Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-05-02
THE METHODISTS.
Meeting of the General Conference Of
the Methodist Church North at
Philadelphia.
Bishop Bowman Elected Chairman-Ad-
dresses Of Welcome by Gov. Pat
tison and DIR. Longacre.
Nothing Done Beyond Adopting a Plan
for the Formation Of the Va.
riOus Committees.

PHILADELPHIA, May 1.-The General
Conference of the Methodist Church was
largely attended. Bishop Simpson, and
Drs. Vernon, OF Italy; TAYLOR, of Lexing-
ton, Ky; Trunbull, of Ohio, and Monroe
participated in the opening exercises.
Bishop Bowman was chairman. Addresses
of welcome were delivered by DIR. Long
acre and Gov. Pattison. Bishop Harris
presented, on behalf OF a descendant of
BersoD, the Commentator Bible used by
Wesley. A committee was appointed to
prepare a response. After the drawing
for seats, recess was taken until the at
terno6n.
On reassembling devotional exercises
were conducted by DIR. Littleton F. Nor
gan, OF the Baltimore Conference.
The Rev. DR.. j. NJ. Buckley, of the New
York East Conference, offered plan for
the appointment of the following standing
committees. First, on Episcopacy; second,
on Itineracy; third, Boundaries; fourth,
Revisal; fifth, Temporal Economy sixth,
State of Church; seventh, Book Concern !;
eighth, Missions ninth, Education; tenth,
Church Extension; eleventh, Sunday
Schools and Tracts; twelfth, Freedman's s
Aid and Work in the South. The plan was
adopted.
The plan prepared by Bishop Andrews
and submitted by the Rev. DR.. Buckley
relative to the constitution of the COM
mittee, gaxe rise to lengthy debate. 1t
provides that the several delegations shall
nominate their members to these COM
mittees, but with conditions that no dele
gate shall be appointed to more than two
committees, except as hereinafter pro-
vided, which two committees shall NEE:
as above provided on alternate days.
Each delegation shall appoint one
of its members to the Committee on
Boundaries, but when the delegation
consists of but two members, one minis
terlal and one lay, its member of the Com
mittee on Boundaries may also be ap-
pointed to two other committees, and may
be permanently excused from attendance
by the Committee on Boundaries.
The Rev. John d. Hammond, of Nevada,
offered an amendment striking out all
after the words "as heretofore, the several
delegations shall appoint their members
to these committees" This would virtu-
ally remove all condition.
The Rev. Theodore l.. Flood, of Erie
Conference, said the plan suggested by
DR.. Buckley gave the larger conferences a
decided advantage over the smaller.
Judge George g. Reynolds, of New York
East Conference, wished to know on what
foundation the claim rests that two men
should have as much power as ten.
The Rev. Leroy \. Bill, of Central Ohio
Conference, said the right obtained in
Methodism, that the most numerous dele
cations have, by virtue of their largeness,
superior influence. The only way is to
change the basis..of representation, and
then guard strictly annual conference
lights.
The Rev. DIR. r. w. Hatfield, of Rock
Riuar hn
only way out OF the H, difficulty is change
cations equal representation in the Church
The amendment of the Rev. Hammond
was defeated-176 to lS5-and the plan as
su omitted adopted.
Adjourned until 8 o'clock tomorrow
morning