Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-03
THE EVENING STAR.
NAV a ISS0.
Methodist General Conference.
I4HaRr NE lIrRps NJ px ca,es.nrn.n

IMPORTANT MATTERS TO BIZ CONSIDERED
The Methodist Episcopal general conference
began its quadrennial session saturday morn
ing IN p1Ses Opera House. Cincinnati. Bishop
delivered by Bishop Wiley, which was re-
Sponded To by Bishop Simpson. The delegates
to the conference filled all the Methodist
pulpits In Cincinnati yesterday. as Well as
some Others. The conference will be in
Session one month. II will meet at O'Clock
each morning, and adjourn for the day at
noon. The afternoon will be devoted TO CON-
mlttee work. Among questions most widely
agitated, and likely 10 receive unusual atten-
ZION during the conference, is the question OF
Super1ntendency, relating TO presiding elders.
AS matters are at present, the Office of a bishop
Is tor life. This, however. is wholly matter
vi usage. There is no disciplinary provision for
IL, ana beyond question the General conference
mas me power to make whatever changes IL
pIeases In the length Of the episcopal term
Ihere is much said and more felt on this mat
abo a for though probably noise was made
related 10 this is the presiding eldership aues-
ton. According to present usage but not ac-
cor0lD" 10 original practice the bishop select
and appoint the presiding elders In defence
OF THIS IL is argued that their work is chiefly
episcopal, or as oyerSeerS. aud as the bishons
ale responsible for this work, It is only Just
that they have entire control OF IL. To this Il
Is replied that the Office OF the presiding elder
is more than merely pastoral, or even super
ySonal that he has more than any other TO
do with arranging the appointments OF the
preachers and therefore those preachers ought
to have say in determining who shall I'LL that
Office. Before the organization Of the dele gated
general conference this question agitated the
church and sometimes nearly rent her, and
still 1t Will not down. Once-in lS20-the
changes were carried on by decisive vote; but
Joshua Soule, who. as bishop OF the Metlo-
Dist, Episcopal church south, died few years
ago, mad Just been elected bishop and refused
TO be ordained unless the conference should re-
cede from Its action on presiding elders. Foil
lshly enough, subsequent resolution was
passed suspending the regulation for four
years; and finally, at the behest of one who
twenty years later, like his friend, General Lee,
In 1861 followed his section into secession re-
pealed the entire regulation. IL is doubtful IL
the coming conference Will do much to change
lne present order. as there are altogether too
many OF those officers in its make-up-probably
tW0thlrdS OF the clerical members being pre-
siding elders 1t is inevitable that this charge
must come, and 1t may come soon.
Another question which will undoubtedly re-
celEe full share OF attention is the extension
OF the limit OF the pastoral term. Three years
Is now the longest time that any man may re-
main continuously pastor OF a church. Some
are warmly In favor of removing all limit SO
that the bishop may reappont the same man
10 the same church as long as II is mutually
DESIRED a nj recently suggestion first elabor,
much sympathy and may meet with favor I'm
The conference.-the permit the bishop on the
concurrent recommendation OF the quarterly
conference OF the pastoral charge by a three
1ourthS vote and of the annual conference by
tWo-thlrdS vote to retain man in the same
place for period not exceeding six years..
After flfty years OF agitation, in 1872 lay dele
cation was introduced into the general confer
ence. Now the demand Is for laymen to have
seats In the annual conference. The drift OF
the age seems to favor the measure, but it is
not likely that the conference will fail TO go
Slowly and mature well whatever is finally de-
termined.
The two conferences in the mission field OF
lndla at recent Joint session In Allaahabad
agreed to organize Delegated General Con-
terence OF ethe Methodist Episcopal church in
india, TO be composed on the basis of one
aaaS Iof every nve IN the annual confer.
direction, but whether it may not be little
premature is a wide, open question. They ask
the General Conference for Endorsement OF their
their protege. This will probably precipitate
lively discussion, If not 10 open conference at
least In the committee on missions; OF nearly
100 members. 1t is likely that there VIII be a
warm debate In both, as one party favors the
Universal Methodist Catholic church under one
great organization, while the other thinks it
wiser for each grand national division to or
game separately and according to the peculiar
necessities of the case, only waiting
until sufficiently strong to insure success.
During the last quadrennium three members
of the board of bishops have died. 1t Is thought
probable new ptsbops will be chosen. In the
eas st the candidates most freely mentioned are
DR.. FoSS, of Wesleyan University, Middletown
Ct; DR.. Hurst, OF Drew Theological Seminary,
Madison, \. j.; DR.. Warren, pastor Of Arch
Street NJ. E. church, Philadelphia and DR.. Fow-
Ter, present editor OF the Christian Advocate.
In the west, DR.. Walden, one OF the agents OF
/, the Western Book Concern in Cincinnati,
seems " stand among the tirst: Dr. Fuller, Of
way worthy man from ~. na south. DR.. Reid,
corresponding secretary of the Missionary 3d.
c1ety, and score OF others are also mentioned.
DR.. Curry will succeed DR.. Fowler as editor OF
the Advocate, in case the latter is elected bishop
The conference is composed OF 25o clerical and
100 lay delegates.