Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-05
AMONG THE METHODISTS.
Interesting Reports OF the Progress of the
Church During the Past -Four Years
Read to the Conference Yesterday.

Church During the Past Four Years
Read to the Conference Yesterday.
OMAHA. NEB., May 4-Bishop Werden
presided at the morning session of the
Methodist Conference and called the gath
ering TO order promptly at o'clock. Rev.
Myley, of New York Conference, led devo-
tional exercises. The morning hymn was
sung. IL was that inspiring poem, "God
moves in a mysterious way his wonders TO
perform"
At 10 o'clock the Episcopal address was
begun by Bishop Foster. There was a
very large audience present in the gallery,
and the delegates gave the venerable Bish-
op profound attention. He began by re-
minding the delegates that they had as
sumed grave response bilities. He was hap
py to say that during the past four years
none of the Bishops had died or had SUI
fered permanent disability.
The reports reviewed the work in for
eign lands showing the work to be IN excel
lent condition all over the world. No
chasms, no dissensions had appeared in the
Church during the past four years. Since
the last general conference fully AGO.
600 members have been added to
the Church, greater growth than mad
ever been known in the history OF the
Church. The report then touched on the
vote in the annual conference and churches
upon the admission of women TO the general
conference, the result was given as fol-
lows:
Laity for 235, ,6SS, against 163, S43; Minis
terial for 5000, against 1914. Tue report
gave an exhaustive review of every oranch
of the church work; recommended that
great care be exercised in procuring minis
ters. Strong, loyal men, fully abreast
with the education of the age; an educated
pew would not endure an uneducated pull
pit.
The membership during the past four
years has grown rapidly and now numbers
2.292, GA. Churches have increased 264,
with an increased valuation OF SlS,32l,33l.
Contributions to all missionary societies
have increased 1884 120. The Epworth
League received great praise as mediator,
between the Sunday school and the Church.
IL has in three years sprung up from
naught to 1000 chapers, with 500,OU0 men,
bers. The National University at Wash
ington, is announced as a certainty, and
lioeral endownments asked for, millions be-
ing necessary for its equipment.
''The church demands an Americanized
franchise as well as naturallzed iran
chise." said the Bishop. "The continual
ton Of foreign languages and customs in
this country is wrong and we are
opposed TO the teaching of foreign
languages in our schools. We believe
that the franchise should be more
guarded and foreigners should be required
to serve a longer apprenticeship to secure
il. We regard the legislation in Congress
to exclude Chinese, as inhNman and recon-
mend that the petitions to Congress be pre-
pared by this conference 10 not pass the
measure The Capitalization OF wealth
is denounced and if it is not
arrested this will be danger to
the social and state functions. The
Church must act; it cannot side with
wealth; it muss go with the toiling masses.
Total abstinence is imperative and COM
plete State prohibition is urgent"
The report declares that the union OIL
the Church, North and South, is drifting
closer and is not an impossibility, and the
North still holds out its hands of welcome.