New-York tribune., 1872-04-26
METHODISTS IN COUNCIL.
THE APPROACHING SESSION OF THE GEN.
ERAL CONFERENCE IN BROOKLYN.

ERAL CONE DhOohhIN
POWERS or THE CONPERENCE--LAY REPREsPN-
TATION-FLRCTION AND DUTIES OF BISHOPS
TIE FUNCTIONS OF PRESIDING ELDERS-
RENEWAL OF TIE IoOK CONCERN TROUBLES
-PROJECTs OF CHURCH UNION.
Tho General Conference of tho Methodist
priscona, c,prrb which meets IN the Brooklyn Academy
OF Music next "Wednesday, May l. is the principal leGisla
tive body and the court Of appeal OF the denomination
II has full powers to make rules and regulations" for
the church. except certain specified poin where its
action Is prohibited or restrained by the socallcd re-
strictIye miles Thus 1t forbidden 10 do away with"
le Epscopacy or destroy tho plan OF tho general
tnerant superintcndiDg and other restraints relating
TO the articles Of religion, tho ratio OF representation III
the General Conference the privileges OF ministers ana
members trial, and the appropriation OF certain trust
funds action in these matters being efeeed py concur
rent votes Of tho general and annual conferences
The General Conference meets once every four years.
and Is composed OF ministerial aud lay delegates Ono
ministerial delegate Is chosen by each annual conference
for every 90 members thereof The lay Delegates arc
chosen by layclcctOra conferences
the churches, which meet every fourth year. TWO lay
delegates sent by each annual conference haVinS
rore than ono ministerial delegate, and but one II only
ono minister Is sent "Reserve" delegates Of both
orders are chosen in anticipation Of possible vacancies
The pre- sent General Conference will consist OF 292 minis
oral and lay delegates. representing " annual con-
fercnccs. The Bishops will preside at It's sessions.
The lay delegates Will bc admitted this year for the
first me The General Conference OF 1868 approvcdthe
provision for admitting them. ana submitted II 10 The
churches and the annual Conferences, by which 1t was
ratified in 1869 and 1870 Tie previous discussion OF the
subject had been long, and at times bitter and about 10
years AGO It led to the Of body who organized
tho Methodist Protestant Church The lay representa-
ton as yet limited TO the General Conference ana
aside from tho electoral function exercised onG In
four years laymcn have st part In the annual Con-
hat vet hpig
much OF having full representation in the governing
bodies OF the Church but what they have obtained may
bo regarded as an entering wedge toward opening wat
has been termed "a close corporation OF minister's"
Time and the Daural course of events, rather IMAM o-
nued agitation will be relied upon to produce the an
ticipated extension OF the lay power.
Tie lay delegates chosen to This Conference areas
rule men OF high social position and local repue ana
many OF them possess national reputation Among hem
are Ca1n of Massachutts, Berry OF New-lIsmp
shire Dillingham; OF Vermont Evans OF Colorado, Bais
dell OF Nevada, and Abernethy OF Oregon senator
Harlan OF Iowa, ex-senator Wiley OF West Virginia.
Senator Henry s. Lane OF Indiana, and others ncar! as
well known. Among NewYorl men are j. b. Cornell ana
Oliver Hoyt Of this city; Judge Good OF Middetoyn
Judge Reynolds OF Brooklyn, T.. Remington OF IiDn
and Francis H. Root OF Bulilo The actual entrance Of
the laymen TO the General Conference must be preceded
by the preliminary organization, and the vercati0l OF
tie action that has been taken Suggestions that telr
admission may be delayed Oh some pieteAt or ahothr
for longer period or indefinitely have been made but
have received 10 councnance.
One OF the most pressing questions to come mp athe
approachng session will relate to the strengthening OF
tic episcopal force There were only eight working
bishops In 1863 and 10 new elected. -Four OF
the number have since died. while the four who remain
have greatly OverwOrked and arc approachingthc
age when they must retire from constant service Several
new bshops-four at least and perhaps six, eight tn
or tweve-wil have to bo elected and nearly eytry
Conference its iavoro candidates Tie names nDst
often mentioned those OF DIR. Foss OF st. Paui's
Church in FOuIth-aye, Dr. Foster OF Drew Seminary.
