Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-04
THE N. B. CONFERENCE.
Another Interesting Session Held at
Omaha, Yesterday.
THE MINISTERIAL DELEGATES
And the Lay Delegates Have Not Fully Decided
Upon What Plan They Will Pursue in the
Matter Of Seats in the Conference.-The
por.ant Amendments Presented.

OMAHA, NEB., May 3.-To-day's session
of the Methodist General Conference was
called TO order by Bishop Merrill. Dr.
Hatzell, of Louisiana, conducted the devo-
tional exercises.
Immediately after the reading OF the
minutes, new dispute arose over the seat
ing OF delegates. Some seats that had been
set aside for the lay delegates who wished
to be seated apart from the ministers, nao
been taken by ministerial delegates and
heated discussion arose over the question OF
compelling the ministers to vacate.
When the hour appointed for nearing
the ouadriennial address by Bishop Foster
arrived the seating question was still
long wav from being settled, aud it was de-
cided to POSTPONE the address until III a. m.
tomorrow. The entire forenoon was
taken up with the question OF seating, ana
il is not vet satisfactorily adjusted.
The afternoon session of the conference
was devoted TO the hearing Of the report oil
the Committee on Constitution. appointed
four years ago, and the preliminary WORK
of appointing committees.
Bisnop Foss presided, and Bishop Mer-
rill called up the report OF the committee
The report was read by DR.. L. b. Neeley,
of Philadelphia. After giving oriet re-
view of the various meetings of the COM
mittees, DIR. Neeley presented the changes
suggested in the report. Among other
things suggested was change In tue ar,
rangement of the discipline. Material
change was recommended in the rules or
in the wording of the discipline, but the
committee thought the book could be ar
ranged to much better advantage.
The report also suggested that the date
for opening the general conference be liked
on the first Wednesday in May, every four
wears, instead of the first day OF May. It
also recommends that the ministerial and
Law delegates vote together in general
conference on all questions except those IN
tended to make change in the organized
law of the church. AT present the minis
terial delegates vote first and the lay dele
gates follow. This plan has become quite
unpopular among the lay delegates, ana
the recommendation of the committee on
this point will probably meet with ap'
prOval.
The report also recommends that no an
nual conference should be organized Win
less than thirty travelling ministers and
that the concurrent vote OF three-fourtns oil
the delegates of all the annual conferences
be sufficient TO authorize the general con-
ference TO make changes in the organic law
Of the church
Col. John Ray, member of the commit
tee, submitted minority report, differing
in some respects from the majority report
upon n few points The reports were or
dered 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 of one from each annual con-
ference was appointed on temperance ana
the overthrow of the liquor traffic, and
committee Of equal size was appointed on
the Epworth League.
The discussion on these two subjects In
dicated that the conference is very deeply
interested in both subjects and radical ac-
tion is anticipated. Many Of the delegates
declare that the temperance cause was one
of the most important matters 10 be con-
sldered by the conference, and the Epworth
League had become one of the vital arms
of the church and should be tittingly recog-
nized by the conference.
A special committee was also appointed
10 consider the Order Of Deaconesses
The resolutions were passed returning
thanks TO the citizens OF Omaha, and es-
peciallv the Mayor and City Council for
the magnificent reception rendered the
Conference delegates on Monday night.
The conference accepted the invitation
of the citizens of Lincoln and the Presi-
dent of the Nebraska Wesleyan University
to visit Lincoln on May g. A great mass
meeting was held tonight in the interest OF
the church extension work. Bishop Foss
presided and addresses were made by DIR.
kynett and DR.. Spencer OF Philadelphia.