Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-27
ITS WORK is DONE
The Methodist Conference
Finally Adjourns
REVIEW OF ITS LEGISLATION
In Labon Win Be Productive Of Good.
a Minister Rsinstased d-osher
Matters.

OMAHA. Nay 26.-rhe general con-
ference of the NJ. e. church came to
an end at 2:20 this afternoon for ses-
sion Of twenty-six days. In that time
much excitement has cleared away and.
on the whole, the work of the confer
encs has been productive of much
good. The most important questions of
the session were the report Of the con-
stltutional committee on the re-
vision Of the constitution. After
four days this important matter
was indefinitely postponed. and as no
committee or commission was appoint
ed nothing will DO done toward revis-
ing the laws of the church before the
next general conference in 1896. The
next important question, which by the
way was settled rs far rs the general
conference 10 concerned, was equal
representation Of lay and ministerial
delegates. 1t now requires two-third
vote Of the annual conferences to
carry into effect the acton of this
body. While the final action Is far off /,
many warm friends of the laymen pre-
dict that two-thirds of the annual con-
ference will not indorse the plan.
Features OF Note.
The refusal to increase the number
of bishops or to locate q residence in
Europe or Japan were the features of
importance. The powers of the bishops
were curtailed in two instances. The
conference is given the power of re-
jecting the appointment of judiciary
cominittee, which passes on appeals,
and the bishops were denied the right
to appear before the book committee to
argue In favor or against an appoint
ment to fill vacancy. The proposed
change In the discipline relating TO
amusements died, failing to be
brought before the conference.
as also did the resolution of
DR.. HanloS asking the committee to
put itself on record in reference to its
position on the controversy between
capital and labor. The conference al
60 passed resolutions fayoring liberal
apbEporiatams by congress for the
Worlds Fair, only on condition that
the exposition be kept closed on
Sunday and that no liquor to be sold
upon the grounds. The Epworth
league was made . constitutional part
of the church and is now the only
recognized society of young people IN
the church. It's headquarters will he
in Chicago where its Official organ, the
Epworth Herald will be published.
Onlciai Papers.
The Rocky Mountain and Nebraska
Advocates were authorized to become
official papers of their pa
tronlzing conferences. A message
was sent to the president. demanding
that he refuse to sign the Chinese ex-
clusion act. The message was too late,
Sd the conference passed series of
resolutions denouncing the law and
calling upon congress to amend it by
striking out the addition TO the laws of
1882. The conference refused to
make the deaconesses' order a separate
society, but continued it under the pa
tronage of the Woman's Home mission.
A number of new conferences were
granted enabling acts, notably in India
and Africa. The Rev. w. p. Squires,
who was expelled from the northwes,
Ohio conference, was reinstated. The
conference refused to censure Bishop
Taylor for ordaining a minister OF Eng.
land, because the minister belonged to
his conference and the objections there.
to were not sustained.