Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-03-03


SP "s IN '
Brief Sketches OF Distinguished Metho-
aIs&s-Purpssss Of the Couvsusiou,
On the hrst day OF May next tho general
conference OF the Methodist episcopal
church Will convene In New York. Dele
gates from all over the world VIII be IN
attendance, and many men famous ior
wisdom and eloquence will be among the
number. Norway, Sweden, Germany,
Switzerland, India, China, Japan, ana tho
continent OF Africa will all he represented.
The general conference is held once every
four years, the last one hnving convened
~ Philadeiphia IN 1854. There will DO
between 400 and 800 delegates present,
beside host OF visitors, and the question
wns at first to find placc large enough to
accommodate the throng. The Mctropoli.
tan Opera house was finally chosen, and
this. II is expected, will furnish ample
room. The session will undoubtedly con-
tinue through the entire month OF May,
rs many questions OF q weighty nature
are to be discussed.
Foremost among these VII! be the cleo
ton OF nav bishops to MI the vacancies
lefC by the deaths OF Bishops simpson,
Harris and Wiley. 1t Is probable also
that several new eRiscopacies will be ere
ated. Some OF the present bishops Gre
advanced In years, and need assistance IN
their artucus labors. Beside this, the
question will probably arise as to the ex-
pcdiency OF establishing resident episco-
The colored Mcthodists will urge their
old plea for bishop Of their own race,
but they will be met BY the usual over.
whelming resistance. As the Methodist
church ID organised, no one bishop has
priority over another, excepting In point
OF age. Mono have especial Jurisdiction
over any particular territory. The world
Is their Held, and they go about from
country to country in turn, supervising
the conferences and establishing harmony
In the church. for TINS reason 1t Is ex
pected that the proposltion 10 estaphsf
foreign episcopacies VIII meet with con
siderable opposition.
At the last general conference q mis-
sionary bishop was given TO Africa, but II
was an innovation not likely to be re
peated. He Is the only missionary bishoI
in the Methodist Episcopal church, and
does not hold the same rank as mis- broth
ers. II Europe, India, China and Japar
are voted episcopacies, the holders Will bt
endowed with the same authority as oul
own bishops. Before the election O
bishops, however, tho conference vii
listen to reports regarding the condition
OF the church from every part OF ths
world; committees viii be appointed
questions OF church discipline VIII b "a
3usted and new general measures aug
gested. In the LAST two or three confer
ences Dr. Daniel Curry was looked upoI
- tho leading spirit. ais oeatn leave
tho held open TO number o. able men
Inc man Dest adapteo 70 NIL tno poeitlol
Is said to % Dr. James n. buikicy, TN
editor Of The Christian Advocate. ne u
stil In the prime Of uie. AS skilled az
batter ne mas rev equals, Ior ne possesse
one OF those clear, logical minds whicl
can grasp subject IN al its ramincation
almost by instinct. he mas been lead
ing member OF tine general conferences Q
1917, 1870, locV ana lcc4. Als 1ather wa
Methodist preacher, VINO gave MS Sol
all the advantages OF education that Ia,
in his power. At first he was sent to tn
Pennington seminary, but his education
was completed at Wesleyan college, Con
necticut. After his graduation he studies
theology for some time, until he was re
ceived on trial ut the New Hampshir
conference. He at once took rank as a
eloquent preacher. After making a tril
to Europe in 1868 no resumed his minis