The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-31
THE METHODISTS.
TENTH GENERAL CONFERENCE
OF TAE CMURCH SOUTH.
Great Interest MRnifested thrO"Sh'
out the Country Important
business ia Be TRANSACTED.

A great deal of liking Is being done
among the Method sta thu oughout the
entire South in regard to the meeting
of the tenth General Conference Of
the Methodist Church South, which
takes place at Richmond, Va, May
9th.
The thirty-eight conferences in the
United States reach from Maryland to
the republic of Mexico, and from
Florida to Washington Territory.
There are two other conierente', enc
partly in Texas and partly in Mexico,
and the other entirely in Mexico, with
Headquarters az the City OF Mexico,
making forty conferences in all in the
Southern Met odist ChWce,
The membership Of tbs church, &C,
cording 10 the last report, received
only a few days since, is nearly one
million persons. 1t has increased 10
this from 100000 persons in 1868, or
over 30 per cent. Besides, there 10
mission work among the Indians and
aparsely settled districts OF the wet
on the borders and in Mexico and in
! Rrazil and Chiua. The General Con-
ference represents the church. Item
ploys nearly 800 missi onariep, and ex-
ponds in the maintenance oil missions
and the performance OF mis-
siop work some 100000 an
nually. It's Church Extension Board,
with headquarters in Nashville, has
been organized only four year,, but IN
that time it has exp lnded abontt l0O,'
600 aud assisted 65U churches, an aver
ace TO each church Of over 1870. The
pnblishing operations are conduct d
AZ Nashville, where the largest print.
ing.house in tho So1th is situated ana
ops rated by the church. IL Is ln'er,,
ested in large number Of education 81
enterprises, tho largest oi whicL Id
Vanderbilt Unworthy.
The General Conference is the chic
legislative body Of a large church ecat
tered over vast domain. 1t lie, in re-
ality, the Congress Of the church, hsv
ING supreme power in forming an'
. maintaining the church polity. II !
4 composed OF delegates elected by eacf
/, Of the annual conferences in proper
, ton to their membership The con
: ference compriseg aboDt 200 members
. divided equally into clerical and lal
q represe natives. Secretary l. q Y
p Lamar is q prominent delegate.
Q The whole work Of The church In 1t
= various departments will be reviewe'
J. AT the conference, and plans devise'
. for future operations. In iaSt, Tn
" whole po'ity Is subj sct to the revision
o Of this body. The discipline OF tn
church will be gone over, and any &C
vitable revisions made. The Presby
terian General Synod, at its last NEE
d ing, passed resolutions In regard to tn
subiect of divorce and the lax ty {
the divorce lava, and this subject wi
n he brought up In all likelihood.
70 resolution was MADE at the last col
10 ference tn change the name from ID
B. Methodist Church South TO the Meth'
g. dat Church of America, but was owe
n yhelmingly defeated, and the matte
SO will proba Oily not be brought up apa't
v, The general drift OF feeling seems
y be cor sgrv6tive, and there is no. Ike
10 10 be any radical changes. The ie'
n lions with the Northern Church a
Ell most cordial, and fraternal do'egat
" from that body, one of whom is Go
ut Foraker of Ohio, will be among the
o. number; and iraternsl delegates VI
III he appointed to the next General 20
le ference Of the Notthern Church.
re The conference iB charged with II
10 duty of electing al the general oflicel
'y and will probably elect five new bls
l OBS. who hold their Office for lii
% three general secretaries and editors
Id the various organs Of the church, b
ay sides filling the various boards, u
oil membership OF all Of which will BIZ !
On visej. The MetbOdists are anx ots
gu know who these will be, especial
the bishops. The bishops will presto
nd over the conference in turn, but q
y. not properly members OF that bod
at They have no right TO vote. Th
We have the privilege Of the hoor, no
er ever, but rarely avail themselves Of
I'D The secretary of the conference,
important officer, is elected alter
py meets in regular session, and is
OF, necessarily Of that body.
oil The conference, which meets or
he every four years, viii last from TWEEN
OF, 10 thirty days. Much interest ,
ad been aroused on account OF the I
Ter portent business ~ be TRANSACTED. 7
:, election Of the bishops have especia
8, attracted q great deal OF attention,
mp there are several candidates for
~ ~ high honor.