The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-02
THE METH0DISTS.
General Conference In Session.
The Vast Auditorium of the Met
ropolitan Theatre Filled.
Bishop Bowman Presides and Con-
ducts tho Exercises.
He Addresses the Convention,
Telling of the Duties Before it.
The Ministerial Delegates Number 2s9,
Lay l76 and Six Women Are
Among the Reserve Delegates
Other Nations Represented.

Nrw YouK, May 1.-The general confer.
ence Of the Methodist Epicopal church
opened its session this morning in tho
Metropolitan op9a-house, Long before tho
appointed hour the vast auditorium COM
menced 10 oil up with the ministerial dele
gates. The bishops occupied seats on tho
stage. The galleries were crowded with
ladies and gentlemen, and the boxes with
the wives OF delegates and their friends
The proceedings were opened with prayer,
singing and the reading of the scriptures.
Bishop Foss read passage from the Bible
and the Rev. DIR. Quinn, Of Wisconsin, de-
livcrcd the prayer. Bishop Bowman, the
senior Bishop, presided and conducted tho
exercises.
At the conclusion OF the religious exer-
ciscs Bishop Bowman said: ave are at
this hour IN the presence Of new surround
ings which call Tor new movement In tho
election OF delegates. At iirt each candi-
date presented his credentials in person,
and In ordinary cases this simple method
of procedure was satisfactory; but as the
movement spread and the number OF dele.
gates increased, greater supervision and
care became necessary, especially when
information Is received from reliable
resources that a number of those present
ing themselves as delegates are known 10
he ineligible. The list oi candidates this
year is u largo one and contains many
names whose eligibility * not yet saiisfac-
torily established, and u number oi pro-
tests have been lodged In our hands 10 DO
dealt with by tho conference when tho
question Of the election Of the candidates
Is In order Our general RUGS provide that
the names of tlg parties challenged shall
not be called until u quorum oi unchal-
lcngcd delegates shall bc found to be pres
cnL Conference will then act as is Just and
lawful. We are awnw that We stand In tho
presence OF several important questions
requiring our decision, aud We urge upon
you the necessity OF patience and earnest
prayers Tor our guidance Ia determining
what cluuc shall hc most Just aud most
likely to further the interests ui oar
| church." Rsihe cl0sc ol bishop bowman =
| remarks, the Rev. nr. 4. H. Nccly, u
Philadelphia, gave notice that he had u
statement 10 make, when the question ol
tho election OF candidates ior delegates
came bcioro The conference.
| The number of ministerial delegates
| elected is 2SS, and The number 0f lay del
/ cgntCs l1j. Among the lay delegates arc
| six women nmung ihc reserve delegates.
/ Every State aud Territory Ia thc Union 10
represented, aud th'w arr delegates FROM
Canada, McNico, China, Japan, Africa,
Italy, Germany, sweden. Norway, Swilzcr.
land aud India.
On motion ol the llcv. DR.. Olln, David
= Monroe was elected permanent sccr,-
lary. The delegates then discussed the ap-
poiutmcnt oi a committee "a report upon
contested seats. Tho Rev. Dr. J. W.
Hamilton proposed that two committees
bc formed consisting Of clerical member
aud one lay member from each district re-
spcciiycly, and that they be- instructed 10
report Ut 10 O'Clock tomorrow morning.
The Rev Dr. Orlin seconded this and it
WIS adopted. The leading questions 10 10
settled by the committees arc the admis-
sion oi women ~ delegates aud the admis-
sion OF delegates from foreign countries.