The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-03-29
4 pIan Tor aTell,o,list union.

meets in Nashville early in May
next. This body is TO that branch Of
Methodism what the General Confer.
ence, which met in Cincinnati Two
years ago, is to the Methodist Epis-
copul Church. The Southern Meth
odist papers are now deyoting much
space to the discussion Of questions
that are likely TO come before the
Conference itself. One of the most
important Of these is u plan offered
by Rev. n. Scarrett, D. D., Of ST..
Louis, looking to the reunion of the
two great branches Of Mcthodism,
which divided in 1914, the present
NJ. L. Church, South, then seeding
because Of the continued agitation
of the slavery question By the North.
ern Methodists.
DR.. Scarrett's plan is as follows:
Let the Methodist Episcopal Church
aud the NJ. z. Church South form
but one church, in the United States
of America, but let this union be
effected on the following plan:
81. General Conference Jurisdic-
tions.-Let the whole territorial do
main of the United States, be laid of
into three general conference juris-
dictions-two east Of the Mississippi
River, and one west of the same.
"Let the Church existing in these
several jurisdictions be designated,
respectively, the Nj. E. Church North;
the NJ. &. Church West.
Each jurisdiction to have Cen
eral Conference of its own. Each
General Conference to elect its own
Bishops and General Conference off.
GERS; to make aud to amend its own
Discipline; and to manage the work
within its bounds in its own way
subject, however, 10 the provisions Of
this plan, and to such restrictive
rules as may be agreed upon.
III. Episcopal Jurisdiction.-Each
College of Bishops to have exclusive
jurisdiction within their own bounds;
but all the Bishops to have an equal
and common Jurisdiction in all fields
outside the territorial domain of the
United States; provided, however,
that when the Bishops in one juris.
diction need the episcopal services of
a Bishop from another jurisdiction,
and believe that his services will be
acceptable to their people, they may
invite him to perform the needed
services; in which case the official
acts Of said Bishops shall be as valid
and binding as if done by one of
their own college.
"llI. General Council.-Let there
be a General Council for the whole
Church.
"Said Council to he composed
81. 0fall the Bishops of the Church.
~. OF the Chief Missionary secre-
tary aud Treasurer of each General
Conference. These to be eG.ofieio Sec.
rctaries and Treasnre-s of the Gen.
eral Board Of Foreign Missions.
%. OF one clerical and one lay rep.
resentative for every FIVE hundred
travelling preachers, in full connec.
ton, in each Of the jurisdictions
A fraction of two-thirds of this ratio
to be entitled TO an additional cler-
zeal and hay representative.
NV. Powers and Duties Of the
Councii.-l, Said Council to elect its
own officers, except its cr,oOfcio OIL
GERS.
20. Said Council to constitute n
General Board of Foreign Missions
for the whole Church, and to have
the exclusive management Of said
missions, subject, however. to the
provisions Of Constitution to be
adopted by the General Conference
for its government.
SO. Said Council to be charged with
the duty of providing a common
hymnal for the whole Church.
"a. Said Council TO sit as a court of
umpirage to decide in the following
cases:
"(a) In case the General Confer
ences can not agree touching the
ratio to be fixed as the basis of repre-
sentation in the Council.
"0) In case said Conferences can
not agree touching the Constitution
for the government Of the General
Missionary Board.
"(0 In such matters as may be re-
ferred to its decision by any one or
by all of the General Conferences.
IS Said Council to meet annually
in May.
sc In connection with the annual
meeting of the Council all the bish-
ops, as on college, shall hold a meet.
ing Of their own order
(a) To plant their foreign mission
work, and TO arrange for supplying
the same with all needed episcopal
service.
"G) To pass upon such legal decis-
ions-made officially by the several
Bishops during the preceding year
as may equally concern the whole
Church.
(e) 70 decide such legal questions
and to attend to such business mat
tiers as may be referred TO them by a
General Conference.
HV Trnnsfnre on5 Pap,ova1s A