Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-02
METHODIsTs AT OMAHA.
Converting of the General Conference in {
Busting Nebraska CITY.

panied by members OF their families; besides
official editors, fraternal delegates from
other churches, representatives. Of various
church societies and benevolences, edi-
tors Of non-official church papers, &C.,
making at least 1000 who, for the month Of
May, will remain to promote various ecclesi-
astical interests. The knowing ones who are
connected with the local plans for entertain
ment, &C., say that there will be at least 60 900
visitors from the adjacent states while the con-
ference is in session. Bishop John P. Newman
LID, is chairman Of the entertainment Of this
general conference.
The general conference will hold its princi-
pal sessions in the exposition building, which
accommodates %, 900.
On Saturday the delegates arrived by special
and regular trains from east and west in large
numbers, taxing the utmost capacity of the
general committee of assignment to direct al
high grade and many boarding houses and
private homes, which are crowded to overflow
ing with the city's guests. II not all luxurious,
the visitors will find all cordial.
GREAT MISSIONARY MASS MEETING.
great missionary mass meeting was held
at the exposition building yesterday afternoon.
Chaplain McCabe represented the parent mis-
sionary society, which, during the quadren-
MUM. has cleared off all the old immense debt
and has had an income of S4,5l7,048.
Mrs Frank Baker spoke for the many for
elgn missionary women whose work is to ele-
vate and educate women of heather coun-
tries.
Its receipts have been s976, S55 in the quad
rennium. Bishop Walden spoke for the Wo-
mems Home Missionary Society, whose work
began eleven years ago among the colored
people OF the south, extended itself among the
Mormon population of Utah and other terri
tories. even establishing missions in Alaska,
and has also operated largely among the emf
grant population Of the great cities.
The aggregate missionary receipts of these
societies in four years has been $4,000. 900, and
the aggregate contributions of the church in
the same period for all benevolent purposes
has been $50, 000, 900.
WELCOMING THE CONFERENCE.
This evening the general conference is to be
welcomed by the mayor of the city and city
council. The reception will be a right royal
feast of reason, flow of soul and refreshment of
the palate.
The composition Of the general conference
shows In Its personnel large proportion of new
men, both IN the ministerial and lay delega-
tons. 1t renders more difficult the determine
ton OF the woman and other questions. some
Of the old leaders being left at home and some
OF the new men being disposed to show their
hands in independent church action.
THE EPwoRTH LEAGUE.
The board Of control of the Epworth League
of the Methodist Epicopal church met on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Council
Bluffs. Iowa, opposite Omaha This board is
composed of about forty persons. who repre-
sent all parts of the church. The society has
had Its growth largely since the
last general conference, and now seeks official
recognition. 1t Is proposed to ask the general
conference for a special chapter in the dis
cipline containing a plan for the effective Or
ganization and working Of Epworth leagues.
There is great enthusiasm on the subject,
many even of the most mature members of the
church being enthusiastic in its promotion.
In the four years past the membership Of
the Epworth leagues has grown to 4O0. 600,
and the cry is ''Still they come" by thousands.
They are the young people of the church-the
very flower Of it. They hold its purse string,
and contain much Of its brains and Its zeal
THE UNIVERSITY.
One of the special fields toward which it will
direct its attention is the American
University near this city. beautiful
certificate is given to each one who, as
member of the Epworth League, con-
tributes 81 toward the university. The board
OF control heartily indorses tho university and
wishes to build an Epworth hall and endow an
Epworth professorship by these contributions
OF 81 from each member of each league, or
what in the aggregate will amount to that.
dollars viii come TO the university from that
source.
THE ADDRESS OF THE BISHOPS.
The quadrennial address of the bishops. to
be read in the general conference as soon az
the organization is perfected, will traverse the
principal themes of discussion to come before
the body. One Of these topics is the southern
work of the church among both colored
and white people. Before the war
no Methodist Episcopal church existed
south of Maryland. Now there are fifteen or
sixteen conferences Of colored people and
number Of conferences of white people in the
southern states which adhere to the Methodist
Episcopal church. About 80, OOO, 900 have been
expended for that work since the war, mate
rializing in many educational institutions.
churches and home mission work. Just in the
height OF the crisis Bishop Foster leads party
OF ministers and people who declare that all this
work should be surrendered to the NJ E. church
south. because that church is a Methodist
church Great excitement arose from an ad-
dress Of Bishop Foster in the last general mis-
sionary committee at Cleveland. This has
awakened the friends Of the work OF the NJ. E.
church In the southern territory and there
Will be some plain talk to the dissenters and
some lively debates in the general conference.
THE WOMAN DELEGATE QUESTION
Indications now are also that the eligibility
OF women to the general conference will again
originate prolonged and exciting debate. The
constitutional majority for the measure has not
been reached, although a large majority, never
theless. have voted in favor. The friends of
the measure will again insist on vote in the
church at large, which will probably result in
the success Of the measure four years hence.
The bishops address will show an aggregate
growth in membership during the quadrennian
Of 400, 900, over half Of which is within the col
ored conferences. Substracting the losses by
death, DC, there will be a net increase OF over
300, 900. About 600 ministers have also been
added to the itinerant ministry, perhaps LOO.
Venerable Vicar Generals Anniversary.
The eighty-hrst anniversary of the birth of
the vicar general 81 the archdiocese OF Balti-
more, the Rt Rev. Edward McColgan. was cele-
brated at St Peters Church, Baltimore, yes
terday. The most interesting service was at
the 1880 o'clock mass, throughout which the
venerable monsignor sat within the sanctuary
in his purple robes. The sanctuary was beauti-
fully decorated with flowers and potted plants.
The solemn high mass was sung by Rev. DR.. d.
j. Stafford. with Rev. J. T. O'Brien as deacon
and Rev. Thomas Griffin of st. Mary's Semi
nary as subdescon. Rev. ]. p Carey of St
Patricks occupied seat within the sanctuary.
Rev. Joseph 8. Gallen delivered the address,
in which he gave sketch Of Monsignor Nc
Coloan,a life