the book regret it has not been reprinted in America in an enlarged form. Seven years ago, when the Rev. Dr. Vernon, of Rome, visited the writer in London, he resolved to undertake this reprint, but more pressing and important duties have occupied his attention. Fully a hundred original letters in the writer's possession should be part of such a work. Letters form the best portion of the Memoir of Mrs. Clarke. She was a great favorite with John Wesley, after whom her eldest son was named. There is preserved a portrait of both Mrs. Clarke and her mother. Mrs. Clarke's was taken after she became a widow, and without her knowledge, whilst sitting in conversation with her daughter. She had no wish to be taken, content that such honor should all be her husband's.

THE ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE.

BY THE REV. DAVID MORTON.

Proceedings of the Ecumenical Methodist Conference, held in City-road Chapel, London, September, 1881. Introduction by Rev. WILLIAM ARTHUR, M.A. Nashville, Tenn.: Southern Methodist Publishing House.

Ir is proposed that this paper shall be simply a condensed account by an eye-witness of the Ecumenical Conference, and of some of its cognate meetings.. The printed volume whose title-page serves as a text is at hand, and will be useful in refreshing the memory at needed points, and in supplying accurate quotations, where these are required. The critical review of the book, and the philosophical estimate of the Conference, will be better made by others.

The plan of holding an Ecumenical Conference of Methodists, from its first suggestion by Dr. Summers, in 1870, met with decided favor in many directions, and nowhere encountered any formidable opposition. It seemed by common consent to be agreed that the time had arrived for representatives from all the bodies of Methodists in the world to meet and look each other in the face, and talk over matters pertaining to their common heritage, in the hope that something would be said tending to bind them more closely in the bonds of brotherhood, and prompt them to help each other in a com

mon cause.

Certain earnest persons went farther, and did not hesitate to express the desire that advanced steps should be taken to bring about active coöperation among the different bodies. along several specified lines, and some were even so sanguine as to utter the belief that a unification which would obliterate all rivalries was entirely feasible. Among persons thus agreed it was not difficult to arrange preliminaries, and it is no wonder that the details for the organization of the Conference were so promptly adjusted, and a programme of exercises

fixed upon. With this much done, it only remained for those appointed to lead in the exercises to make ready for their work, and for the selected delegates to repair to the place of meeting.

That the place of meeting was wisely chosen was not questioned by any one in attendance upon the Conference. The site of City-road Chapel, and the points adjacent, are as near holy ground as any other within the domain of Methodism. A half-hour's walk will bring you to see four places possessing great historic interest to all Methodists:

1. Charter-house Square, on which was conducted the first school to which John Wesley was ever sent from home, and whose stay there is so quaintly and touchingly described.

2. Aldersgate Street, where is pointed out the site of the house (now gone) in which at the prayer-meeting his heart was "strangely warmed."

3. Moorfields, where the multitudes convened-first in the open air, and afterward met in the Old Foundry-every vestige of which has disappeared-heard the words of life from the lips of the Wesleys and Whitefield.

4. City Road, enshrined by a thousand tender memories, and for all time in the affections of Methodists the world over. Here are two houses of four stories each, on each floor of which, in Mr. Wesley's time, lived a preacher and his family, himself occupying three small rooms on the second floor of one of the houses. In the front room he received his friends, in the back room he studied and prayed, and in the middle. one slept and died. Several articles of his household furniture, likenesses of himself taken at various ages, pictures of his friends, pasted by his own hands on his book-case doors, autograph letters, and other mementoes, are kept and shown. The Chapel, while not a very fine or imposing building, is commodious and very neat, and is in every particular a better house than we had been led to suppose. It was commenced in April, 1777, and opened for divine worship by Mr. Wesley himself about eighteen months later, and has been, by occasional alterations and improvements, adapted to the wants of the congregation, and is now well-suited to the Con

ference and Connectional uses to which it is put. Here Mr. Wesley's last labors were expended; here his final conclusions, reached after most mature deliberation, were put into practice; here he came in holy triumph to the end, and here his body rests till the resurrection morn. Around him, and near him, and in the same grave with him, sleep the remains of many of his fellow-laborers, some well known, others unknown, except by this association. The tenderness of their attachment to him, and their oneness of spirit in life, is most beautifully asserted in their yearning to nestle close to him in the grave. Every foot of ground in the chapel-lot available for such a purpose is occupied by the graves of the early veterans of Methodism, while the inside walls of the chapel are literally almost cov ered with marble tablets embalming the memory of those who proved themselves worthy successors of such sires, and having fought and died in the ranks, have been gathered unto God. Hard by, too, in Bunhill Fields, are the last resting-places of John Bunyan, and George Burder, and Daniel De Foe, and John Owen, and Joseph Hughes, and Isaac Watts, and Susannah Wesley. One must be less susceptible than am I not to be affected by the association into which we were thus brought, and I hazard nothing in saying that every man present was, in some sense, and to some degree, awed by these hallowed surroundings.

The provisions made for the comfort and convenience of the members of the Conference were admirable. Notice was given in advance of the time and place at which the reception sub-committee could be found, and each delegate reporting on the day before the Conference met, was furnished with the "Hand-book and Programme," which we found to contain just the required information. A glance gave us accurately the name and Church-relation of all the representatives, and also told by whom they were being entertained, and where those of them who were ministers would preach on the Conference Sundays.

The "regulations" for the government of the Conference, for the recognition and admission of representatives, visitors, etc., were so clearly stated that embarrassing blunders could

be readily avoided, while the "arrangements" for receptions, love-feasts, luncheon, and postal matters, were so plainly set forth that mistakes were well-nigh impossible. From the "programme" might be learned the "topic," and precise time-day and hour-when it would be considered; also the names of essayists and speakers who were to open the discussion, together with a list of Methodist Institutions in reach; so that one could arrange to use to best advantage his time in both hearing and seeing what was likely to interest and in

struct.

Members of the Conference were supplied with "session tickets" for themselves, and each day with others for their friends, and the reception committee, from their office-window close by the chapel-door, dispensed tickets to all applicants as long as any room was left. The outside doors of the Conference-room, and the bar separating members from visitors, were guarded by polite ushers who soon learned the faces of the members, and did every thing they could to make them comfortable.

From a stall in the yard papers, books, and stamps could be had, and the reading-room adjoining the Chapel was furuished with all needed appliances for writing. Letters could be mailed at the door, and postmen delivered all mail-matter to delegates in the Conference-room. Members of the Western Section will remember for a long time the honest face and obliging manner of "John Evans, of Prebend Street," who served them; and the Revs. Richard Green, R. M. Spoor, and George Curnock, of the committee, who seemed to give their undivided time to the Conference, will not soon be forgotten by the brethren now "scattered abroad." Every detail referring to the entertainment of the Conference was looked after with equal care.

Homes, free of charge, were provided for all delegates and their wives, and, as far as was practicable, those who were accompanied by other friends were assigned to hotels, lists of which, giving their exact location and rates of charges, were supplied, at which accommodations for entire parties could be had. A bountiful dinner was served at one o'clock each