Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-05-25
Methodist Episcopal General Confer

Methodist Episcopal General Confer
enee.
PHILADELPHIA, May 24.-In the Meth
odist General Conference the fraternal adj
dress of the Irish Methodist Conference
of 1888 was presented.
The Rev. j, H. Caldwell, of Wilmington,
obtained suspension of the rules to pre-
sent a resolution. In reaching the OBJ
iective portions OF his paper, the Rev.
Mr.. Caldwell read the preamble as fol-
lows:
WHEREAS, The Rev. William Taylor,
who was elected by more than two-thirds
of the members of the General Confer
ence as their solemnly consecrated Mis-
sionary Bishop OF Africa, has been in
vited to occupy seat on the platform
with the other bishops consecrated at the
same time and by the same ceremony,
but declined the invitation, we are there
fore constrained to feel a painful sense of
the peculiarity of the position he occupies
in this body. 1t is singular position,
eccentric, anomalous and unlike anything
that has occurred in the 100 years of our
HISTORY.
At this junctnre the Rev. w. II. Oler
moved that the regular order be taken up,
and, by an overwhelming vote, the rev.
erend gentleman from Wilmington was
ruled out of order.
That part of the resolution which he
was not permitted to finish had for its OBJ
ject the removal of the Limitation to the
episcopal jurisdiction of Bishop Taylor
as Missionary Bishop Of Africa, and plac-
ing that bishop on an equal footing with
the other bishops.
An animated discussion followed upon
| the report of the Committee on Lay Repre-
sentation in the Annual Conference. The
report provides for lay representation
in the annual conference on a basis of
| one layman to every six pastoral charges
or presiding elders OF the district, and one
| for every portion of two-thirds, to be
chosen by district stewards meetings,
! laymen to be entitled to equal rights with
ministers, except to vote for ministerial
| delegates to the General Conference, on
| the admission OF ministers to the annual
| conference, or on the character of mem.
bers.
After an extended debate vote was
taken on the adoption of the report and it
was overwhelmingly defeated.
The report from the Committee on Lay
Representation provided for an equaliza-
| ton of the ministerial and lay representa-
| ton in the General Conference by reducing
| the ministerial representation from one in
every forty-five to one in every sixty, and
allowing one lay delegate to every minis
| terial delegate.
Debate ON the subject was general.
The Rev. J. NJ. Buckhannon moved to
| refer the whole matter of lay and ministe-
| rial representation to special commission.
Carried-17l to 140.
The report of the committee on the sub
ject of the entertainment of delegates to
the General Conference of 1888 was next
presented. 1t provided for the appoint
ment of committee to make all arrange
ments for the next General Conference,
which, as suggested, should be held in the
Peoples church in Boston, or wherever a
majority of the commission should deter
mine. The Rev. DIR. Buckley favored the
i report, excepting that portion fixing on
1 Boston as the next meeting place. AS the
l General Conference only meets every four
years, he was of the opinion that it
| should convene in each large city but once
/ in every half-century. 1t met thirty-two
years ago in Boston, therefore some other
place should be favored in 1888.
The Rev. j. w. Hamilton, pastor of the
Peoples church of Boston, extended to
/ the conference a hearty invitation to meet
| there at its next session. Laid ON the
/ table.
The report was then adopted-117 to
los.
Adjourned.