New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-24
THE METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE

THE METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE
On the first of tho coming May the General
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
will meet at Philadelphia. Representing as it
does membership of almost eighteen hundred
thousand clergymcn and laymen, this chief
synodical body of the great Methodist denOmi-
nation would attract to itself attention at all
times But the coming conference will DO es-
pecially interesting from the fact that several
new bishops are 10 be elected, in addition to the
appointment of the regular Quadrennal officers.
The meeting of this body is always source of
considerable anxiety to McthOdists for besides
controlling the offices of trust and honor in the
Church, it controls absolutely all legislative
power, there being only six points as to which
its voice alone is not supreme and final. And,
although the conservatism of the Conference is
proverbial, there is always the possibility that
important or even revolutionary measures may
be adopted
At present no burning question is before the
Church. Last fall there was a very general dis
cussion concerning the proposal, which is not at
all new, to modify the itinerant plan so rs to
give the bishops power to reappOint ministers
to the same charge annually as often as tho
best interests of all concerned demanded. The
general debate, and the census of ministerial
opinion which was taken in different localities,
did not reveal any general dissatisfaction with
the present limitation, although minority were
in favor of adding year or two to the present
term, and still smaller minority desired the
limitation removed altogether. This may be the
coming question, but the Philadelphia General
Conference will probably not be called upon to
deal with it decisiyely.
1t is not unlikely that sharp debate will take
place on what is called the "caste policy" in the
South. where In several States the conferences
of the Church are divided on the color line. 1t
is asserted, especially in England, that the
providing of separate schools and seminaries
for white and black pupils, and the existence of
separate conferences and churches, show that
tho Northern Church is receding from the
ground il occupied prior to 1876, and Is bec0m-
inc in reality as much a caste church as Is the
Methodist Episcopal Church South. The Oc-
casion for the discussion Of this subject may be
given by proposal to change tho name and
constitution of the Freedmen's Aid Society, so
that il may serve tho educational needs of both
roccs equally, The last General Conference
cayo II authority 70 assist white institutions
where it could do so without lnjurng the inter-
ests of the cOlored schools. The General Con-
ference may be asked to reunito the divided
conferences on economical as well as on anti
caste grounds, but the sentiment must be very
strong to turn the present current.
1t Is quite certain that there will be an eleo-
ton of bishops. The last General Conference,
four years ago, chose four, Of whom one, Bishop
q q Haven. IL dead, Bishop Peck has passed
away more recently, leaving two vacancies,
while at least two Of tho Board are in poor
health, and the senior Bishop, Matthew Smp-
son, is feeling the weight of years and constant
work. Ii seems to be settled policy not TO
elect fewer than three at one time. Either
three or four now bishops will be made at Phila-
delphia.
More than one-half Of the conferences have
elected their delegates to the General Confer
once. Tho spring conferences, which are
chiefly In the East aud South are meeting one
after another. The elections Of the Baltimore,