Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-05
NJ. E. GENERAL CONFERENCE.
How it is Constituted Subjects it will
Consider, and What it is Likely to Do.
Icorrespondence OF the RECORD UsIos.l

Correspondence OF the RECORD UNIoS.l
CINCINNATI, April %, 1880.
The General Conference of the NJ. E.
Church. which convenes in Pixies Opera
House on Saturday next will be one of the
most important religious gatherings of the
decade. This Conference meets quadren-
nially and remains in session about a
month It is composed of delegates
elected by the Annual Conferences. There
are now in the Church SO Annual Confer
ences. Each of these sends to the Cen
eral Conference one or two lay delegates,
according to its size, and ministerial dele
gates in the ratio of one to every forty
five members of the Annual Conference
and one also for every fraction of two
thirds that number. The total
NUMBER OF DELEGATES
Elected to attend the Conference which
convenes on Saturday will reach about 400,
of which, of course, the large majority will
be ministers. The General Conference has
supreme authority in all matters of church
polity, and is, indeed, the only body in the
church that can make or mend any law of
the church. 1t also rests with this Con-
ference to fill by election the important
offices of the church. such as the Episcopal
office, the editorial chairs, the book agen-
cies, the missionary secretaryships, etc.
Peculiar interest attaches to the approach
ing Conference, owing to the probability of
its having to elect several new Bishops, as
well as on account of the important
changes it will be asked to make in several
features of the church's economy. 1t is
supposed by many that this Conference
will modify some of the doctrines of the
church, notably that which insists upon
the eternal punishment of those who die
in sin. But the wish is father to the
thought in this case, since the doctrines of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, are, like
the laws of the Modes and Persians, unal-
| terable
THERE Is NO POWER
In the Church or out of it that can change
the doctrines under any circumstances.
The General Conference, with the concur
renee of the Annual Conferences, can effect
changes in other directions, but not in this.
Nevertheless, doctrinal matters may with
propriety be discussed by the General Con-
ference, and in view of the widespread laxity
of the times, and especially as hereticalviews
are said to be entertained by some high in
authority in the Church, such matters
certainly ought to come to the front, and
ought to elicit from the Conference some
decided expression of opinion. As to
+1,o, ,o44 H. I'LL l.
its Episcopal list, that is matter to be
decided by the Committee ON Episcopacy
to be appointed ON the opening day of the
Conference. The Church now has nine
Bishops. Of these nine one is already
practically superannuated, and several
others, owing to age and infirmity, are
rapidly nearing the same point of ineffici-
ency. Three Bishops Ames and
Haven-have died since the last General
Conference, and should as many pass away
during the next four years, the coming
Conference in the meantime having made
no addition to the list, those remaining
would be in danger of being killed by over
work. So, at least, think those specially
| interested.
ALL THE PROBABILITIES
Point to the election by this Conference of,
at the lowest, four Bishops. The number
may be as high as six, but it will not be
more than that. Some reckless brethren,
who go in on the principle that it is not
possible to have too much of good thing,
are clamoring for the election of as many
as twenty-five new Bishops. But the
prayer and hope of your correspondent are
that the General Conference spare us such
an infection as this, which 1t no doubt
will. OF the changes which the Confer
ence will be asked to make in the polity
of the Church, the most important is that
looking toward an extension of the limit
of the pastoral term. The longest period
I a Methodist minister can labor in the same
field is three years. Originally the limit
was six months then it was extended to
year then to two years, and finally to
three years, as it now stands. Thus the
Church has always gone slow in this direc-
ton, and it may be relied upon to do the
same in the present crisis. Those desiring
an extension say that it takes a minister
the best part of three years to lay his
foundations, and that in large city charges
ministers in that length of time scarcely
get well acquainted with their congrega-
lions. But in opposition these theories are
the facts: first that many ministers man
age in three years to accomplish a great
deal of good secondly, that as rule there
is more life in churches which have fire.
quent changes of pastors than in those
which keep one man for many years and
thirdly, that most churches are quite
ready for change at the end of three
years, and frequently sooner. The Con
ference, should it make any change at this
time, will hardly extend the limit beyond
five years, and, even if it does that, may
make the extension applicable only to large
cities This Conference will also be asked
TO MAKE SOME MODIFICATION
In the Presiding Eldership. One PROPOSE.
ton that will come before it will ask for a
reduction in the number of Elders, to be
brought about by the enlargement of the
districts. Another will ask that the Pre-
siding Elders be elected by the Conferences
instead of, as now, appointed by the Blsh-
ops. This latter proposition is very rea-
sonable. At present, Methodist preachers,
though almost entirely at the mercy of the
Presiding Elders as regards their fields of
labor, have still no voice in deciding who
shall fill that important office. This prop
osition to make the Eldership elective will
be opposed by the lay class in the General
Conference, for the reason that under that
arrangement the laity would have less in
fuence in the making of the appointment.
Presiding Elders are now responsible only
to the Bishops and Churches, whereas,
should they be elected by the annual Con-
ferences, they would then have to defer
more to the wishes of their brethren in the
ministry. What will be done in this mat
ter it is impossible to foretell with GER
tainty. Probably, however, to the morti-
fcation of many who would like change,
the proposition will be defeated, as it was
four years ago. Another measure to be
submitted to the Conference is one asking
for the introduction of
LAY REPRESENTATION
Into the Annual Conferences. This will
come up in the form of a report from a
committee appointed to consider the mat
ter. This committee will recommend the
introduction of lay elements into these
bodies, but will advise the limitation of
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