Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-05-02
GENERAL CONFERENCE
QUADRENNIAL SESSION OF fHR n. 4
CHURCH REPRESENTATIVES.
A Notable Gathering Of Distinguished ChurChmsn
in The Metropolitan Opera HOuss-Ths
Session Formally 0p.nsd-Yss-
tsrdsys Proceedings.

NEW YORK, May 1.-The General Con-
ference Of The Methodist Episcopal Church
opened its session this morning in the Me-
tropolitan Opera House. Long before the
appointed hour the vast auditorium COM
menced to fill mp with the ministerial del
egates. The Bishops occupied seats on the
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,
singinging and the reading Of the Script
ures. Bishop Foss read a passage from the
Bible and Rev. DIR. Quinn, of Wisconsin,
delivered the prayer. Bishop Bowman,
the senior Bishop, conducted the exercises
An the conclusion of the religious exer-
cises, Bishop Bowman said: ave are at
this hour in the presence of new surround
ipgs, which call for new movement in the
election of delegates. At fret each eandi-
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 in.
formation is received from reliable sources
that number Of those presenting them
selves as delegates are known to be ineli-
gible. The list of candidates this year is
a large one and contains many names whose
eligibility is not yet satisfactorily estab-
lished, and number OF protests have been
lodged 10 our hands TO be dealt with by the
conference, when the question Of the cleo
general rules provide that the names of the
parties challenged shall not be called until
quorum of unchallenged delegdtes shall
be found to be present. The conference
will then act as is just and lawful"
We are aware that we stand in the
presence OF several important questions re-
q1iring our decision, and we urge upon
you the necessity of patience and earnest
prayers for our guidance in determining
what course shall be most just aud most
likely TO further the interests of our
Church.
At the close of Bishop Bowman's re-
marks, Rev, DIR. T. B. Neely, of Philadel-
phia, gave notice that he had a statement
W luhhc Wucu the QutstlOn Ol tnb eleCtlOD
of candidates for delegates came before the
Conference. The number of ministerial
delegates elected ia 2S3 and the number of
lay delegates 175. Among the lay dele
gates are six women, among the reserve
delegates. Every State and Territory in
the Union is represented, and there are
delegates from Canada, Mexico, China,
Japan, Africa, italy, Germany, Sweden,
Norway, Switzerland and India.
On motion of Rev. DIR. Olin, David s. |
Monroe was elected permanent secretary.
The delegates then discussed the appoint |
mept of committee to report upon con-
tested seats. Rev. DR.. J. W. Hamilton
proposed that two committees be formed, |
consisting Of clerical and one lay member |
from each district respectively, and that be |
instructed TO report at 10 o'clock to NOR
row morning. Rev. Olin seconded this,
and it was adopted. The leading ques-
tions 10 he settled by the committee are
the admission of women as delegates aud |
the admission Of delegates from foreign
countries. Il