The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-31
METHODIST CONFERENCE.
barely Quorum Present-The Five Year
Term for Ministers Defined.

New YoRE, May 3O.-When the Gen
eral Methodist Conference was called to
order by Bishop Fowler this morning
there was not quorum present, and
when the devotional exercises, led by
colored delegate from Texas named Lee,
were over, barely 3l2 members, necessary
for the transaction OF business, were in
their seats. After the journal was read
and adopted the committee on revisals
presented report referring to the ad-
mission OF probationers into the church.
After a brief debate the report was
tabled. Bishop Andrews then asked the
conference to interpret the recently en-.
acted law touching the pastoral term OF
five years, so that il might be made
clear for the administration during the
next quadriennial. To this end DR..
Wheeler presented the following resolu-
tion, which was passed. The new rule
OF pastoral service shall be applied Us
follows:
At the session OF any annual confer
ence, next following his general confer
ence, preacher may be appointed to
charge, which he has not served for the
three years preceding and be continued
thereafter in said charge for five years;
and pastor now serving a charge
which he had not served for three years
preceding his present pastorate may be
continued through full term OF five
years. In all other caSes the rule OF five
years in ten shall be strictly applied.
A discussion was precipitated by a re:
port from the committee on temporal
economy providing for the better care OF
superanuated ministers. This report.
recommended the creation Of board OF
conference claimants consisting Of twelve
members and twelve laymen appointed
by the general conference with cor
responding secretary, nominated by the
Board OF Bishops, who shall travel
through the annual conferences and se-
cure pledges and make collections for q
fund. Many held that the
present plan Of caring for superanuates
was sufficient, and others declared that
too much could not be done for the men
who had made Methodism what it is.
1t was finally decided to leave the matter
go over TO the next general conference.
The question, however, was imme-
diately reconsidered, and Doctors KY
nett, Buckley aud others made stirring
appeals for the adoption of the report.
Little by little the conference seemed to
wake up to the importance OF the mat
ter OF perfecting plan to better provide
for men worn out in the service OF the
church, and after listening to pointed
address by Chairman Craig, Of the Com
mittee on Temporary Economy, the re-
port was almost unanimously adopted.
II was moved that st. Louis be named
us the place where the new board OF
claimants should make its
headquarters. Chicago was also named
rs the best place to locate the board,
when Chaplain McCabe said he hoped
Chicago would be the place chosen, as
the thing would be pushed through in
Chicago, for they push everything
there. The conference voted
to distinguish the Lake city.
BY unanimous consent the Rev. DIR.
D. p. Kidder was made Honorary
Secretary OF the Board Of Education.
The committee having in charge the ar
for the next General Con-
fererGe reported in favor Of Omaha.
This decision resulted from promises
made by Omaha to furnish place OF
meeting and to care for delegates free OF
cost. The committee also recommended
that commission OF seven be appointed
10 confer with the Omaha clhUSches as TO
railroad rates, and il Omaha should fail
TO keep the promises made the commits.
sion should have the power to select
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