, 1888-06-14
A DELEGATE

NOIED -lhb NO"hN
QUEsTIoN---THE OLD soLDIERs--THE
BIsHoPs--scENEs AND INCIDENTS.
In conversation with Rev. w. s.
Turner, the financial agent and secre-
tary OF Spokane college, who has just
returned from his third attendance at
the quadrennial session of the general
conference Of the Methodist Episcopal
church, held in New York City, to
which body he was delegate from the
Columbia river conference, q REVIEW
representative Cleaned numerous in
teresting notes. III consider this the
most memorable general conference"
said Mr.. Turner, "both as to personnel
and legislation that has been held
since 1854. That conference,
(which by the way was the last one
before this held in New York;, was
the one that saw the disruption of the
church into the "north" and "south"
ON the question of slavery. Two sur
vivors only OF that notable convention
were present at this. We met in the
Metropolitan Opera House, and that
tenn pie OF the muses. has seldom been
so thronged as by this thirty-one days
session, occupying the entire month
of May. The delegates alone num-
bered 468, about Onefourth OF whom
were laymen, and every place was
filled either by the delegates first elect
or their alternates. Besides every
portion OF the United States, Africa,
China, japan, India, Norway, Sweden,
Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Den
mark, and Mexico, all owing allegiance
TO this general conference were repre-
sented. Over fifty dusky faces, reveal
ing more or less of negro blood we're
scattered through the parque5: yet,
as a general thing as rich intellectual
endowment as the whitest Aryan in
his neighborhood.
THE WOMAN QUESTION.
"You were beaten on the woman
question Mr.. Turner" "Well it WAS
by no means a bad defeat. We waged
the battle four days, and finally the
lady delegates only lacked one vote of
enough to seat them, and as usual
they were decided against on tech
nicality. The question is not defeated,
simply postponed until each church in
1891 shall vote upon it, and the next
the voice of its people. Public senti-
ment in the east is mellowing consid
erably on this question. Even as pro-
gressive body as the Methodists
however move slowly in these matters.
Four years ago, this question could
not have received one-half the sup
porters in the general conference that
1t did this time.
NOTABLE DELEGATES.
"Who were some of the most nota-
BILE lay delegates ?" "Gen. Clinton b.
Fiske, of New Jersey, prohibition can
.didate for president; Governor Louns-
dale, of Connecticut; Chancellor Hart
son, OF California; ex-Gov. Evans, of
Colorado; Judge Reese, of the Neb-
rnska supreme court; ex-U. s. Senator
Warner Miller, OF New York; Lieut..
Governor of Indiana, Will Cumback;
John g. Ridpath. the historian, from
the same state, and Miss Frances Will
lard, president of the National Wo-
mans Temperance Union. The lat
ter delegate, however, was among
those excluded by the anti-woman
suffiragists. Besides these there were
many of lesser fame, including large
sprinkling of lawyers, bankers, editors
and representative men,"
THE OLD SOLDIERS.
II understand there were many old
soldiers among your numbersP
eyes. out of the 46S delegates, 159
wore the blue regimentals during the
dark days of the sixties. One of the
most interesting features of the whole
session occurred when these all got to.
gether and arranged a call uron Mrs.
Grant, the widow of their old COM
mander, by whom they were most cor
daily received and entertained. 1t
was a men. orable occasion. Although
in civilians garb, their martial bearing
attracted much attention as they
marched from the conference rooms TO
Mrs. Grant residence 'and returned.
The private box of Mrs. Grand and
family was occupied every day OF the
session.
THE BISHOPS
"Who attracted the most attention
among the bishops?"
s"Wm. Taylor, bishop of Africa,
among the old, and DR.. J. p. Newman
among the new. Bishop Taylor is
wonderful man and is doing wonder
tul work. Any one who has read his
"Seven Years Street Preaching in
San Francisco" can easily see that
age has not diminished his ardor and
the same spirit is doing great things
towards civilizing and colonizing the
dark continent OF the six new
bishops elected. regard "Parson"
Newman as the ablest by far. His
election Was a spontaneous tribute
and at the same time surprise to
him, as he was not even member
OF the present body. He has a ma
tional reputation as the spiritual adj