The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-05-07

Che Temperance Cause and the EpwOrth
League the Principal Questions.

rhe Temperance Cause and the Epworth
League the Principal Questions.
OMAHA, May B.. Today's session of
the Methodist general conference was
called to order by Bishop Merrill. DR..
Hartsell of Louisiana conducted the de-
votional exercises. Immediately after
the reading Of the minutes dispute
arose over the seating Of the delegates.
Some of the seats that had been set
aside for lay delegates who wished to be
seated apart from the ministers had been
taken by the ministerial delegates and a
heated discussion arose over the ques-
ton of compelling the ministers to va
cate. Rev. Hamilton of Boston and his
delegation were the ones who had taken
the coveted seats, which were at the
rear of the ministers section. The Bos-
tonians apparently did not suppose they
were trespasslng on lay territory One
hundred and ten lay delegates expressed
the desire to be seated separately from
from the ministers
When the hour arrived that was ap.
pointed for the hearing of the quadrcn-
nial address by Bishop Foster, the seat,
ing question was still a long way from
being settled and it was decided to post
pone the address until 10 a. m. tomorrow.
The entire forenoon was taken up in the
discussion OF the seating question.
The afternoon session was devoted to
the hearing of the report of the commit
tee on constitution appointed four years
ago and the preliminary work of appoint
ing committees. Bishop Foss presided
and Bishop Merrill called up the report
! OF the committee. The report was read
by DR.. II. b. Neeiy Of Philadelphia. Aft
Ell a brief review of the various meetings
of the committee Dr. Neely presented
the changes and recommendations sug.
gested in the report. Among other
things suggested was change in the ar.
rangement Of discipline. No material
change was recommended in the rules OF
| in the wording of the discipline, but the
committee 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 Ma,
every four years, instead Of the first da.
in NAV. 1t also recommends that the
ministerial and lay delegates vote 10
gether 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 de
legation vote first and the lay delegates
follow. This plan has become quite un-
popular among lay delegates and the
Recommendation of the committee on
this point will probably meet with an
approval. The report recommends thai
no annual conference should be organic
ed with less than thirty travelling minis
tiers and with the concurrant vote q
three tourths of the delegates of all an
nual conferences be sufficient to author
ize the general conference to mak'
changes in the organic law ofthc church
Col. John Ray, a member of the com
mittee, submitted minority report dii
fering in some respects from the malorit.
reports upon IA few points. The reports
were ordered printed and will be take,
up as a special order next Tuesday at II
o'clock. In addition to the usual stand
ing committees the conference decided
to have several special committees. !
committee consisting of one from eacl
annual conference was appointed or
temperance and the overthrow of th'
liquor traffic and committee of equa
size was appointed on the Epwortl
league. The discussion on these tw,
subjects indicated that the conference i
very deeply interested in both subject
and radical action is anticipated.
Many of the delegates declare that thu
temperance cause was one of the mos
important matters to be considered b.
the conference and the Epworth League
has become one the vital arms of tn
church and should be tittingly rccoG
nized by the conference.
A special committee was also appoint
ed to consider the order of deaconesses
Resolutions were passed returning
thanks to the citizens of Omaha, and es
pecially to the mayor and city councl
for tie magnificent reception ndere,
the conference delegates Monday hight
Spring Heel Rubbers from Child's Nc