Morning journal and courier., 1880-05-01
cSunrnal and Courier.
Saturday Morning, May 1, 1880.
THE GENERAL CONFERENCE.

| The highest legislative body of the Metho- dist Episcopal Ohurch-the General Confer
 ence-begins it's session in Cincinnati to-day | This conference is now composed of both
 clerical and lay delegates. Until 1872, how 1 ever, it was made up of clerical delegates on-
 ly, and these were elected by the annual con | ferences, of which ministers alone are mem- bers. At first the ratio of representation was l to 5. This has been changed from time to | time, as the growth of the Church has seemed to demand, until now the ratio is 1 to 45, | fraction of two thirds entitling 8 conference to an additional delegate It is also provided that every conference, however small, shall be entitled to one delegate. Each annual conference is entitled to two lay delegates, provided that when such a conference has but one clerical delegate but one layman shall be admitted. The two orders deliberate and vote together, ordinarily, yet one third of either may demand a separate and concurrent vote in order to the passage of a measure. The General Conference has full power to make rules and regulations for the Church, subject 10 few restrictions, which prevent any change of the Articles of Religion CT of the basis of representation in that body of the ministerial or lay delegates, any change that should do away with Episcopacy or destroy the plan of the itinerant general superintend- enoy that would revoke the general rules, abolish the privilege of trial and appeal, or divert the proceeds of the Book Concerns or the Chartered Fund from the relief of worn out preachers. Within these restrictions the T<,, Lna roIo, x< alter or amend.
 Ninety. five annual conferences are to be represented in the General Conference which meets to day. Eighty eight of these are in this country, one in Germany and Switzer- and, one in Norway, one in Sweden, one in Liberia, two in India. and one in China. Several of the foreign conferences have elect ed no Jay delegates. Foo-chow conference has elected Wong Sen Chi-ong, with Wong Se-oo Che ong as a reserve, but neither of them is expected to be present. The North India conference has elected Ram Chundra Bose, who expects to be present as the first Hindoo to have seat in this high ecclesiasti- cal court. The whole number of delegates elected is 399 clerical, PAS lay, 151. The largest number of clerical delegates from orc conference is seven, from the Genesee con ference. Thirty-two conferences have but one clerical delegate each.
 Many important questions are expected to come up for action during the session. Among these is the question of superintendency. Some think the term of Bishops should not be for life. Notifications of the Presiding Eldership are also desired Now the Bishops select and appoint the Presiding Elders. In defence of this it is ar- gued that their work is chiefly Epis copal or as overseers, and as the Bishops are respon- sible for this work it is only just that they have entire control of it. It is also said that the Bishops, by the law of the Church, fix all the pastoral appointments, and therefore these should not be an exception. To this it is replied that the office of the Presiding Elder is more than merely pastoral or even supervisional; that he has more than any other to do with arranging the appointments of the preachers and therefore those preach CTS ought to have say in determining who shall fill that office; and further, that when the Presiding Elder is designated he should be given an authoritative voice in connection WILL lu6 DlbAOp III HALLE lAo aPPoAhSAAoaIs' Other questions likely to come up are The extension of the term of pastoral service on the same charge; the ordination of women the introduction of lay delegates into the an- nual conferences, and giving those bodies some legislative powers; and Ecumenical Methodism.
 Much interest is of course felt concerning the number of Bishops to be elected and who they will be- Three Bishops have died since the last meeting of the General Conference, and there are now only nine. Two of these, moreover-Bishops Scott and Simpson-are quite enfeebled. It is considered probable that five or six new Bishops will be chosen. Among those prominently "mentioned' for election is Dr. Foss, of Wesleyan University, Middletown.
 Connecticut Methodists have g special in terest in one matter expected to come be- fore the Conference, and that is the proposed organization of the whole State ofConnecticut into one Conference. It is claimed that such unifcation of Connecticut Methodism would be of great benefit to both the Church and the State. The New York East and Provi- dence Conferences will have to lose heavily in territory and churches if this is done. It is said, however, that the Providence Conference will not oppose the change.