Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-05-08

opening Session AT Association
Hall, Phfladeiphfa-Org anixstton
nnd Subsequent PROCEEDINGS,

conference OF the Methodist kpioop l
Church at 3 q. m, Thursday in Assooia-
ton Hall, Philadelphia. About 400 dele
gates were present, representing many
thousands Of constituents in different
parts of the world. Besides Bishop
Simpson there were present on the plat
form Bishops Bowman, Harris, Foster,
Wiley, Merrill, Andrews, Warren, Foss
and Hurst.
The organisation and formAlities rslst-
ing there and the drawing Of seats ooou-
pied the greater part Of the time. The
Rev. DR., d. 8. Monroe OF the central
Pennsylvania conference and assistant
secretary of the last general conference,
at Cincinnati, in 1880, was elected seore-
tary by reclamation to fill the vacancy
occssioned by the death Of the Rev. DR..
George W. Woodruff
The Rev. DR.. Andrew Longacre OF Phil.
adelphia, was next introduced, and de-
livered an address Of welcome to the dele
gates on bt half of the committee of en-
tsrtainment, and the citizens of Phila-
ielphis.
iii closing, DR.. Longscre introduced
his exoellency, Governor Psttisop, who
ID lay delegate from the Philadelphia
Conference. The latter stated that he
not only welcomed the conference on be-,
hall of the city OF Philadelphia, bu: for
the state Of Pennsylvania. He referred
10 the Importance Of the deliberations OF
The conference and the education OF the
children, and stated that the lamp OF
Methodism, which might have been blown
out by mere breath hundred years
ago, WAS now 30 brilliant as to light up
the whole world.
A short response to the welcomes was
then spoken by Bishop Bowman, and
Gen. Clinton b. Fisk of New Jersey,
being called upon, made brief address.
Bishop W. L. Harris OF New York, read
a letter addressed to Bishop Simpson, and
signed by Samuel banks Waddy of Eng
land, in which q Bible Containing the
Initials Of John Wesley, and ssid to have
bsen used by him in his study and for
private use, was presented TO the Amsri.
can Con erence. The book WAS said to
have been obtained from s. Benson, son
of DR.. Samuel Benson, the commentator,
who acquired 1t from Wesley. com
mittee was appointed, on motion Of the
Rev. DR.. James Buckley, of the New York
Christian Advocate, to make a fitting re-
dponse for the courtesy, and to determine
the disposition OF the book.
At the afternoon session the following
two sections Of an amendment on the or
ganizstion of standing committees were
adopted:
l. There shall be 10 standing committees,
as follows On Episcopacy, on itinerancy, on
boundaries,o on revisals, on temporal economy,
| on state OF the church, on book concern, on
missions, on education. on church extension,
on Sunday schools and tracts, on freedmen's
| aid and work in the south.
| 2. The first six of the committees shall
meet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday the
last six on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
The third section OF the plan was then
read. 1t provided that the several dele
gstes should appoint their members to
these committees, but with the rsstrio,
tion that no delegate should BIZ appointed
to more than two committees, which two
committees should meet on alternate
days. 1t was also provided that each
delegation should appoint one of its MEM
bers to the committee on boundaries, but
when a delegation consists of but two
members Gone ministerial and one lay
its member Of the committee on boundaries
may also be appointed to two other COM
mittees and may be permanently excused
from attendance by the committee on
boundaries.
This section gave rise to a lengthy de.
bate, objection being made that 1t would
deprive small conferences of fair repre-
sentation on the committees. A motion
to strike out the Objectionable portion OF
the section was lost by a vote OF l76 to
1855 and the motion to adopt the section
was finally declared carried
A motion to adjourn was then made,
but before it passed ex Governor Bvaps
and others reqnt sted that tue yeas and
nays be called on the motion to adopt
section three. Some discussion took
place as to the proper motion before the
chair, and Bishop Hsrria finally put tue
motion to adjourn, saying that the other
question could be- called up in the morn
ing.
; The conference reconvened at a. m
I Friday and after some preliminary business
Gen. Clinton b. Fiske moved that the con
= ference reconsider Its action OF the previoui
, day relative to the restrictions OF the standing
committees. Bishop Foster declared debatl
, ON the motion to be out of order. The Rev
I. d. Nicely OF Philadelphia, wished to adop
3 the rule of the House of Representatives
I He appealed from the ruling Of the chan
that he was also out OF order. The conference,
sustained the action Of the chair. 1t wa
then decided to reconsider the vote Of Tia,
previous day relative to restrictions by a vot,
, Of l9l to Ill.
. A long debate, interrupted by a discussion
= as to the right OF a delegation from northern
u New York to seats on the floor, followed
? after which vote WAS taken on the propo
sition that mo delegates should be appointe,
to more than two committees, except where
: delegation consisted Of but two members
= when the members required by the rules l.
r the committee on boundaries might be mad
member OF two committees" The yot
stood 1862 yeas to 220 nays. Anothe
resolution that would have had nearly tn
o same effect was also voted down. In dis
posing Of the vexatious problem, a resolution
Ii offered by the Rev. Dr. Mills that seve
9 delegates shall have the privilege to nomiuat
a one member on each committee wa
unanimously adopted.
The delegation from England, CONSISTING
3 OF the Rev. Messrs Young and Whitehead
}. was then introduced.
n 1t was resolved that one delegate from eac
n General Conference district should be al
= pointed to constitute Judiciary committe,
= to which all matters OF ecceslastlcal law
Il rules and appeal shall be referred.
AT the afternoon session special commit
n tee on lay representation was ordered I
~ consist Of SO members, or three from eac
Z judicial district.
IL The Rev. Jean Paul Cook, the fratern,
l. delegate from France and Switzerland, wa
], introduced to the convention by Bishop Bow
man. Two delegates from each district wei
appointed to constitute committee Oh ten
70 perance and constitutional prohibition. apr
70 hibition, said the Rev. j, B.. Graw OF Ne
t. Jersey, "has at last dawned upon the Meth
dist church, and others expressed the belt
"a that the General Conference was in favor ,
a 1t. 1t was then decided to proceed to the 70
nation of the conference committee. II
members Of the committee on Episcopa,
q were elected, with the Rev. DIR, Curry az chai
ID man.
u At Tuesdays session OF the Gener
III Conference Of the Methodist Rpisoop
is ohuroh, in Association Hall Philadelphi
"a the Rev. c. c. McCsbs, b. D moved
" tomorrow NOR Ming be- fixed for u
rd election OF bishops and General COME
enoe officers. He considered that Il
,f- best way to secure right men was to 70
ly without much talking and without pla
" ming or suggestions. The lightning vi
~ be seen to strike in the right place. l
er would not say that the conference wou
n. resort to any such methods as are four
as in political assemblies, but there is
he temptation and he would like to remove
o. The Rev. L b. Nicely of the Philsde
on phia Conference, thought they should
cautious and move slowly to the electio
Id We, cannot said he, know sll about Il
OF brothers suggested uutil all 0ppor.uui
IN is offered to compare notes. We want
es know whether the candidate for Il
I'D episoopsoy hiss a warm heart, which WI
., not BE- chilled when he reaches that lof
IN elevation, and when elevated whether
iii