to .be rich in mental stimulus. Dr..Scott Lidgett presided over the morning dobate on the. maintenance of porsenal holiness in. modern, life. In;the afternoon, with' Dr. Townsend in the .chair, I tho Assembly. discussed the evidential value of Christian erperi-, enco. Principal Clemens opened with a. paper on "The Modern Difficulties of Belief." The times, he.frankly.adinittod, seemed:to,call for a new utterance of the.central truths of Christianity. "We are'greatly under the doinina,tion of time-honoured expressions. 'The faith once for all delivered to the saints' is one of them. What human thought has forged human thought can modify or remould if the need of the now day .demand."-;.' ' ■- ■■■■...,,. Professor Peako, who followed, emphasised the dual part played in Christian belief by his torical truth and personal experience. . During the subsequent "conversation" (as de bates at the iMethodist. Assembly are prcttilj termed) Dr. Moulton provoked a hearty rounc of- applause by referring: to the whole gather ing as representing "a Methodist Church:" "] look .forward Jo the' time when those wordi will'describe a fact instead of.a dream,.. Ik added. : It was the first public reference • to, tlu corporato reunion of Methodism which th( Assembly teems ,to foreshadow. ■ : . : A public meeting was'held in the Loysiaii Hall hi" tho evening, when the subject undei discussion was "The Mission, of Methodism in the .Twentieth Century." , ■■■.■■'■.. >,' '• . Sir William P. Hartley, president of the Pnmitivo Methodist Conference; presided, and sand he had for years been hoping, espwt ing, and working for that day. Witli this knowledge of' world-wide Methodism they required to drop their ideas of English Mothedism, and do away witli' their-sectiohal differences.' It was time that: they presented a bold, united front to tho enemy., and not, be. mpro or : less. competitive among themselves. ' ■

Christian Workers and Thoir Training. TUo Rev. W. B. Lnrk, president of the United Methodist Conference,.. was in '.the chair at the concluding session of tho Assembly. .-The subjeot for discussion wus "Christian Workers and' Their Training." .; ■ . . ■'-.■■'■ Tho chairman thanked God that ho lived in davs when ■ such a gathofuiß had become, n fact in Methodist history. Norer had' they been so prepared to appreciato one another's work as now, and.ho ventured to say that they were nearer tho goal of United Methodism than when the week began.' (Cheers.) •_ /, ' The Rev. J. H. Frecboroueh (feheffield), spenkine on "Local Preachers, . expressed ,tho opinion that the root cause of what was termed tho nrrested progress of the Church .was to be found in tho pnlpit. The Church might make its plans and send Out its" men; but the message had .failed to interest: tho people. Hβ pleaded for a better system, which' should be on, lines of enuality, and should'.be; representatiye of: all classes; ■■' ■" • , :''■ .■■'.',-.■ i'-■■>•; K__Mr. Tiden .on

Leaders," eaid tlie soJectioh ."of;'class' loaders was a matter- which was of vital importance., Thoy must be. men who had studied the Bible, who understood the wants o£ the people, arid who. could: sympathise with, the .young. '~.- :.' Mr. Jennings 6aid that a. class, leader mnst not bo a man who lived Under a crab treo, ; 01; ate soured 'gooseberries, , ''or. one -who opened his class by singing "And I am born to dip"-— (laughter)—but ono. who had (the sunshine <of God's jn-ace, and carried it with him; ■.'•".. The Tibv. James. Pickott, dealing with The Organised Service of Women," said , , there was' room for more women's work in; the Methodist .Church.' He pointed out that a large' number of the. women, on the medical list.were engaged on mission work in foreign lands, and the Church should (see that the number was increased. In each field ot work there'should be a , Methodist Medical College. ■ The.Rov.; S. Horton read a naper.by Mr. H. Jeffs on the subject of locarpreachers, in! which the writer said that the forty thousand, local preachers were the scouts and skirmishers of the Methodist .army, the torpedo-boats and Ihe submarines of the Methodist navy. It was necessary that they, should have every encouragement and all. practical help. , . . -.-.. .