The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-29
SOUTHERN METHODISAI.
THE COMING GENERAL CONFERENCE
Grand Preparations Al Nashriile-Who VIII DO
PreSht-Ths proposed Union Of tho Churches, 4
North aud SOuth-The Prominent Divlues
Who are Named for Dlshoprie,. ID

PrsuIt-Ths proposed Union OF tho Churches,
North aud South-The Prominent Divlues
! Who are Named for Dlshoprles.
Special Correspondence OF the ln,cl,Iycneer.
Nashville, TEHS, April 97.-rho Gen.
cral Conference Of tho NJ. L. Church South,
Which convenes in This city on Wednesday
next, will hold its sessions in the Hall OF
Representatives ut tho Capitol. 1t will he
delegated body, consisting Of representa-.
tivcs from the forty.nine annual confer.
enccs Of the church. Each annual con
ference sends 10 tho general conference
one clerical delegate for every ti,irty.six
members andan equal numbcr 0! lay dele
gatcs. This general conference meets quad.
rcnnally. Being the only body IN the
Church which possesses legislative powers,
and having In It's gil. larEennmbrr Of in.
portan. conncctional officers, such as Dish.
oprics, cditorshps, secreiaryships, etc, its
assembling is always looked forward to
viii, interest, and many, outside Of the
fold Of Mcthodisn, feel IN anxiety to learn
beforehand, il possible, what It is likely TO
do.
10 the present conference peculiar i'll
tcrcst attaches owing to two special facts,
which arc that it is positively certain that
the body will make several additions to the
episcopal force OF tho Church, and that It
is certain, also, to give some attention to
tho moo,cd question OF union with the
Northern church, so.caicd.
The conference will be called to order by
the senior bishop Of tho Church, Bishop
r,irc, should the health OF that veteran
allow Of his being present, shonld no not
te there, the bisl,op rankin: next TO him
in seniority will do the donors Of tho oc-
easion, the other bishops taking their turn
in the chair Of the conference according to
the same principle. DR.. Thomas 0. Sum-
mers will be elected secretary and he will
bring to the discharge OF the duties OF tia,
Office long md honorable experience, for
he has been secretary OF every gen.
eral conference siuce tho orsauiza.
ton OF the Church. Among the
delegates will be found m unusually large
proportion OF what may be called young
lsh" men, showing that, in Church rs in
State, the order now is voting uIcn to the
front" There will also, however, be y fair
representation Of the gray.hared worthless
who have come down to us from II former
generation, prominent anon: whom will
be, Dr. James i. Evans, OF the North
Georgia conference and Dr. J. &. McFerrin,
OF this city, both OF whom were in the
stormy conference OF 1911 and have had Il
seat and place OF honor in every general
convocation since that time.
Nashville possesses peculiar facilities for
the entertaining OF general conference.
It is in Il sense the headquarters OF South
! crn Method!sm, Tor here are located both
its publishing house and its chief uluc,,.
tionaI institution, Vanderbilt university.
The spirit Of hospitality prevailing here is
another helpful element ut such II time,
and us the best illustration OF this spirit it
may be mentioned, on the authority OF the
| entertainment committee, that the diff
emily in providing for the conference has
been, not to get places enough for the de-
lavates, but delegates and visitors in suiIi.
cisut Number to supply the many places
offered.
Inquiry anon. the leading men here,
added 10 some general knowledge Of the
affairs Of the Church. variants the pre-
diciion That the approaching conference
will he n very conservative body. Me,ho.
dist general conferences arc always con-
sentative in action, thoslt exceedingly pro.
liic OF wind. There is ut such gatherings
any amount oitalk, and about every other
delegate comes with his pockets full OF
resolutions to amend tho discipline; but
mos. OF these proposed reforms are
s.raugled i'll committee and, with
n very few exceptions, those es-
Gaping this first destruction are
oaly spared Tor Tor Il more public and dig
nilied slaughter ut the hands OF the confer
ence itself. Readin: the Church papers i'm
mediatciy prior to the meeting of Il gcn-
eral conference, one not acquainted with
such matters would marvel ut the number
and radical character OF the changes pro.
posed, but when the body has adjourned
all this discussion appears in its true light,
as muchadoabout nothing" and the won
der then is why the mountain laborcd so ter
riticaliy TO bring forth so small Il tnottsc.
The coming conference will follow the ex-
ample OF its predecessor in making haste
slowly to effect radical alterations in the
Church's laws or polity; indeed, no s,tclt
changes are demanded, or would even be
tolerated by tho mass Of the Churchs mem.
bership; and, because OF this prevailing
spirit OF satisfaction witt, the Church IT'S it
is, and OF the feeling Of peace and harmo-
ny which is abroad, it is confidently ex-
pccted that the session Of the approaching
conference will be III unusually short one,
sone believing that it will finish its work
and be ready 10 adjourn sine die within
two weeks. rr
The subjects which will engage the seri-
Gus attention Of the conference are Church
extension, the liquor question, the cx-
t~ndiuy OF increased aid to the six million
negroes OF the Scath. the question: Of drop.
ping the suilix South from the name OF tho
Church, The election OF bishops and the
different measures that may be introduced
looking toward increased fraternity and
final union with the N. i, Church.
On the liquor question some action is
likely to be taken atrmatory OF the views
Of those who hold that the church should
stand clearly committed against, not
simply the use Of liquor us 4
beverage, but its manufacture and
sale. Whether this action will take the
form oil an amendment OF the general rnie
on the subject, Or will merely give more
rigid Interpretation to the rule as it now
stands, is uncertain, but that one or the other
Of these courses will be pursued, is from
all indications settled fact In the first