New-York tribune., 1892-04-28
PART II.
PAGES II TO ID.
METHODISTS TO MEET.
THE GENERAL CONFERENCE TO BE HELD
IN OMAHA.
QUESTIONS TO COME UP-wOMEN AS DELEGATEs-
ELECTION OF EDIToRs-A CHANGE IN LAY
ATIoN-CONSERVATIvE
ACTION INDICATED.

ACTION INDICATED.
Omaha April - speciaD.-T7le Whole city OF Omaha,
regardless OF creed, feels complimented at being
chosen the meeting place OF the Quadrennial Meth
odlst Episc opal General Conference and there Is no
doubt that when IL assemblies here on Monday, May
- II will receive welcome that will be recognized as
warm even by warm-hcarted Mctaodls's. During their
the delegates will he dlned though. OF course not
vined ad nbitim.
Big popular meetings ard services will be held In
which most OF the wise men from the Easr' will
appear honored speakers and guests. The hospable
doors of Omahas most prominent citizens Will 30
THROWN - the guests, AID excursions to various
points OF Interest Will be organized. II is confidently
expected that the holding OF the Conference here will
do much TO strengthen the Methodist Church, rot only
In Omaha but throughout the state Altogether the
delegates are certain TO receive a typical WesterT,
welcome during their months stay In the metropolis
CT Nebraska. The eiiice selected for The business
s!ons OF thc Conference is declared By Bishop Newman
to be OF the handsomos. In the country. and ad
m'rabiy adapted for the purpose. The interior Is q
gem of beauty. The parquet contains 575 seats. so
tha there will be room enough and 10 spare for tho
40 delegates The two galleries with the boxes and
tie stage, which scats 800, will give accommodations
for 1900 spectators. II Is true the building Is q
theatre. but the Mcthodsts hope to make II good
Methodist audt)ium before they get through with It,
When larger assembly room is needed the "Coh-
soum.' not far away. will be available. which seats
5000 people.
OF cours, great many important questions are
to come mp before the conference but equally Of
course no legislative action will lie taken en- aost
OF them. Many people, indeed. do not realize that
one Of the chief functions Of n great representative
cisi0us body lll.c the General Conference IS not
so much 10 legi late to talk about questions Of
moment and thus TO furrisb n harmless escape
valve for the scethlng thought Of the Church The
Constitution OF the Methodist Church differs radically
from the Constitution Of IN: United states. The
latter possesses only ceItan powers delegated TO 1t
by tho Several states. while the former IS sovereign
In all matters except 10 five or six specified
ceptonS. While this fact gives tremendous import
ance 10 The meetings OF the General Conference, IL
also operates TO prevent hasty legislation. and no
measure Is ever passed until It's merits are fully dis
cusscd and recognized.
The question rs 10 the eligibility OF a.
ccieGgties to the General Conference will doubt-
less up In FORM but there is little likelihood
that any radical action will be taken 1t. This
question up in the General Conference Of 1853,
when certain women presented themselves as dele
gates After long debate II was decided to be a
constitutional question. and such. it referred
back to she Church for Its vote. restrictive rule,
1t was said. stood in the way and this rule could
not be set aside. unless By threefour.hs vote in
all tic annual conferences. should such vote bs
obtained. 1t would have TO be ratified by q two
thirds vote OF the General Conference The result
OF the agitation during the Inst four years Is
tha; tho advocates of the women have failed
TO get three fourths vote. though they have doubt
less majority. The measure has received its strong
est support In the West. while the East has been
Just strongly opposed to It. "The Christian Ad-
vocate,' OF New-York. OF which the Rev. DIR. J. ".
Buckley Is the editor has led In the opposition. whls
TIE Northwestern Christian Advocate OF Chicago,
has been equolly strong in favor Of wumen No
wiz come delegates 10 this General Conference,
elected
one conference the Columbia River. has elected two
women as "res,rves.- but the principals viii I'M
doubtedly attend the question Of their eligibility will
not come mp. There Is talk OF stampedns the Con-
ference, and passing a resolution In favo: OF women
with rush. but the opponents OF the me'surc Will
doubtless be ready 20 block any such movement. The
movement is, however. by no mearS cem. Indeed
It's advocates say that they bound 10 win In the
end end some OF the more inpilsye OF them ceckrs
that no man who has opposed 1t will ever receive
any ofic, OF honor from the Church. But such wild
talk deprecated by the more jndicous friends OF the
women.
Another important question before the Conference
viii bc the election OF the Church editors in regrd to
which the lines Of cleavage viii le made by the woman
uucron. The most important editorship IS that OF
"1he Christian Advocate Of New-York. to which Dr..
Buckley las been elected Fix lines. While all
Method,sts recognize his brilliant ability. his vigorous
oppodtion 10 the admission Of women has arrayed
many OF the advocates OF women against him, icciauy
I'm the West and they Will probably attcmp. TO defeat
his reelection It is the opinion. however. OF those
best qraliled Judge that he VIII again be elected,
not only because OF his ability but because there 10
no one else in .ight 10 take his place The editors
n. other papers will also IN all likelihood he reelected
Another question that Will come up VIII be equal
lay representation. At present the hymcn are largely
in the minority. But though the deirabihty Of this
measure IS generally conceded, there are practical
obstces in the way and II 3 not likely tha IL VIII
pass The same thing may be said OF the proposition
70 establish two legislative hoases. one Of ce'symea
aud Of aymen.
SIN another radical question 20 come up Will be TIE
nropositon 10 give the bishops diocesan
jurisdiction, similar to that OF Roman tathohc
and Episcopal bishops. This. however, would
Involve such a great departure from Methodist
.rpdltions TIM, II stands little chance Of passing. IL
Is felt moreover that the present episcopal arrange
ment has "a unifying influence the Church that IL
most beneficial stnl another proposition TO come up Is
the limitation OF bishops term TO four years. but
there f. even less chance OF that being adopted. Of
course the proposition % modify or GO away Win
presiding eldclships will come up. 1t Is one OF tho
perennial Cnesons o. the Church, and has lately been
an ospec,al subject discussion because Of the alleged
evils inner-nt in this system. 1t is said that many in
duge in ecclesiastical politics, and 4" run" the con-
here is little likelihood that the General Conference
will take any action on the maiicr
bishops or rather whether any bishops shall bs
elected There are now eighteen bishops, and the
sentiment seems against any increase in the NUM-
her This year But Il is rumoIed that n number Of
excellent men whom the episcopal lightning iu,t
faild 10 strike fOur ago do not with that
sentiment and viii labor to show that more bishops
are imperativeN needed. InrOivcd In this question
M Is The uue stiOn OF electing colOrcd bishop
and one bii OF antlconferrncc gossip Is the effect
that large number OF colored men, who originally
I'm favor OF women, were led vote agninst them.
under the impression that, in return FOR hs vote one
OF their number would be elected bishop. But. like
rood Zeal OF other gossip. II probably has little basis
81 fact Though not much IS said about IL the fact
seems TO be that some annual conferences would mob
exacly relish the idea OF having co,ored bishop pre-
siding over them. And this feeling will probably be
strong enough 10 defeat the attempt to elect coored
man Besides that. 1t is thought that the election OF
.o,or,d h,chon would DELAY tFo uniOn with the