Dr. Wiley OF The Lades' Repository Cincinnati, ana tue
Rev. Gilbert Haven OF Zion's Herald Boston The Ger
mans who form five Conferences, with 53270 meDiber,
want bisbop and bishop il also asked for tho coorcd
mcmbers " no have Conferences, and arc counted by
thousands Tho only objections made o these requests
those which lis against making batloha! OF eoiof
an essential qualification. .. ,,.-. ,,, ,,oo..
ordinate jurisdiction over the Whole church. IAcy d
vide ana exchange the work nIong Themselves sew @ every
succession. Generally, however affairs are so arranged
that each Bishop visits tie extremes OF the country as
well as the middle portions every year Most Of the
Bishops live in the East, and IL has been proposed
in order 10 secure more equabIe distribution of Epsco
pal residences, sn them homee. Another scheme
suggested il give them definite districts OF suDerys
on 10 be exchanged at stated periods the appoint
mcns of ministers exchanged. The principle OF gem
cral coordinate iMisdciijn ana regular exchange o.
fields % superv ion must by The Constitution Of tho
church. bc preserved. The bishops CHOSEN for
lie motion was sprung in 1853, to change this term
TO one OF four years that election OF the entire
College OF Bishops would have 10 he held at every Gen
eral Conference Of the official papers advocated
It, but every Conference that M, after ths proposition
was started condemned it and it was Killed.
The Presiding Elder KIND of district superintendent,
fS or tie sxh polhps-oi tue ierritory Of an an,
nua Conference exercises "a kind OF control over the
preachers and ATTENDS the general interest OF the
churches. In old times the duties Of the office were
very and respOnshc and claimed the services
Of the best men. THIS is still the newy-settled
parts Of The country In the older States tho abors OF
the Presiding Elder have diminished in amount and I'M
portance Til they are, IN some Instances, little mUrc
Than nominal office Is too often conferred upon
inefficient whom Is not easy to find any other
place. Yet The Of the Eder great
and he st speaks t. the Bishop The word which decides
where each minister In his district shall be sont for the
ensuing year. Some notifications o! the Office will be
sought to restore its Importance, and call the best inen
to it.
thorough exposition OF the Book Concern troubles
will also BE- undertaken. An examination Of the books
OF the publishing house has been going on under the
charge OF accountant appointed by DR.. Carlton and
OF another app0nted Dy the majority OF the Book Com
mitlee. Dr. Lanahan and his friends have 10 part in
the examination. and not committed TO accept It's
results Both parties will appear at the General Con.
ference in full force DIR. Carlton is member and will
DO supported by Drs Hitchcock and Walden, Clncin.
natl Book Agents aud by Drs Curry Love. NesDtt and
Merrill Official editors. who are also delegates Dr
LanahaD has likewise been returned delegate and viii
De supported by hs colleagues Of the Baltimore Con
ference by Drs Steer and Pike OF the minority Of the
Reynolds and Oliver HOyt his counsel ut his trial Ia
June last.
In the coored ministers OF the Church organ
lied into separate Conferences. standing upon the same
level with the other Conferences Tae arrangement has
worked well, and the eOored Conferences have asked
that IL be continued Some efforts have been ado look
ing 10 union with the Church South, but tho members Of
that organization very bitter toward the North.
tcuaIly toward Northern Mcthodiss. There yexed
questions regarding some Church property which
carried. during and after the IN Kentucky and East
Tennessee from the Southern 10 the Northern Church,
and Ia Mary land and Virginia from the Northern " the
Southern Cnurch-n DUtn contrary the prOyis
OF the law and tho Title deeds. These differences
might bc amicably settled the principle OF fair
change" and PROBABLY Will be so arranged some day.
Union with the Episcopal etnOdst Churches seems
hopeless at present. because they Will not accept the
bishops. Union the African churches Is reyened by
the JealOses o. color which not entirely died OUT
Union with the Evangelical Association, German body