The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-11
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

The Delegate Question In q New Shape
Bishops To Be Chosen May IL.
NEW YORK. May 10.-This was the ninth day
of the Methodist Episcopal General Conference.
Bishop Fowler presided. Rev. DR.. j. 81. Bayliss
introduced resolution calling on the committee
on judiciary to define what the constitution
really is
Rev. Dr. L. L. Fish, of Albion College, Mich
iean, delegate from Detroit. offered resolu-
ton protesting against admitting Utah as State
until conclusive evidence is shown that polye-
amy has ceased to exist among the people there.
The motion wac carried.
Siah Sch Ong, a delegate from Foochow, pre-.
sented q memorial asking il converts from
heathenism. having more than one wife. can
still retain moro than one wife and at the same
time be good Methodists. Tho matter was re-
ferred to the committee on state of the church.
Invitations asking that the next General Con-
ference be held in Omaha and in Chicago were
referred to the committee on temporary econ
omy.
Rev DIR. Wentworth, of the Genesee Confer
ence, presented these resolutions:
Resolved, That the delegates chosen by the annual
and lay electoral conferences In the AID with the
qualifications specified in the Discipline the sole
and only members of the General Conference
Resolved, That when these delegates thus elected
are assembled the 1st day of May in session in the
place and at the hours fixed upon by the preceding
appointed for that purpose by the last General Con.
ference, and being duly called to order, they
legal General Conference
Resolved, That the conference thus assembled has
the unrestricted and exclusive right In ITSELF in the
absence of any rules upon the subject enacted by its
matters relating to the perfectng of its organization
and for defining its methods OF In the trans
action of business.
M =
forcement of the doctrine by the episcopal board
at the opening of this general conference that In the
bishops as the interpreters of law for the church,
lies the authority to prescribe and dictate to the
General Conference prior to the completion of its
ganizaton the steps it shall take reaching that
result in:uding among Other things the arrogatGn
present effect of challenges to the right of seats in
this body, and to say whose names on the roll of
members shall be written, and whose called is unpPe-
cedented in history, alarming in its nature and
revolutionary in its effects.
Resolved That in order for the future to prevent
any upon the subject we do hereby
FrstThat the secretaries of the lay and electoral
conferences shall send to the secretary Of the last
General Conference and also furnish personally to the
delegates and certificates of election Of
said delegates and reserves after their election
as practicable, that roll of members may be pre-
pared the conference and said secretary shall act
as secretary of the next General Conference, and
shall have sole guardianship of the certificates OF its
members until said conference shall have elected its
own secretary.
Second-In calling the roll at the opening of Gen.
eral Conference the of every delegate whose
election shall have been thus regularly certified to,
shall be called and challenges of the right of men,
bers to their seats shall be entertained-uness such
challenges presented in writing in open session
properly signed by the challengers.
Third-No challenge of a member as TO the legality
of his election shall be deemed to have invalidated
the claim of said member to his seat until after due
consideration of his case and decision against him
shall have been reached by the conference. But in
instance shall challenged member be allowed to vote
upon the decision of his title to membership in
the body
Resolved, That the COMMITTEES revisals be in
structed insert the provisions contained in the last
preceding resolution in their appropriate place in the
Discipline.
The matter was referred to the co mmittee on
episcopacy.
The house voted to 60 into the election Of
bishops and Of officers OF the General Conference
on May IL, at 10 o'clock A. NJ.
Rev DR.. B. F. Crary, Of CAL. was invited to
seat on the platform, after which the con-
ference adjourned.