Wichita eagle., 1888-05-02
A NOTABLE GATHERING.

The general conference of the Method
list Episcopal church, body which
meets quadrennially, began its session
in the city of New York yesterday. 1t
will be presided over by the eleven
bishops in rotation in the order of senior
ity. Their names and order are the fol-
lowing: Thos. Bowman, Randolph S.
Foster, Stephen NJ. Merrill, Edward 6.
Andrews, Henry w. Warren, Cyrus D.
Foss, John F. Hurst, William x. Ninde,
John NJ. Walden, Willard F. Mallaleu
and Charles H. Fowler. After the cleo
ton and conservation of new bishops,
they assist in presiding till the close of
the session of the conference. The gen.
eral conference is representative body
made up of ministerial and lay delegates.
The ministerial delegates are elected
from the membership of the annual con-
ferences, of which there are now about
100. The basis of this representation is
one delegate for forty-five members Of
the conference, and when there is frac-
ton of two-thirds of forty-fve that frac-
ion is entitled to delegate.
The'lay delegates are elected by the
lay electoral conference, which is rep
resentative body of the laity, within the
bounds of each annual conference. The
lay electoral conference meets once in
four years, mainly for the purpose of
sending lay representatives to the gen.
eral conference. Each electoral con-
ference being allowed to send two lay
men. when the ministerial conference
covering the same territory sends two or
more ministerial delegates. In the gem
eral conference the ministers and lay
men sit as one body, having coordinate
powers i'm all matters of business and
voting. Should any important measure
be brought before the body, either class,
ministerial or lay, upon application of
one third its number, the body divides
and the vote is taken separately; and
no measure can become law without
passing both branches Of the conference.
The body thus composed is Legislative
congress, quite equal in number 10 the
congress of the United States and larger
than any. state Legislature in the United
States, being the representative body of
twelve thousand ministers and 100000
members, with the largest educational
and publishing institutions of any church
in America. 1t legisIates for the world.
Every state and territory in the union is
included within the bounds of the Meth
odist Episcopal church, while its mission
work extends to Mexico, South America,
Africa, Europe, Bulgaria, India, Japan,
Corea and China, from which countries
representatives will be seen and heard on
the floor of the general conference.
Probably no previous general confer
ence had more important questions to
settle than will come upin the present
session. During the present quad
rennium the Methodist Episcopal church
has had greater growth than ever be-
fore during the same length of time
Millions of people i'll all parts of the
| world are looking anxiously TO this
conference TO see if it will be
equal to the demands of the
work in all parts of the great field. The
ptpSiSooANC o<tf tk4sit hitt Nttl VI
of Let well enough alone, will not stif-
flee. \ thing is not well enough with
anything less than its best. Very i'm
portant questions must be met and acted
upon. There is great interest in know
ing whether a progressive policy Is to
prevail. The crib for childhood. il is
urged must not be continued as the bed
stead for manhood. Methodism has
outgrown her swadling clothes. Lay
representatives in the annual conference:
the election of presiding elders by the
conference; the time limit to the pastoral
term of service: the recognition of pre-
| siding elders rs members of the bishops
cabinet; the status of missionary bishops:
the authority q trustees over the care
Of churches. other than religious services:
qlIadrennial residences of bishops In for
eign work: the right of women To seats
! in the general conference: shall the
church make distinction between The.
meaning OF laity and laymen: These
and other great questions Will demand
the careful consideration Of the general
conference now IN session.