The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-08
cepmAMM Ne CONFERENCE

ST. LOUIS. Mo. May This morning at
9 O'Clock the uuadriennial German general
conference of the Methodist Episcopal
church South began IN the Centenary
Methodist Episcopal church at the corner
Sixteenth and Pine streets. This is the
first meeting Of the general conference in
this city since 1850
There are forty conferences represented
in the general conference, and the states of
Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, California,
Georgia. Louisiana, Kansas, North Caro-
liua, South Carolina, Maryland, Mississippi,
Montana Kentucky, TaXas, Indian Terri
tory, Tennessee, Oregon, Virginia, West
Virginia. Illinois, Oregon, and Brazil and
Mexico. The conference is composed Of
eight bishops and go delegates.
The yenraable senior bishop, j. G.
Keener, presided over the preliminary pro
ceedings and read the opening hymn.
w. p. Harrison, Of South Georgia, was
elected secretary and named as his assist
ants w. A. Chandler, of North Georgia,
Mason, of Alabama, and Taggart Of Ken
lucky The rules of the last conference
were adopted after considerable argument.
DR. John Matthews then delivered a
cordial address of welcome, which was
feIicitiously responded to by Bishop
Keener. The regular bishops address was
then read by Bishop A. w. Wilson, Of
Baltimore, and recess was taken.
The pastoral letter signed by all the
bishops, and which is only read once in
four years. was presented by Bishop Viii
son, of Baltimore. The letter is very
lengthy and relates TO the affairs of the
church at home and abroad. Among the
mOle interesting features Of the letter are
the following: "The conduct Of the affairs
Of the church during the quadrennlaI pc
riod has been attended with as little
difficulty as can be expected under any
4 Aess rIag,l.a
the administration has been faithful and
its results commend our system as thor
GU ghly effective and suiTed to the condi-
tiOnS and needs of our widely extended
territory. The whole number of preachers
and members as ct present estimated IS
l. 20, $50, an addition to our force in the
four years of 1S6. .156. in China. our most
mission. we are suffering for
want of men. The letter recommends that
the Japan mission be erected into
an annual conference. The mis-
sions in Mexico and Brazil are
making steady progress. In regard to the
press the letter says the literary entice
mentS of our time constitutes a positive
threat to the manhood and wOmanhood Of
the coming generation.
''All the worst and vilest elements of life
are pushed forth daily from the press in
the attractive guise of fiction and become
the almost exclusive nUtriment of thous-
ands of young minds We are not
to deny that there is much in
the form of fictitious literature not
to be condemned, but the largest
circulation is accorded to the sensational
disseminating expression of
men Of corrupt minds and the vagaries of
infdel thoughts 50 they may surreptitious-
ly make their way into the inner sanctuar-
les Of uncorrupted natures and poison the
of their faith. At any cost our
young people should be secured against
this pest and no means of security
appears to us except that which
is found in thorough christian
The boards Of church extern
sion and mission have done good work in
the west. Churches, parsonages and
schools have been built. The Sunday
school department shows much progress. =
When the address was finished the con-
ference adjourned. When the conference
at O'Clock the standing com
mittees were appointed and the Organiza-
tiOn was concluded.