Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-05-13
Strong Probability that the Branches
Of the Methodist Church
May Unite.
The Omaha Conference Opens U0mmu
HicatiOn With Officers of the
Southern Section.
The Proposed Changes in the Consti-
tuition Lead TO lengthy
Discussions.

OMAHA, May lot is quite probable
that before the present session of the
Methodist general conference adjourns
the Methodist church Will in the words
of the stump speaker, know no North
and no South. An effort to bring the
church North and South together is be-
Ing made, and communication has al
ready been opened with the officers of
the church South by the committee on
the state of the church, to whom q res
olution to that effect was offered by
DR.. King of New York and pass
To-day's session was presided over by
Bishop Fitzgerald of Minneapolis The
devotional exercises were conducted by
DR.. Il. Il. Hamlin of Central Pennsyl-
vania.
The committee on episcopacy, to
whom was referred the question
whether more bishops are needed, re-
ported that they have not yet been able
to solve the problem and were given
more time The fact is the sub-com-
mittee has no. agreed and it is limited
cannot agree without the help of the
bishops.
Another hard fight is on over the
editorship of the Advocate ut St. Louis,
1t is about conceded that DR.. Creighton,
OF the Wesleyan University at Lincoln,
stands first in the list Of candidates.
The special order OF the day, the re-
port of the Constitutional committee,
was called up at 10 o'clock. Immedi-
ately there was confusion. DR.. Buck
ley asked the conference to allow
Bishop Merrill to speak on the ques-
ton Ga matter prohibited by the rules.
Dr. Medley opposed it and thought the
conference could not afford to lay
down precedent and allow the bishops
to speak ana thus use their influence on
the floor in the interest of legislation.
DR.. Myley of New York thought
that the bishop should be allowed to
speak. If such thing Is to imperil the
good of the church, then do away with
the rule. DR.. Kyuett of the Iowa con
ference also favored the motion. nr.
Buckley again secured the floor and
made an extended humorous speech
The conference placed itself on record
as unequivocally.opp to the opening
of the worlds fair on Sunday.
The report of the Committee on Com
stitution was then taken up and con-
sidered by paragraphs, DR.. Medley talk
ing the floor to explain the first sec
ton. The first declara ton was that
the first three sections of the present
discipline are constitutional. This is
com ated, as it is held that this would
conference to be reviewed by
the annual conference. Dr.. Little
Of Central Illinois, DR. Leonard of
Ohio and DR.. Curtis of Chicago dis
cussed the matter in the negative.
They held that portions Of the alleged
constitution are merely sta tutory laws.
and not constitutional provisions. I'm
der such holding the laymen legally
could not hold d seat in the conference.
They are here by suffrance only.
~Dr. Butte of Detroit was opposed to
the report for the reason that the def
milton of the constitution was not, in
his opinion, an adequate and proper
Interpretation. DR.. Kynett of Iowa
raised the point that if the report is
not adopted, then the lay delegates are
not part Of this conference. The re-
port causing this discussion is this:
'The present constitution of the delegated
G neral Conference is the document drawn up
and adopted by the General Conference Of
1868 but modified since that time in ao-
cordance with the specifications and restric-
tons OF the original document, and is now In
cluded in paragraphs 55 to 81, inclusive, in the
discipline for 1888, excepting the statement as
TO the definite numo Der OF delegates provided
for in p iragraph 55. which is an act solely
within the power Of the General Conference
under The permission of the second restrictive
rules"
DE-. Myley believed the general con
ference had the power to fix the repre-
sentation of laymen, as the people vote
on amendments and not on their word
ing.
DR.. Buckley denied that the plan of
the lay delegation was part of the
constitution, but affirmed that they
are in the conference solely through
legislative acts. He refuted DR.. KY
nctt's views by quoting a resolution he
offered in 1872.
Di. Sargant OF INDIANA sald That IL
the paragraph was not part of the
constitution, then this body vas ille-
gally constituted.
John Fields of Philadelphia offered
a resolution postponing the further
consideration of the report until the
next general conference in order to
give the people of the church an oppor-
tunity ., canvass and discuss the mat
ter thoroughly. He made strong
plea for his resolution and was heartily
appiauded.
The substitute was voted down, as
was also a motion to lay the first part
part.
Of XelInAY LeIGr.