The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-01
RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
Yesterdays Session of the General Confer
ence Thinly Attended.

Yesterdays Session of the General Confer
ence Thinly Attended.
New YORK. May 81 Bishop Fitzgerald pre-
sided for the first time at to-day's session of the
Methodist Episcopal General Conference. When
the body was called to order there were not
more than fifteen or twenty delegates in their
places. A large number of the delegates have
returned to their homes.
DR.. ]. H Baylis. of Cincinnati. conducted the
devotional exercises. after which DIR. Kynett
moved that the bishops be requested to appoint
any commissions not already provided for,
which was so ordered.
Chaplain McCabe suggested that the order Of
devotional exercises adopted at yesterdays ses.
sion be printed in the hymnal and ritual.
DR.. Wheeler. who. last night, was ruled out
of order by Bishop Vincent, here arose to .
question of privilege. and wanted the Chair TO
rule on the same point that he raised before
Bishop Vincent
Bishop Fitzgerald declared him out of order
again.
The report providing for the union Of Metho-
dists of all nationalities was then taken up and
adopted.
A minority report opposing the Independence
u u 8DdutSo Cu0EGu Wd8 RE68oAtCQ3 90b W0o
laid on the table.
The next report was that of the committee on
the Dalles mission case. The case Is one whore
the missionary society sold and gave possession
OF certain property At Dalles; Ore, to certain
parties. after the society's rights to the land had
been certified to by the Secretary Of the Interior.
The United States Supreme Court. however, de-
cided that the missionary society Lad no rights
TO the land. The committee, in consequences,
recommended the refunding of the money to the
persona WIN had Maid IL or THAR hairs in four
annual payments without interest. The sum 10
$23, 700. The report was adopted
The committee on missions then reported in
favor Of amending the charter Of the missionary
society 80 that its annual meetings might be
held in any city of the United States. instead of
New York. as the charter now demands. DR..
Buckley spoke in favor of the report,
because. he said. the secular press of
New York gives no attention to the
annual meeting of this society, which distributes
. million dollars annually. More space, he said,
IL given q game OF baseball. In other cities
this would not be so. The press would recog-
nize the Importance Of the meeting, and the
world in consequences would know what it was
doing The report was adopted.
A resolution providing for the appointment Of
o commission TO prepare q plan for the insur-
auce of church property in America, by which
the church should insure itself against loss by
fire, was also passed.
The committee on the episcopacy reported
favorably on a memorial requesting the bishops
TO SO arrange their work as TO visit the confer
ences in the districts contiguous to their respect
i've residences. The report was laid on the table.
At the usual hour for adjournment the time OF
the session was extended so az 20 enable the con
ferenceto finish its business.
AmosS Shinkle. Of Kentucky, called up Q re-
port providing for a change IN the basis oi
representation which would lessen the number
Of ministerial delegates to the General Confer
ence and increase the number of lay delegates.
DR.: George Hare challenged the quorum and
asked for . call of the house. The call was
however. delayed so Al to give the secretary q
chance to read the journal Of the day and have IL
approved, and to pass various complimentary res
~olutions- The call showed no quorum and the
conference was dissolved.