Morning journal and courier., 1884-04-29
The General Conference.

The General Conference.
Uhe Great Msthedist meeting in PhiIa-
delphia-Its Functfons-Ths Elsct10ns-
Uncertainty Regarding the New Bish-
Ops-ThOse "Menttensd.''
PHILADELPHIA, April "a.
One week from next Thursday will wit
ness the convening here, in Association Hall,
Of the General Conference of the N. E.
Church. Preparations for this gathering,
which will last full aonth, are now so far
advanced as to make It certain, not only that
the delegation will be we'll provided for, but
thatthe press and people of this city of broth
eriy love will give the body fitting recep-
tion. The statement that has gone abroad,
to the effect that the Methodists here were
wanting in hospitality, was premature. At
this writing the difficulty is not to get homss
Tor the visitors, but TO find delegates enough
to fill the many openings. Still it is felt
here, no less than at Cincinnati, four years.
ago, that the entertainment of body of the
size and Importance of Methodist general
conference ought 10 be paid for out of the
general funds of the church, and doubtless
the conference itself, at its coming session,
will see the matter in the same light. Under
such an arrangement as that, its meetings
could be held anywhere. whereas now they
largest cities. Philadelphia, however, can
well stand the strain. Methodism is very
strong here. There are within the city limits
ninety-four churches of the Methodist Episco-
pal persuasion, having an aggregate member
ship of nearly 80, 900 and an estimated Meth
odist constituency of not less than $50, 900.
The approaching conference will consist of
about 450 members. These will come from
all. parts of the United States and some of
them frem mission stations abroad. The
ninety-nine annual conferences of the church
will all be represented in the ratio of one
ministerial delegate for every forty-five
members, and one for every fraction of forty
Eve. The basis on which the lay delegates
are elected is as follows: Where she annual
conference sends only one minister to the
general conference, it can send only one lay
man, but where more than one minister is
sent, two laymen are sent, the number of
laymen, however, never exceeding two, even
though the ministerial delegation consist, as
1t frequently does, of as many as four or five.
The proportion of lay delegates at the coming
gathering will be about one-third of the whole
number.
ally. 1t has nothing to do with the appoint
ments Of pastors. Its functions are largely
though not entirely legislative. II is the only
body competent to revise the laws of the
church and to originate changes. It is also
the only body to which the bishops are
and no small part of its work con-
sists in revie wing the administration of these
high officials. The business done in the an
nual conferences is also reviewed by this
general body, and indeed it exercises, as its |
name indicates, general supervision over
all the affairs of the denomination, censuring |
and rectifying what may have been wrong in |
the past, and devising ways and means for |
The ehurch's advancement in the future. |
When it 10 remembered that the Methodist |
Episcopal church has nearly two million |
members, that over twelve thousant itinerant |
ministers are enrolled in its conferences. and |
that in addition to the capital invested in its |
immense publishing houses, it owns church |
ind parsonage property to the value of nearly /
$80, 600 600, your readers will see how much |
Of responsibility rests upon the supreme |
tribunal of this great church and will under |
stand why the quadrennial sessions of its gen. |
,ral conference are looked forward to with |
'uoh deep and widespread interest. The |
'hurch represented by this gathering is the |
argest of the Methodist bodies. In all, how
'ver, there are fully three million Methodists |
IN the American continent and in England |
tations, over four millions. These are actual /
members, the Methodist constituency through
'at the world. including Sunday school
ehSlars and those who attend Methodist
erFicss bat are not members. being estimated
t over twenty millions.
The elections are always the most interest
ng feature of Methodist general conference. |
{ is proverbial that when these are over the
tendance wanes and the delegates get
nxious to go home. This may indicate the
of the office-sseking fever among
dethodist ministers, or it may be merely the
development under our peculiar system of
which makes elections so fire.
uent, of one of the weak points in our frail
uman nature. The reader eau take his
hoice of these two views, and your CORE
popdent will keep his own counsels in the
natter, at least for the present. This con-
erence will have to elect or re elect book
gents for New York and Cincinnati secreta-
les for all the great church societies, such
s Missionary, Church extension, Freednnans
i'd, Sunday school union, &C., and editors
or the many publications of the church
7hese are all fat offices, giving the Incumbent
% end of influence and glory, besides putting
ato his pockets handsome salary. 1t is too
arly to venture into the realm of prophecy, /
hough one runs no risk in saying that should
ny of the present incumbents be requested
D step down and out, or have the call to a
igher post, there will be no scarcity of
rethren who would be willing to sacrifice
upon these various positions. It
even said that some are anxious for such
nmolatioB. Such as these, however, are
oomed to disappointment, for the general
difference seldom gives an Office to a man
rho wants 1t badly, and besides, in the present
ase it is absolutely certain that most of the
len now in will be given another term. But
,ore of this anon.
Since the last general conference three
ishops have passed away-Levi Scott, E. q.
Layen and Jesse T. Peck-all grand men, as
Iethodist bishops almost invariably are.
hose deaths have reduced the Episcopal
oTce to eleven, which makes it Certain that
be coming conference will elect several Eew
mes. Not more than six will be chosen nor
sss than three. The last conference elected
our, and for some months prior to the con-
erence it was generally known throughout
he church who three of that number would
%. This time there IL painful degree of
ncertainty surrounding the matter-painful
least to those particularly interested.
eserve my forecasts for a future letter,
aerely giving in this the names of those who
ave been mentioned to me as gentlemen
rho have been talked ef for the Episcopacy
y admiring friends. These are J. FL. Vim
ent the great Sunday school man and Chau-
auqua hero; J K. Walden, book agent at
jincinnati w. Z. Niude, president of Gar
oft Biblical Institute, Evanston, Ill. j. N.
suckley, editor New York Advocate; @. 81. r
'ayne, president Ohio Wesleyan University +;
|. s. Hunt, agent American Bible society
:. s. Hoyt, editor Western Advocate; G. N.
inns, chancellor Syracuse University; G. FL.
'owler, secretary Missionary society; A. j.
,ynett, secretary Church Extension society
V. p MallaHih, of Boston, H. A. Butts,
resident of Drew Theological seminary; o.
l. Tiffany of New York and Jacob Todd of
Tewark, New Jersey. From all I can hear
he western candidates have the best chance
mis- year, owing to the fact that the Episco-
al plums, four years ago, all went to east
rn men. To give the names of all who
rould like to be made bishops would occupy
lany columns The Episcopal bee is sup
osed to buzz in bonnets of all church Off
ers, all presiding elders and thousands of
1e rank and file, but as the Bible says he
nat desirsth the Office of a bishop desireth q
pod thing, suppose We must not think
ard of these brethren.
It is not likely the conference will make
~ radical changes of church law. Despite
| the agitation that has been going on. it
oks as though three years would still stand
the pastoral limit and the presiding-elder
Zip be left unimpaired. Probably, how
7er, provision will be made for the admis-
on of laymen to q voice and vote in the an