New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-03

deiIberatlve Judgment For the Hrst time In our
history several elect ladies' appear regularly cert,
ned from electoral conferences. as lay ueegate, 70
this body. In considering the question Of their egi
billy the electoral conferences did not consult the
BISHOPS as 10 the law In the case nor do We uhoer
stand to be duty TO define the law for these con.
isrenccs neither docs It arpear that any ono is a
electoral conferences simply assumed the lawiuiness
Of this action. being guided. as We are informed by
1872 defining tho scope of the word "laymen' in
answer TO question touching the classification and
course the language Of that resolution is carried be
yonG rs original design when applied to subject not
ly involved In the language itself This also should
Do undss,God that no definition Of The word lay
tho purposes Of lay representation and have to do
eligible as delegates Even laymen who are con
cssedly Ineligible who not old enough to be dele
be stewards lasslcaders, trustees. local preachers
and exhorters and as such. be members of tho Quar-
oral Conference. without themselves being eligible.
The constitutional qualifications for eligibility can
ence, however sweeping, nor can the original mean
Ing OF tho language be enlarged II women were 10.
lay delegates, they here by constitutional right:
Il they were not so included Il Is beyond the power OF
by the formal amendment Of the constitution, which
cannot DO effected without the consent Of the Annual
spiritual privileges, in recognizing their gifts and in
providing for them spheres Of Christian activity, as
sponsy has BEEN leader churches and
gratefully do we acknowledge the good results shown
eveopmens q hs to an" Work for Cod which
we take as evidences Of the Divine approval OF the
lent enterprises especiaiy in the temperance mission
airy and Sunday school departments Of church work,
est admiration Happily, no question Of competency
or Torhiness Is involved N the question Of their
underlying the legislation Of the church has been that
they were Ineligible to official positions, except ey
assumption they have been made eligible by special
enactment to the Offices Of steward. class leader and
legislation in order to their eligibility to these spee
and if so, it is further to be considered that the offices
tendent may be created and filed by simple enact
mcnts of the General Conference ITSELF but to enter
the General Conference and form part Of the law
making body OF the church. requires special provision
IN the constitution and therefore such provision as
the General Conference alone cannot make
TIME LIMIT AND THE ITINERANCY.
We doubt not that the rcstlessness which now and
then appears in connection with the limit In the
plan Of itneraucy will attract your attention
1t has that OF other General Conferences There is
less demand for extension Of the term, and
while we are not convinced that the dominant sent
ment of the church favors any change unless It be in
exceptional cases to meet emergencies, we do feel,
have In the past that conditions occasionally arise
In which a little more fexibility would be advanta
geous. We do not suppose that any disaster would
come to the Church In consequence II properly guarded
provisions were made for extending the term to foui
or five wears in cases manfesty exceptional We are
ready TO welcome any feasible plan for improving tho
rangng needs Of the churches, and for reducing its
hardshps to the minimum: but not ready for
the removal of the limit, or the abandonment Of the
system
RoMANIsM AND IRRELIGIoN. q
Tie increasing mutrdes OF Romanists coming to
our shores tn share our privileges, and TO lear their
families under the Influence OF Institutions have
slams upon for instruction, and for special efforts
for leading them into the purer light Of gospel,
which claims we have never fully appreciated. AS
ecclesIastlcal-poica power, Romansm forces herself
upon the attention Of all patriotic and evangelical
thinkers who know her history and appreciate her
greatness and her spirit, menace to liberties
and snare to our people; and yet the millions born
within her pale and baptized at her affairs en-
tltled to our sympathy and need our minis
trations We. therefore, ask your attention to the
problem OF evangelizipg Romanists in this country.
AS necessary to the maintenance Ut the spirituality
CT the Churh and to resist the influence Of the loosa
thought of the times. which is often aggressive and
industrious In pushing its way into the evangelical
pupits, ,u we deem # important to
relating to the Of believers in their struggles
with sin In this world and also those which point to
eternal retrlbutons In the world to como. We would
especially urge ministers to make prominent the
office and work OF the Holy Spirit in renewing and
sanctifyng the SOUL and in attesing our ilIa reIa
ton 10 Goa and also to stand fast by the Scrlptural
standards In representing the terrblcness Of SIM the
necessity of tho atonement the probatonal character
perdton OF tho ungody. The alarming excuses Of
luxury and wordllness In the churches will crush
pulpit IN regard TO these foundation doctrines and
even the solid orthodoxy which We maintain and
recommend Will not withstand the infowng tides OF
evil without constant application OF the truth In per-
sonal experience.
CAPITAL AND LABOR AND THE CHURCH.
An evil which has long existed In countries beyond
tho sea, but which Is comparatively new with has
begun to show itself in land, presenting problems
to the Church well as to the Nation which are not
of easy solution. No conflict between capital and
labor will arise when employer and employed
are governed by the spirit of the Gospel But We
confront a state OF things In which the Golden Rule
has little application. That millions Of labOrers COM
pactly organized under lcadershps liable to become
chatting under real fanced grievance
are element of great power and no little damage
ls fact too palpable to be concealed overlooked
The entrance Of this element into political party
strfes Of this country adds to the perplexites and
pcrils of the situation. What IS the true relation Of
tho Church to the problem and what can she do to
solve it2
With the financial political aspects of the ques
ton have little to do. The Church is not pOllti
al Organization. She neither commends nor condemns
the political affiliations Of her members: Common
prudence as well as due regard to hcr dlyineiy aR
from partisan ntterances and from lndorslng
cOndemuIng political parties rude whatever their
dividuals composing her assemblies. AS Methodists,
all sympahize with that antipathy toward the COM
mingng with Church and State In official action
may consistently dominate the political &C
lion OF Its adherents, but be II far from Methodsm to
give color to the suspicion OF such an intention.
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.
From the beginning Mehodsm has borne testimony
against tipping houses and dram drinking and
preachers among the first to contend for the legal
suppression of the liquor traffic. 1t Is pernclous
all its bearings, inmical to the interests Of honest
radc rcpugnant and Injurious to the peace and
order of society," and utterly anagonisc to all that
pcrnicous In life that the only attitude toward It for
Christians is that OF relentless hostility. 1t can never
% legallzed without sin. No Temperance device for
regulating 10 can be become substitute for prohibition
License high or low. is vicious In principle and power
ess a remedy.
NEW INFORMATION STA rs 4 SENTENCE.
Frank stumpf who charged with an attempt
to commit burglary In the third degree convicted
yesterday before Recorder smyth in tho Court OF
General Sessions Tho complaint was made by Kate