Smyrna times., 1888-05-30

him. 1t must be admitted that it re-
quires time to establish large con-
gregatiOn, and this was almost an i'm
possibility when the pastoral term was
so short.
The change was doubtless one for
the benefit of the city at the expense
of the country. It certainly will not
suit so rural a section as the Whining
ton Conference is composed of. and
aside from Grace Church in Whining
ton, that does not choose its pulpit
supply from the ministers of the Con-
ference, we doubt if there is another
church between the two bays that will
insist on five years pastorate. In the
cities those of a class of intelligence
and appreciation can and do assimilate
in church fellowship, but those ofcoun-
try towns are made up of most diverse
taste and attainments, the thoughtful
and broad with the narrow and linn
tied in perceptions, nor can it be
helped; and the only way to meet the
difficulty is for each unsuited class to
adapt itself to the situation with be-
coming grace. But to subject man of
intelligence to discOurses Sunday after
Sunday for five years that have neither
diction nor stimulation of religious
thought, or vice versa, subject the
large class of those who cannot or will
not appreciate an educated ministry
for an equal space of time, would
amount to hardship. There are un-
doubtedly but few churches or minis
ters that will not be benefited bv a
change once in three years.
In addition to the possibility of be-
coming delegates to the Conferences.
the women of the church have re-
ceived recognition by the creation of
the order of Deaconess. The resolu-
ton which created the new order. thus
describes the duties "The duties of
the deacOness are to minister to the
poor, visit the sick, pray with the diving.
care for the orphan, seek the wander
ing, comfort the sorrowing, save the
shining, and, relinquishing wholly all
other pursuits, devote themselves in a
general way to such forms of christian
labor as may be suited to their abil-
tiles" The women ought to feel salts
fed, as no General Conference of the
church has so recognized their useful
ness and equality as laborers.
The six bishops whose names are
given on our first page were consecra-
ted yesterday. There has been little
or no change in the editOrship of the
various periodicals. A writer from the
Conference thus speaks of the spirit
and work done:
No General Conference in the his
tory of the Methodist Episcopal Church
has been able to leave behind it so
many shackles of progress as the con-
terence OF 1888. This may be due in
great measure to the work of previous
assemblages and to the irresistible
march of evolution. Great changes
may be yet to come, but they will keen
time with the steps ofdevelOpment and
the needs of the hour.
Much has been said about the con-
servative and the progressive parties
which the debates and ballotings have
arrayed in well-defned ranks opposed
to each other during the present as
well as previous sessions. The truth is
that the Methodist Episcopal Church
has been always progressive, and it
can be nothing else, because it is stead
lily expanding, rapidly growing, and
must tit its laws to its own quadren-
NAL needs and Developments. The
rigid conservatives seem to be those
concerned most for keeping the admin
istratiOn of affairs down to the letter of
the law where there is a letter or a
law, and where there is none. not to
make any, but to hold on to control all
the same. The prOgressives disavow
radicalism, and claim to be progress
slYely conservative. The progressives
will 60 back home from this confer
ence better satisfied than they have
been ever before. Though the admis.
sion of women as delegates, one of
their leading issues, was defeated bv
one OF the orders, the popularity of the
move IS sufficiently proved to warrant
the prediction that four wears more
will schange the situation entirely.