The Indianapolis journal., 1884-05-01

less persons who have been engaged in perse-
cutting this great and good man may be inter
ested in learning that while Franks health is
good, he is looking pale and earewon. 1t
may be remarked, in this connection, that
when Minnesota and Iowa are through with
Mr. James his pallor will possibly be increased
THE METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE,
The twenty-fourth General Conference Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church begins its
sessions to-day, in the city of Philadelphia
The first organization of the church in this
country was made in Baltimore, in December,
1874, the meeting being known as the Christ
mas Conference. Thomas Coke and Francis
Asbury were elected the general superintend-
ents of 'the Methodist Episcopal Church in
the United States" The first Methodist meet
ng-house built in this country was the old
John-street Church. in New York in 1768, but
the church proper was not organized until six
teen years later. At that date there were d.
998 members, 1881 of whom were in the
Southern States; there were eighty-four itin-
Grant preachers, and forty-six circuits. The
Methodist Yearbook for 1884 gives the follow
ing statistics: Number Of annual conferences,
SO; number of mission districts, IA; number
of presiding elders, All; number of itinerant
and local preachers, 24,654; number of lay
members, 1,769 534; number of churches 49,
al; value of church property, $40, 238, 0S5;
number of Sunday schools, %, ,503 number of
attendants, 1882 926. During the year 1883
there was raised for ministerial support the
sum of So, 338, 202 and very nearly one mill
ion of dollars for the various correctional
interests of the church.
The present session of the General Confer
ence marks the centennial of American
Methodism, and is, therefore, of especial in
terest to the members of the church, while
the meeting of the highest representative
body of a denomination which can show such
figures as we have quoted at the end of its
first hundred years of organic existence, can
but be of interest to the general public. The
General Conference, which meets every four
years, is the only legislative authority in
Methodism-the annual conferences can make
no laws, and the bishops can only administer
the rules as they are received from this ecu
menical council of the church. The denomi-
nation has the world for its territory, and
there will be representatives from far Cathay
the countries of Europe, and from the United
States. 1t is delegate body composed of
one ministerial delegate for every forty-fve
preachers in each annual conference and
two lay delegates for every conference sending
at least two clerical delegates The feature of lay
representation is a somewhat recent innova-
ton, but has been part of the makeup of the
last two General Conferences. The vote of the
body is taken as an entirety, as rule, though
a vote of the separate orders can be
demanded and had The Office
of bishop is not an ORDER though the
persons selected to that position are specially
set apart or ordained to their work. The dis
ciplinary title is general superintendent.
There are at present ten members of the board
of bishops Simpson, Bowman, Harris, Foster,
Wiley, Merrill, Andrews, Warren, Foss, and
Hurst Three of the board have died since
the last meeting of the conference in Cincin-
nati-Levi Scott, the venerable senior bishop,
and Bishops Z. 0. Haven, and Jesse T. Peck.
Bishop Scott was elected in 1852, Bishop
Bishop Simpson, the present senior bishop,
was ordained in 1852 and between him and
Bishop Bowman who was elected in 1872,
there are no survivors. Bishop Simpson is in
falling health; his effectiveness naturally
lessons as the years increase, and the enhanc-
ing demands of an efficient superintendent
Of the vast work of the church will require
the strengthening of the board by the choice
of, possibly, at least four new bishops at this
session There are many names mentioned
in connection with the high and responsible
office, but the conference has been particular,
hitherto, to pass over those who are known to
be seekers for the place, and have taken men
whose talents, service and position have
commended them to the almost universal
suffrage of the church This rule will.
doubtless, be adhered to now. Among those
most probable to be chosen is Rev. w. X
Ninde, formerly of Cincinnati, now presi-
dent of Garrett Biblical Institute, at Evans
ton Rev DR.. w. F. Mallalieu, of Boston,
received very strong support in the last
conference, and his election is quite probable.
por. Dr. Si,ns- fo11anarlv of tllis State and