The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-08
A RALLY OF METHODISTS.
THE HEQUADRENNIALG GENERAL CON.
FERENCE IN SESSION.


the Proceedings.
ST. LOUIS, May This morning at 10
O'Clock the quadrennial general conferences
OF the Methodist Episcopal church south
began in the Centenary Methodist Epis-
copal church,a the corner Of Sixteenth and
Pine streets. This is the first meeting of
the general conference in this city since
1850. There are forty conferences repre-
sented in the general conference, and the
states of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado,
California, Georgia, Louisiana, Kansas,
North Carolina, South Carolina Indiana,
Mississippi, Montana, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Oregon, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois,
Brazil and Mexico. The conference Is COM
posed of eight bishops and 200 delegates.
The venerable senior bishop, J. G. Keener.
presided over the preliminary proceedings
and read the opening hymn.
W. T. Harrison Of South Georgia was
elected secretary, and named as his assist
ants W. A. Gambler of North Georgia, Mr..
Mason OF Alabama, and Mr.. Taggart Of
Kentucky.
The rules Of the last conference were
adopted after considerable argument.
DR.. John Matthews then delivered a cor~
dial address of welcome, which was felicia
tously.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.
The pastoral letter, signed by all ths
bishops, and which is read only once In four
years, was presented by Bishop Wilson of
Baltimore. The letter is very lengthy and
relates to the affairs of the church at home
and abroad. Among the more interesting
features of the letter are the following:
The conduct Of tho affairs Of the church
during the quadrennial period has been
attended with as little difficulty as can be-
expected under any system administered
by men. With very few exceptions the
preachers have been blameless, nor have
we to mourn many departures from recti-
tude and propriety of life among our mem-
bers Close inspection and more vigorous
application OF the discipline would perhaps
have brought to light offenses that
have escaped publication and censure, but
1T may be questioned If In any age or under
any conditions the church has enjoyed
greater freedom from tho vices and sins
that dishonor humanity and exclude from
the kingdom of God. As a whole the adj
ministration has been faithful and its results
commend our system as thoroughly effect
i've and suited to the conditions and needs
VI Jul WAuclJ 6AtbLu6u
THE GAINS IN -FOUR YEARS.
Before referring specifically to the insti-
tutlons and enterprises of the church we
should take note Of its estimated forces and
the increase made since the last general
conference. Four years ago there were re-
ported In the general minutes 4,406 travel-
ing preachers, of which number 8 1856 were
effective. The report of last year shows
4,S62 OF which 4,295 are eff
fective in an increase of 456 in
the itinerant ranks. The local
ministry has grown in the same period from
5,9i3 to 6,269, an addition of 1926. There
were, according to the minutes of 1885,
9SO,645 members. The last returns give
], 1885, ,0l9, an increase Of 1854. The whole
number OF preachers and members at press
ent is estimated at LII, $50, an addition to-
our force in four years of 1856, 1855.
FOREIGN MISSION WORK.
The last general conference directed the
college of bishops to Include foreign mis-
sions in their plan of visitation, and to give
them in common with the church at home
Immediate supervision. In compliance with
this requirement China, Japan and Brazil
have each been visited twice and Mexico
The results have justified the
measure. In China, our Oldest, and We
must consider it our most important mis-
Japan, our latest mission, has been SO COM
pactly and effectively organized and has
worked 80 successfully that its members
feel impelled to ask that they be relegated
to an annuL conference. The thorough
ness of their administration and the
reasons given in their memorial
seem to justify the petition. We recom-
mend that it be granted The missions in
Mexico and Brazil are making steady prog1
gress.
The board of missions chosen by the last
general conference, has by the fidelity.
painstaking, and practical wisdom with
which it has discharged its functions, proved
itself worthy OF the confidence imposed
in it.
WORK OF THE woMAN's BOARD.
The work of the woman's board of mis-.
sion deserves your attention in China and
Brazil, in Mexico and on the border and in
the Indian territory. In the schools under
their care, through Bible women, and by
hospital work, they have diligently minis
tered to the wants of the women and chill
dren, and prepared the way OF the Lord.
Much Of the success of our regular missions
airy service is due to their efforts, and in
many places this form of work has become
The literary entertainment of our time
constitutes a positive threat to the man.
hood and womanhood of the coming gem
GRAFTON. All the worst and vilest elements
of life are pushed forth daily from the
press in the attractive guise of fiction, and
become almost the exclusive nutriment
Of thousands of young minds. We
are not disposed to deny that
there is much in the form
Of fictitious literature not TO be condemned.
but the largest circulation is accorded to
sentimental and dissipating ex-
pressions of men of corrupt minds, whose
thoughts are SO attired that they may sur
reptidously make their way into the inner
of uncorrupted natures and
poison the fountain of their faith. At any
lost 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 eGncauion.
CHURCH EXTENSION.
The board of church extension has
proven valuable adjunct to the board of
missions in our western territory, and has
.ided in no Insignificant degree In conserv-
ng and building up much of our work in
he older conferences. The church in the
vest aided by both boards has made grati-
ying progress. Churches, parsonages and
chools have been built and the institutions
lnd character of our church have been
maintained and vindicated
The Sunday school departments rhcvs
progress in the numbar Of srhoofS and