Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-04
FIGHTING FOR SEATS
Consumes the Best Part of Another
Dayat the N. E. Conference.
CLERICAL JUMPERS OF CLAIMS.
Some Changes Of Constitution and Disci-
pline Recommended.
TACKLING THE TEMPERANCE TOPICS

OMAHA, May 3-To-day's session Of the
Methodist General Conference was called
to order by Bishop MerriR A new dis.
pute at once arose over the seating of dele.
gates. Some seats that had been set aside
for the lay delegates who wished to be
| seated apart from the ministers, had been
taken by ministerial delegates, and heated
discussion arose over the question OF COM
pelling the ministers to vacate.
Rev. Mr.. Hamilton, of Boston, and his
delegation were the ones who had taken the
coveted seats, which were in the rear of the
ministers section. The Bostonisns appar-
emily did not suppose that they were
trespassing on the lay territory. One hun
dred and ten lay delegates expressed de-
sire to be seated separately from the minis
ters When the hour arrived appointed for
hearing the quadrennial address of Bishop
Foster, the seating question was still long
way from being settled, and it was decided
to postpone the address until 10 A. M. to-
morrow. The entire forenoon was taken
up with the question of seating, and it was
not then satisfactorily adjusted.
Changes of Discipline Recommended.
The afternoon session of the conference
was devoted to the hearing of the report of
the Committee on Constitution appointed
four years ago, and the preliminary work
of appointing committees. Bishop Foss
presided, and Bishop Merrill called up the
report of the committee. The report was
read by DR.. 7. B. Neeley, of Philadelphia.
After giving brief review of the various
meetings of the committee, DR.. Neeley pre-
sented the changes and recommendations
suggested in the report. Among other
things suggested, was change in the ar
rangement of the discipline. Material
change was recommended in the rules or in
the wording OF the discipline, but the COM
mittee thought the book could be arranged
to much better advantage.
The report also suggested that the date
for opening the General Conference be fixed
on the first Wednesday in May every foer
years, instead of the first day of May. 1t
also recommends that the ministerial and
lay delegates vote together in the General
Conference on all questions except those
intended to make a change in the organic
law of the church.
At present the ministerial delegation
vote first and the lay delegates follow.
This plan has become quite unpopular among
the lay delegates, and the recommendation
of the committee on this point will prob
ably meet with approval.
Limits to the Annual Conferences.
The report also recommends that no an
nual conference be organized with less than
80 travelling ministers, and the concurrent
vote of three-fourths of the delegates of all
the annual conferences shall be sufficient to
authorize the General Conference to make
changes in the organic law of the Church.
Colonel John Ray, a member of the COM
mittee, submitted a minority report, differ
ing in some respects from the majority re-
port upon few points. The reports were
ordered printed and will be taken up as a
special order next Tuesday at 10 o'clock.
In addition to the usual standing COM
mittees, the conference decided to have
several special committees appointed. A
committee consisting of one from each
annual conference was appointed on tenn
perance and the overthrow of the liquor
traffic, and committee of equal size was
appointed on the Epworth League The
discussion on these two subjects indicated
that the conference is very deeply inter-
ested in both, and radical action is
anticipated Many of the delegates declare
that the temperance cause was one of the
most important matters to be considered BY
the conference, and the Epworth League
had become one of the vital arms of the
church and should be fttingly recognized
by the conference.
A special committee was also appointed
to consider the Order of Deaconesses The
conference accepted the invitation of the
citizens of Lincoln and the President of the
Nebraska Wesleyan University to visit
Lincoln May7. A great mass meeting was
held tonight in the interest of the church
extension work. Bishop Foss presided.