The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-08
BIG METHODISTS MEET.
Important Secret Conference of
Bishops in New York.
WHAT THEY WERE THERE FOR.
woishty Problems of n Great Church
Discussed and scttled.--SIattors of
Interest to the Five Million Meth
odists in the United states--An tho
Bishops Present But One.

tant religious conferences mas Oeeu ~
ing on in New York for week, but few
people have known it. 1t was tho secret
meeting of the Methodist bishops.
There are over 100000 Methodists in
the country. Nearly enough to people
New York state. You hear very little
ofthem bore. The other churches have
a great many more members in New
York, but in the smaller towns the
Methodists are the leaders in numbers.
They build the first church in every
rural village. Wherever there is a post
office youth find Methodist church.
The bishops made up nearly score
of patriarchal looking old mon. They
have gathered in the library OF the
Methodist Book Concern on Fifth ave-
nue.. They are a fine looking congrega-
ton, but somehow they lack that cleri-
cal appearance which you will find in
Episcopal bishops, or great Presbyter-
ian, or Congregational diyines. There
is an air OF democracy about them.
Ono would Judge they mixed great
deal with the members OF their
churches. And they do. II they did
not thew would never have been chosen
as the high governors OF their church.
They arc moro like some OF the politl-
clans in Washington twenty years ago
than the conservative modern divine.
Most OF them are large men physically
MS we'll as mentally, and they haven't
that respect for conventionalities that
the grave elders have in the meetings
OF the Presbyterian synods. They do
their business more rapidly. They are
good money getters. Tho percentage
thew receive for church funds, accord
ing to the wealth OF their Pensioners,
will treble that of any other denomina-
ton.
THE MACHINERY OF THE CHURCH.
Bishop Merrill and Bishop Foss have
presided over tho sessions. a row Of
small tables, furnished with pen, ink
and paper, was lined around the official
char. Behind each ono OF these sat
bishop, pen in hand and eye on tho
president, alert to everything going on.
The session was very secret. II you
even looked over tho curtained door
the elevator boy would nab you and
send YOU down to tho Bureau OF in
formation, where you would be told the
bishops we're in session upstairs, and
that was sll the information the man
knew.
At these meetings the woightiest mat
tiers OF Methodism are considered, the
welfare OF every part OF the church IS
discussed. The machinery OF the Meth
odist church is an interesting affair
First there are the bishops. They are
the court OF appeals. Next there are
tho conferences which consist oil sec
tons OF the country containing from
one to two hundred separate congrega-
tions. The minister OF each OF these
conferences hold an annual session OF
one week in length, over which one OF
the bishops presides. At these are ex-
amined candidates for the MINISTRY
who live within the limits of the con-
ference and all matters eltecting the
welfare of tho district are discussed.
The Methodist minister's tenure OF Of
fee is seldom more than year in the
smaller districts; heis the great Amer
lean mover. The bishops attending the
conference make the appointment Tor
the conferences. Here is where his
conference make the appointment for
the conferences. Here is where his
policy is called into use. Every min.
lister wants good appointment. And
if he don't get it he vents his dissatls-
faction upon the bishop who presldes.
Every denomination is anxious to in;
crease in numbers and prosperity and
spread the gospel; the great branches
OF tho church are with ono another IN
making Christians. The bishops have
been considering the weak places in
the churches. III tho past the great
hold Of the church in making converts
and creating enthusiasm has been re-
yiyals. They have found reviva!s don't
last long in their influences, and that
the number OF "backslidera" are quite
as large as tho number OF converts,
while the revivalist has spent all OF his
voice and muscle unavailingly. The
newer bishops favor the more conserva-
tive methods OF the other churches,
while the older patriarchs maintain
there is nothing like revival to awaken
people from their lethargy. The mis-
sions, too have been discussed. They
haven't been doing we'll. Those in
South America we're by no means in a
tlourishing condition, it was found on
examination, and they decided to locate
Bishop Newman there this coming
year. They think he will put some life
into them il anybody can. Home mis-
sions came in for share OF the consid-
Grafton. too, but these are not one OF the
Methodists' specialties.
MONEY AND MINISTERS SCARCE.
The matter OF money was thoroughly
canvassed; the gray haired bishops
figured on their papers as buHily as life
insurance mathomRticians. Wealthy
members were written down with good.
ly sums opposite their names and the
name of tho bishop who was to visit
each one. When particularly unap-
proachable man was mentioned and the