Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-05-08
THE METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE.

The assembling of the General Confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
at Brooklyn, NY, on yesterday, is an in
teresting event in the history of Ameri-
can Methodism. 1t is interesting on ac-
count of the numerical Importance of the
membership represented, of the import
ance of the questions to be decided and be-
cause this is the first General Conference
of that church to which lay delegates
were admitted,
This is the twenty-second General Con-
ference, counting that of 1884, at which
time the church was organized as q dis
tinct denomination. At that time the
church numbered in America about 10, 900
members with eighty-four preachers. The
church was organized at Balti-
more in that year, by Bishop Coke,
who had been ordained by, Yves,
ley as Superintendent, or Bishop OF
the American Work. Attic same session
of the conference held at Baltimore,
Francis Asbury was elected and ordained
Bishop. Until 1872, the General Confer
ence was composed of all the ministers OF
the various annual conferences. At that
time the membership had reached nearly
200, 900 with 67S preachers, and the Cen
eral Conference was composed of delegates
elected by the annual conferences, which
custom still prevails.
The question of Lay Delegation agitat-
ed the church for many years, unusual
ability and zeal having been displayed on
both sides of the controversy. The meas
ure has been steadily growing in favor,
however, both among preachers and
people, and has finally been carried by q
majority, approaching unanimity.
Since the last General Conference, the
church has been agitated with charges,
coming from high source, of serious ir-
Irregularities in the management of the inn
mcnse Book Concern at New York. The
charges have been investigated, and we
presume the Conference will sft the mat
ter to its foundation. 1t is to be hoped so,
at least, and should it prove true that such
Irregularities have been practiced, 1t is to
be hoped that they will be jealousy guard
ed against in the future.
At its organization, the present Confer
ence will be composed of 272 ministerial
delegates, elected from ~ Annual Confer
ences throughout the United States, India,
Germany and Liberia, representing 10000
preachers and 100000 laymen. When
the lay delegates are admitted, which will
be in a day or two, the body will consist of
42l members.
One of the duties devolving upon this
Conference will be the election of Bishops.
1t is thought that the Conference will de-
eide to elect either six or eight Bishops,
though some of the leading church papers
advocate the choice of only four. Since the
last Conference met, four Bishops, all but
one in the vigor of manhood, have died,
and it is generally believed that overworll
had something to do with their death.
With this fact in view, it is probable that
a larger number than four will be chosen.
Since the arrival of Bishop Coke in this
country twenty Bishops have been elected
and ordained. Two of these went of
with the Southern Church, one, Bishop
Hamline, resigned on account of Ill health,
and twelve have died. Only five remain
Morris, James, Scott, Ames and Simpson.
Bishop Morris has been unable for active
work for many years, and Bishop Scott
will probably retire in measure from the
w orll