The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-30
M. E. BISHOPS.
Their Quadrennial Conference.
1t Meets in New York Tomorrow for
the Twenty-f1fth Session.
The Arrangements for Entertain
ment Unusually Elaborate.
The Convention Will 30 Attended
by $50 Delegates.
The Women Will Take Prominent
Part in the Deliberations of tho
Conference.-The Questions
to Be Discussed.

New YoRE, April 29.-The general con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal church,
which meets quadrennially, will convene
in New York on the LIST OF May for its
twenty-ffth session. II met four years ago
in Philadelphia, and in 1850 Cincinnati
was the favored place. The local arrange
ments are unusually elaborate. The Me-
tropolitan opera-house, on Broadway, will
be the scene Of the gathering, and the ele.
CANT hotels in that select neighbor-
hood will shelter most OF the
delegates. The cost Of the build
ing has been provided for by tho
sale Of the eighty-iour private boxes II
contains. Each of these accommodates
from six to ten persons, and the price for
each during the month the body will be in
session ranged from $50 TO 800. Tho con.
ference proper will occupy the parquet,
and there will still remain about 1000
seats which will be open to the public.
This is admirable, and with the exception
of those who think that church which
condemns theatrical performances ought
not TO use an opera-house for the transac-
ton OF i,s most important business, all will
no doubt be satisfied and happy.
The conference will consist Of about
400 delegates. These will come from all
parts Of the country and some Of them
from abroad. In the NJ. j.. church there
are annual conferences 10 the number OF
III Eo,h 20 tt,,go ,,.iil a.. x...,.o..,,t,I L.,
the general conference by from one 10 six
ministers and by one or two individuals
from the laity. Tho conference which
sends two or moro clergyncn sends two
laymen-never more than that number,
while II only one minister goes, but one lay
man can be sent. Among the ministers
the ratio Of representation Is one delegate
for every forty.iiye members OF each an
nual conference, and one for every fraction
OF two-thirdz that number, but that made
the general conference too large, and the
bishops, during this quadrcunium have
submitted 20 the annual conferences
a proposition TO reduce IL, This,
however, has met I'm emphatic
negative, largely, no doub. be.
cause NO many aspire TO DO elected TO
that body. Nor are the ministers 10 be
blamed very much, for Il u undcniably a
great honor 10 go ~ u delegate n the gem
eral conference, not 90 speak OF the adj
vantage II il IN making other dignities pos
sible. Naturally, from the careful manner
in which they are selected, one expects to
find the church's greatest men In her gem
cral conference. But. Of course, all the
great men cannot go, because there arc 10
many OF them.
! Among the lay delegates arc found Gov
crns judges and others who arc prominent
| in civil life, including even n few d-tin-
| guished women. like Mrs. Angie u. New
man. Of Nebraska; Mr. Mary q. Mind, Of
! Minnesota, and Frances &. Willard, Of the
whole country. This, by the way, will be
the first entry Of the good sisters within
the arena Of the gencri conference, the
male species having hitherto had their
own sweet way there, none daring 10
make them afraid, 10 to speak. This, too,
IN spite Of the fact that women consi-
tulc ~ large n majority Of tho church's
constituency. In this new departure some
sec nm act OF tarly justice, and others arc
~ enthusiastic that they think they see In
Il almost the dawning q the millennium.
But the cooler heads, led by DR.. Buckley,
say these women have no right In that
body and will not be allowed there. The
matter has already excited long and
heated discussion IN the Method.
ist press, aud IL will doubtless be- a
bone Of contention within few days In
the conference itself. Doubtless, too. this
conference, like It's Immediate prcdcccs-
sons, will be asked 30 license women 10
preach and 90 provide ioT their ordination,
request % which the church has always,
~ far, responded In the negative. Thus
"thc woman In the case will be con-
spicuous early and Often and the promise
Ia that, rs usual, she will make things
lively.
The general conference IL the only body
IN the Methodist Episcopal church pos.
scssing the powerto MAXI or change any u
It's laws, and considering the numerical
strength OF the church, this one fact ac-
counts abundantly both Tor the honor In.
herring In an election 20 that body and for
the widespread interest irlt IN iis results.
late statistics place the whole number II
travelling ministers ut 0ycr 1900, with
nearly 1900 local preachers, while the 10.
tal membership falls bullitlo below 1000, %
900. IL controls also 300 or mOro Sunday
schools, In which there ore q grand aggrr-
gate Of people, young nsi old, amounting
10 2, l0O,2li. Add 10 thee items the adj.
dihonal facts that this church IL raising
annually for various purposes over sl0,-
100000 that Us book concerns did bust.
ness last year amounting 10 S2,0D,OOO, aud
that Il touches the maasas Of tho pco.
pic 10 an extent 10 which, per-
haps, no other Protestant church
does, and one sees at once, not only
the greatness Of the chun'h itself, but the
great importance, also, Of the body which
has the sole right 10 lcgslaic for u. Usu.
ally though, notwithstanding the great
power inhcring In Il, the general confer
enco Is exceedingly deliberate aud very
slow 10 make changes II looks some.
times, just before the body c0nycncs, as
though Il might 10 transform the organism
Of the church M 10 nndcr u unrccog-
nizablo by even Ia oldest friends. The
coming conference would certainly DO this
II II adopted all the Suggestions volunteered
by correspondents In The church press,
and u would not fall very iar short q
doing Il should Il act favorable upon oil
the propositions that will be- made in duo
time by ita own members. II is safe 20
predict, however, that this gathering VIII
be little lees conservative, u any, than Ne
predecessors have been, nnd that The old
ship viii cnergc from The forensic Tenn
| iaoia ltftuF las(.... l.. 80 a. all lumuurI