Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-05-12

NHNNNNNNNNN beautiful souven-
BISHOP JoYcR. ir Of early Metho-
dism DR.. Gray, of Pennsylvania, offered
a resolution taking that the mode of elect.
ing editors and officers of the general con-
ference be changed in order to economic
time, and to do away with the odium of
politics that may cling to the contests
waged for the position. This resolution
asks that the book committee elect the
editors and the secretary of the Sunday
school union, the secretary of the missions
by the mission committee, etc.
Radical Episcopal Change Proposed.
DR.. Gray, of Philadelphia, offered this
resolution: Whereas, there is pro-
found and widespread conviction among
our preachers and people that the effici-
ency of the episcopacy will be greatly in
creased and the growth of the church and
her institutions greatly promoted by the
assignment of each bishop to prescribed
territory for period of years, and that
the general supervision of the whole
work by the bishops severally is practic-
ally impossible, therefore resolved, that
the committee on episcopacy shall con-
slider and report to the general conference
upon the ACCESSIBILITY of dividing
the territory into as many episcopal dis
tricts, less one, as there are effective
bishops at the close of this general confer
ence; that such divisions shall
leave the senior bishop without prescrib-
ed district that he may preside at confer
ences in case of death or disability of any
bishop Each bishop is to serve four
years in the same district.
No Time Limit for Preachers.
This resolution was inspired by the
bishops, as they believe in modifying the
rules on itinerancy in order to allow
Methodist clergy to secure a permanent
home. In order to give the ministers the
same chances DR.. Webb, of East Ohio, of.
fered a resolution to the effect that there
are circumstances which clearly show that
the time limit in our passionate works seri-
ously against its fullest usefulness. and
that the annual appointment secures all
needful check and safeguard to our timer
ancy; therefore, resolved, that the confer
ence remove the time limit from the pas
torates in the interest and good OF the
church1 Both ofthese resolutions were re-
ferred without debate but from the evil
dent pleasure they gave it is evident that
they will be heard from again with a IA
vorable report
Memorials from Lay Delegates.
A resolution was introduced requiring
members of the church to kneel at prayer
instead of standing or bowling heads. The
lay delegates, through John Field, of Phil
adelphia, presented a memorial to the
bishops and conference in regard to equal
representation. The document sets forth
that in siXty-three conferences equal rep
resentation has already been adopted, but
the older conferences are not so favored
1t calls attention to the fact that the older
conferences are represented in the ratio of
one lay delegate to IS 81 members, while
the new conferences have one delegate to
3,542 members. The memorial asks that
this inequality be remedied by giving the
laymen equal voice in the conference as
the Methodist church is the only one not
so doing. 1t was referred to the commit
tee unequal representation. 4
Didn't Mean 1t for joke.
c. R. Rice created considerable merri-
ment by offering a resolution asking that
the conference resolve that members shall
remain in their seats until adjournment,
receive the benediction reverently and go
to their dinners decently Dr. Foster
moved to lay it on the table as it seemed
to be a joke, but DR.. Rice hastily arose
and defended his resolution, saying that
as this is picked body of men, it should
at least observe decent decorum 1t re-
quired division of the vote to separate
the unruly from the decent, orderly adyo-
Gates, and amid much laughter it was an
mounced that the unruly carried the day,
and the delegates will do as they please.
UNION WITH THE CHURCH SOUTH.
Lively Debate Among the Negro Dele
gates-Ehect of Example.
A resolution asking that seven bishops,
five ministers and five laymen be appoint
ed to attend the conference of the NJ E.
Church South, and lay before it the action
of this general conference, which believes
the interests of the church and the king
dom of God will be increased by the Or
ganic union of the church north and
south was referred to a special commit
tee. DIR. Eaton, of Erie, introduced the
resolution and spoke in its favor. His re-
marks were greeted with warm applause.
Loyalty of the Colored Members.
The colored delegates offered a resolu-
ton that the colored members of the
church express their loyalty to the church
and repudiate the rumors that the colored
people are trying to effect separation
and organize church of their own. Dr.
Shumbert stated that the Swedish, Ger
man and Japanese element did not come
into the conference with pledge of 10y
atty and 1t was not necessary for the col
ored men. DIR. Brown said that bisho-
mania had reached the colored ranks Dr.
Coffeey, of Delaware, thought the bishop
ric good job, aud if the negro was after
it he is but following the white brethren.
[Applause.l
Not an Imitator, but Reflector.
He went ON in semi-sarcastic and witty
manner to say that if the negro WAS try
ing to secure anything it was claimed that
he is an iinitator; he is but rejecting
what his white brethren have taught him.