Smyrna times., 1888-05-02

organized Methodism in this country.
1t is expected that the present ses-
sion will be pre-eminently a business
gathering, at which the deferred and
halt-dispOsed of questions of four wears
@go will be vigorously grappled with.
The Methodist Episcopal BODY has
entered largely into missionary work.
one million dollars having been raised
last year for this purpose alone. There
are three conferences in China. two in
India, one in Japan, one in Italy. one
IN Germany and one in the Scandina-
Wan countries, beside the missionary
stations IN Africa, all of which will be
represented in the New York body by
native delegates. The status of Bishop
Taylor, of the African mission, who
was elected bishop by the last Gen
eral Conference without having his
powers and limitations defined, will be
one of the first questions to be settled.
A dispute has already arisen as to
whether he is to be regarded as a full
bishop, entitled to support from the
episcopal fund, or whether he is only
missionary uperintendent, to be sup
ported by and responsible to the mis-
siOnary society. Depending upon the
settlement of the status of Bishop Tay-
lOr will follow the questions of resi-
dent episcOpaCy in China, India, Japan
and the Continental conferences. The
rapid growth of the missionary work
within the last quarter of a century
makes this a subject upon which neces-
sary legislation cannot longer be safely
delayed.
The women are to be here to Vex the
souls of the brethren, too. Mrs. A. f.
Newman and Mrs. Mary c. Mind, of
Minnesota, and Frances Willard have
been elected lay delegates and will
seek admission. Women have ALWAYS
composed three-fOurths of the member
ship.of the church and have been en-
couraged to pray, eXhort, teach in Sun
day school, and even preach by the
Methodist body. With that lack of
logic peculiar to the feminine mind thev
now ask to be made ornamental as well
as useful, and want to sit in the Gen
eral Conference with full representative
powers to vote and make speeches.
The question of their admission will be
one of the first that will have to be de-
cided. 1t is hardly probable that the
Conference will decide against their
admission, although DR.. Buckley, of
the Christian AdUOcdte, the recognized
church organ, is strenuously opposing
the innovation, as is DR.. Edwards. of
the Northeastern AdUOcdte.
The reunion of the Northern and
Southern branches of the church will
be agitated. The division, which Oc-
CURED in lS45, on the sole ground of
the federation of slavery by Southern
Methodists, has rusulted in the main
tenance Of two great organizations pro-
Tossing the same faith and recognizing
the same ecclesiastical form of govern
ment
Among the minor subjects that will
be considered by the conference will be
that OF an extension or the entire re-
moval of the time limit Ofthe pastorate.
1t is generally conceded that the itin-
erancy has made the Methodist Epis-
cOpal body the greatest home mission
ary organization ever known. The
early Methodist preachers were chang
ed every year, but this limit was ex-
tended to two and finally to three
years, and there are thousands of
MethOdists who think the time has
come to extend it to five years or re-
move it altogether.
There will be several bishops to be
elected. Three-Simpson, Wiley and
Harris have died since the last Gen
eral Conference and their places must
be filled, while the extension of the
work of the church makes it neces-
sary that some additional bishops should
be provided. Not less than four and
perhaps six new men will be elevated
to the EpiscOpacy