The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-04
THE GENERAL CONFERENCE
or tho Methodist Church-Sot Yet Down
TO Iiusincss

or tho Methodist Churcli-Sot Yet Down
TO business.
OMAHA, NED., May 3.-To.day's scs-
sion Of tho Methodist general confer
cnce was called to order by Bishop
Merrill.
DR.. Hatzcll, of Louisiana, conducted
the devotional exercises. Immediately
after tho reading OF the minutes new
dispute arose over the seating OF dele.
gates. When the hour arrived APP
pointed for hearing the quadrennial
address Of Bishop Foster, the seating
question was still long way from be-
ing settled and it was decided TO post
pone the address until 10 Z. m. to-mor-
row. Tho entire forenoon was taken
up with the question OF seating and 1t is
not yct'satisfactorily adjusted.
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 ap-
pointing committees.
Bishop Foss presided and Bishop
Merrill called up the report of the COM
mittee: The report was read by DR.. I.
B. Neelcy, OF Philadelphia. Alter Civ
ing brief roview OF tho various meet
ings OF the committees, DR.. Neeley pre-
sented the changes suggested in the re-
port.
Among other things suggested was
change in
TIE ARRANGEMENT OF THE DISCIPLINE.
No material change was recommended
in the rules or in the wording of the
discipline, but the committee thought
the book could bo arranged to much
better advantage.
Tho report also suggested that the
date -ior, opening the general conference
be fixed Oh the first Wednesday in MAY
every four years, instead OF the first day.
in May,
It also recommends that the minis
.terial and lay delegates vol togetherin
q general conference on all questions
except those intended to mako change.
in the organized 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 rec
ommendation OF the committee on this
point willprobably meet with approval.
The report also recommends that no
annual conference should be organized
with less than thirty travelling minis
tors, and that the concurrent vote OF
three-fourths Of tho delegates OF all the
annual conferences be sufficient to au-
thorize the general conference to make
changes in the organic law OF tho
church.
Col. John Ray, q member OF the COM
mittee, submitted
MINORITY REPORT
differing in some respects from the
majority report upon a few points. The
reports were ordered printed, and will
be taken up MS n special, order next
tuesday Mt 10 o'clock.
In addition to tho usual standing
committees the conference decided to
have several special committees ap-
pointed. A committee consisting OF
one from each annual conference was
appointed on temperance and the over
throw of tho liquor traffic, and COM
mittee of equal size was appointed on
the Epworth League.
The discussion on these two subjects
indicated that the conference is
VERY DEEPLY INTERESTED
in both subjects, and radical action is
anticipated. Many OF the delegates
declared that the temperance cause was
one OF tho most important matters to
be considered by tho conference, and
the ,Epworth League had become ono
of tho vital arms OF the church and
should be fittingly recognized by the
conference.
a special committee was also an
pointed 10 consider the order OF
deaconesses. Resolutions were passed
returnin. thanks to the citizens OF
Omaha, and especially the mayor and
city council, for the magnificent recep-
tion rendered the conference delegates
OH Monday night.
The conference accepted the invita-
ton OF tic citizens OF Lincoln and tho
president OF the Nebraska Wesleyan
University to visit Lincoln OIL May I.
a GREAT MASS MEETING
was hold tonight in the interest Of tho
church extension work. Bishop Foss
presided and addresses were made by
DR.. kynett and Dr.. Spencer, OF phila-
dtlphia.
~ Farm Hands, Entail Dunrrc,