New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-06
THE METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE.

The General Conference Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church has been in session AT the
Metropolitan Opera House since Tuesday morn
ing. 1t is a notable body of men. There are
281 clergymcn, representing III Annual Con
fercnccs, and l Is laymen, representing churon
membership Of about 2,0O0,OOO. Men VINO arc
sclected by their intimate associates to appear
for them in such conference are expected to
hive recognized abilities which place them
high In the order to which they belong. The
various constituencies are to be congratulated
nm their choice. The delegates who have thuA
far appeared on the floor have shown them
selves men of earnest convictions. winch they
were fearless in maintaining ahd that the prac-
tjce obtained in their Annual conferences mas
made them ready dcbaters and skilful parlia-
mentarians OF course they arc good speak
ers. Preaching in large churches and to enor-
nous crowds at camp-meeting had made 1t an
easy matter for them to send their voices to
every part of the large building.
Tho eleven Bishops preside in turn lheu
duties differ in no essential particular from
those imposed upon them many times each
year, when presiding over the several Annual
Conferences. Thus they have come to com
pare moro than favorably with the chairmen or
presidents of secular legislative bodies. Grave'
dienificd and determined. they preserve s'ngu-
larly good order in large body OF men VINO
are filled with earnestness and zeal, and over
whom they have no power OF enforcing au-
thority, except that which is voluntarily con-
coded to their office. There is no sergeant-at-
arms; there are no policemen. The Bishops
have no vote; yet there is no measure before
the Conference in which they do not take
warm interest. 1t is surprising that they can
remain impartial at all times, but no charge of
unfairness has ever been seriously brought
against them.
The Conference is unique in its composition.
There are more than fifty colored delegates
from conferences which have grown up in the
South since the latter days of the war. There
arc delegates from China, Japan, Liberia, India
and Mexico, and from many parts Of Europe
The delegations arc assigned to seats by lot;
thus the different races are mingled together
impartially-a contrast with the first delegated
General Conference, as was pointed out the
other day, where the oolorcd men could gain
admission only to the upper gallery.
With the exception of the work done by the
several committees, in preparing matters to be
brought before the Conference, the first five
sessions have been fruitlcss except in speech
making; but It has been evident for several
months that these speeches would have to be
made before anything Of Importance could be
done. Five women have presented themselves
as lay delegates to the Conference. There are
those who believe that there is nothing in the
constitution which permits the Conference TO
admit them, without concurrent action by the
Annual Conferences. In this view the Bishops
concur. Others maintain that the change in
the constitution in 18G8-1872, admitting lay
delegates was 50 broad as to include lay wom-
on. In the discussion the advocates Of imme-
date admission have some slight advantage in
being able to appeal to sentiment, indulge in
euloey on women, and to treat their opponents
as inclined to deprive women of their natural
rights. The speakers of the opposition have
few weapons except constitutional law, cold
facts Of history and colder logic, none of them
calculated to inspire enthusiasm. 1t is note
worthy. however, that no one thus far has in
tima,ed an objection to the admission of women
! "a the General Conference when the same ac-
tior shall have been taken ms was required to
admit laymen. A vote will probably be taken
carly this week. and then the regular work Of
tho Conference will go on.