The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-03
GENERAL CONFERENCE
OF THE METHODIST CHURCH RE
q sUMEs ITS BUSINESS.
Bishop Merrill Reads the Address OF the
Bishops Extending to the Delegates
the Episcopal Greeting-The EliRibil-
ity Of Women.

New York, May 1.-The second days
session OF the twentieth annual general
Methodist conference opened promptly at
O'clock this morning in the Metropolitan
opera.house. Bishop Stephen NJ. Merrill
occupied the chair. The proceedings
opened with prayer aud reading OF script
ures.
Bishop Merrill then read the address Of
the bishops extending to the delegates the
Episcopal greeting and blessing The adj
dress reviewed the revival work that has
been going on in the church since the last
conference, four years ago, Since then
not less than 5000 souls have been
brought into the church. The member
ship has increased from !, 700, 5A 60 2,003,-
935. There has been great improvement
in the architectural designs Of the churches.
The educational work OF the church has
maderapid progress. Peace reigns through
out Mcthodism and no serious agitation
threatens the unity OF the denomination.
Considerable correspondence has been
had with the English church about n con-
ference between the Englisha and American
churches, 70 bo held in the United States
in 1891. The delegates were urged TO sup
port only The official book concerns and
papers. After dwelling at length on the
growth OF skcpticism the address advised
that only men Of scholarly minds, who are
able TO cope with the arguments OF SCOT
fers, should be placed in the pulpits.
Attention was called TO the standing of
the missionary bishops. II is not known
who are TO support the missionary bishop
or 10 whom he Is amonablc. The growth
Of the number OF delegates 10 the quadren-
nial conference was spoken OF, and IL was
suggested that some change should bc
made that would limit the representation.
The increasing arrival ON our shores
OF members Of the Roman church
makes II imperative that the mem
beis OF tho Methodist church should
work 10 convert them. The bishops
arr Of the opinion that the church OF Rome
IL a snare 10 the people and threatens our
institutions The struggle between capital
nnd labor Is referred 10 in the address, and
II was denied that the church has any
right 10 take part in political struggles or
had taken part in them. II was advised
that steps should be- taken TO adopt some
ltRulaf oihtf ol NtIrlill, ~ llhl w AT
churches the form would be the same.
Tho bishops severely criticised the sccu-
lar sunday newspapers. The liquor traffic
was deprecated aud total prohibition was
advised The liquor traffic, IL WIS held
could no, be legalized without sin. The
members Of the church were advised 20
work for the destruction OF the pcrnicious
traffic.
The report OF the committee appointed
90 report ON the eligibility Of women were
then brought forward. IL was presented
by the Rev DIR. Shinklc. The commit
tee reported: THAT, after serious discus
sion, they have become convinced that
when the rule was passed relating 10 the
admission Of the lay delegates to the gen.
cral conference. the church contemplated
the admission of men only ~ lny delegates.
Under the constitution and the laws wom-
en- are now eligible and the committee
agreed that tllc protest against the lndics
should be sustained and the conferences
from which they were sent bc notified that
the seats are vacant
The report was sighed by eleven mem
bcrs OF the committee aud six Of the nom
bers refused 10 sign II. II WIS resolved
that the debate on the subject be- post
poncd until tomorrow when Il should be-
tho order Of the day. The Rev. Dc
barnes. of Michigan, offered n resolution
20 the effect That the previous question
shall not be- called for tomorrow until al
the delegates had had chance 10 speak
upon the question NJ issue. The rcs0lu'
lion was not adopted.