, 1880-03-07

As children do,
isnaI u ais. b. and b: '''0 %
Sweet lonyes, prepared by one who knows my
taste,
III nI} l ehea bis Isl precious word is my bequest-
He knoweth Why"
THE hIETHODISTS.
APPROACHING GENERAL CONFERENCE III oH-
c1SNAT1-
Correspondence Netp York Times.
CINCINNATI, March o--The General Confer
euce Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which
bto be held in this city, beginning May !. Is now
50 near that much Of its more important busi-
ness Is already taking shape, and can, in most
cases with strong probability, and in some cases
With almost certainty, be forecast In TACT, the
tpecial, informal conference anteoedent to the
General land to some extent ratifytng) Confer
ence has been In session throughout the length
and breadth Of the United States for two
Of three months, and though its doings are pub
lsbed only in whispers In the ear. and in con-
fdennal talks by the pastors t1reside, at the
Church editors table. at the Church Secre-
tary's desk, and in the Bishops Office. they are
widely and well known to those concerned. The
business Of the Methodist Church affords abund-
ant and excellent opportunity for the publfca-
ton Of such informal proceedings The meet
tngs Of the Book Committee, one Of which closed
In this city three weeks ago. cali together from
al parts Of the country, besides laymen, more
than twenty prominent ministers, Ill, OF nearly
all, members Of the General Conference. Then
there is the annual meeting Of the Bishops, and
the annual missionary meeting, which requires
the attendance OF nil the Bishops, and many
ministerial members from Oregon to Florida,
and which Is attended by nearly all the editors
Of the Church. By these means and many more
the decisions Of the antcipatory informal con-
ference are. made and published.
The Bishops hare no voice in the legislation Of
the Church, except the 'sstill smail voice"
But this is made very penetrating by their per-
sonM popularity and influence. by which they
enabled in the first place to attain episco-
pal place, by their intimate personal acqualnt-
ancc with the delegates, and by their episcopal
power, authority, and prestige. The Inst General
Conference afforded excellent Illustration Of the
power Of the episcopal preference. The Rev.
New FORK, had incurred the dislike Of some total
abstinence zealors in the Church by the temper
ate tone Of bis editorials on their hobby, and he
the improvabiiity of the Methodist economy us
to open the columns OF his paper, as the Cen
esal Conference Of 1876 approached, for the
discussion IN moderate and loyal way OF some
mat economy. Consequently, In the General
Conference OF 1876, he would have had q slight
scattering opposition to his reelection to the
once Of editor Of the advocate, but he would
have been tiumphantly elected. But the
Bishops, whose dislike he had also incurred
really headed, managed, and directed the oppo-
slaou to him; picked out a man to run against
nm. and after one Of the hardest struggles for
their fayorit that the Episcopal Board ever
maoe, they barely succeeded IN electtnR him and
oe1eat1ne Dr. Curry. 1t WAS well known among
NE Initiated, weeks before that Baltimore Gen
s.al Conference, that the Rev: DR.. G =. Fowler
was the Bishops man " for editor OF the 4dvo-
eas, Just asit wus understood for months that the
hes. heY; D. 4 Nelson WAS 1.-THE Bishops man" for
Book Agent.
One Of the most interesting questions to come
mp al the General Conference will be that OF the
NUMBER OF additional Bishops to be made, and
in ndss of i % be
undef four nor over si1. It may be considered
certain that there will not be less than four new
nrs,fpps nsn1ps made, and highly Probable that TIE
possible that pressure of candidates may at
M !ast swell the number to eight; either four or
I've afe the more probable numbers. In any
event, two Of the future Bishops can be named
WIN WIN certainty Il five are elected three can be
aoK named. and If six are elected. four can be
noR aa named. The TWO who are cearta1n Of
aa Pad1t hey { s ys 55e hs heY Semi
ssssaaoarship, ssa and good executive. ability, and
dent aeS of q BE- GSaS vaD D. uRssrs3 FGss Fres3 of
sas WON Eastern Methodists. and New York
8 especially: need not to be told, q man Of whom
1hs Tns church might we'll be proud After these
= ne 4, must M prominent candidates are the Rev Dr.
Z: M y. Warren, Philadelphia; the Rev. Dr.: j. n.
phi,asn phdii,asn; Cincinnati; the Rev. D., A. j. kypett,
Tralaaeiphia; raa the Rev. Dr. q. f. Fowler, New
poE ppork; the Rev: DR.. E. Q. Fuller, Atlanta; the
neSs ne Dr. 3. O: Hayen. Syracuse; and the Rey. ~
Wsxan =. n.rntton; San Francisco. The Rev Dr: 4. ".
"aaf Ct Philadelphia. is brother OF the Pres-
1aent 1 Of boseon University, and has filled the
%ost e'o, influential pnlpits in different New-E
WY wy receive the solid support Of New England
nnq f. nc Middle States He is also well and wide
< Known to the church at large as writer for
ne church periodicals He may be said to stand
y a1alr chance, but he is not generally put third
n N tne list 1t is believed that the struggle Tor
ne third place on the list will be between the
t1fee tnee whose names follow that Of DR.. Warren in
eae lst given above.
~, INC Rev. DR.. J. NJ Walden, junior member OF
ne =, trm OF Hitchcock & Walden, agents OF the
,Sern ,%estern Methodist Book Concern, received the
Conference, in is7s % Of any I Candidate who was
not elected. He is q wcll-known candidate for