WOULD METHODISM

Otago Witness, Issue 3522, 13 September 1921, Page 13

WOULD METHODISM

ECU YLENICAL CONFER EXCE. MEETING IN LONDON. LONDON, September 7. The Ecumenical Methodist Conference is meeting in London after a lapse of 20 years. Air Lloyd George sent the following message:—“The English-speaking races owe a special debt of reverent gratitude to John Wesley, the greatest spiritual leader and religious organiser they have ever produced.” The Archbishop of Canterbury wrote: “All the efforts to draw our kindred groups closer have the valuable effect in producing the right temper and atmosphere conducive to the effectiveness of our common Christian work.” The Bishop of London wrote: ‘T still hope that the Wesleyans and Anglicans will be the first to set an example in re-uniting, and thus to bring about the realisation of a great united Church of Christ upon which our hearts are set.” THE KING’S CONGRATULATIONS. LONDON, Seutember 8. The King, in congratulating the Alethodist Conference on the importance of the present assemblage, representing 30,000,000 adherents, trusts that the outcome of thedeliberations will be the promotion and advancement of a deeper religious spirit in the daily lives of the people, and a furtherance of the movement towards closer intercommunication between the Christian churches.

Dr H. B. Workman, Principal of Westminster Training Coliege, in as interview pub.ished in the Alethodist Times, London, pointed out that the conference is divided into two sections—Eastern and Western. The former includes Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and the Cape; the Western embraces America and Canada. That- Great Britain should be classified as Eastern is significant. It indicates how the. balance has shifted. Methodism has thriven most outside the land of its birth. Of th e many millions which make up her membership less than one million are in this country. . The history of the religion which began in Palestine but- was forced outside has repeated itself. God marches swiftly while men move hesitatingly through the cowardice miscalled caution. Of the two sections the Eastern contributes 220 delegates, of whom 20 are from the mission field, and the Western sends 330, of whom 30 represent the foreign fie'ds worked bv America and Canada. One distinctive feature of this Ecumenical is that for the first time native representatives of Alethodist missionary activities will be present as official delegates—an eloquent indication of the increasing self-government of Methodism's youngest children. Of the 330 delegates from America and Canada the Western contingent numbers 80. Owing to the high cost of transit, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa are only able to send half the number invited. To be told that a passage from Australia costs over £2OO is to understand. A study of the list of delegates resulted in a very interesting fact. There are fewer than 20 ladies elected to represent the womanhood of Methodism. Of these, British Wesleyan Alethodism sends o’er half the number. Remembering the oftrepeated charge of Wesleyan conservatism, this is significant. The range of topics is comprehensive, and reflects the conditions of modern religious and social life. Alethodist Union, the vital issue of the moment, finds a prominent place in the programme. » Considerable time is to be given to statements on foreign missionary work and on social and industrial questions. Dr Workman pointed out that the value of the conference is not to be measured by the speeches given, nor by any resolutions which the conference may pass. Its unique worth is to be found in the closer linking up of Methodism all over the world, and the strengthening of national ties through religious fellowship. As an evidence of the world-importance of this, Dr Workman referred to the strenuous and successful fight waged by the Alethodist Episcopal Church of America during the past seven years to foil German and Irish attempts to embitter feeling between America and England. The conference lias no executive powers, and it is not like the Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Church. This was able to suggest a world-wide policy for Anglicanism, because e<fery diccese throughout. the world is in living connection with I Canterbury. There is not that same * organic unity in world-wide Methodism. The New Zealand representatives at the conference are expected to bo the Rev. John Dawson and Air Thomas Allan. This will be Air Allan’s third experience at such a conference.