New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-09
TIE METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENcE

TIE METHODIST HENEh1L '"-' "i'-''"'
The sessions Of the Methodist General Con-
ference during the last week have been inter-
cSring and animated. The most noteworthy
event was the reading of the 4uadrcnnal adj
dress of the bishops giving review OF the
state of the Church during the last four years
The facts there presented must prove most
gratifying to every Methodist. The member
ship of the Church has increased 10000 Il
number greater than The whole membership
of some denominations The missionary opera
tionS of the Church at home and abroad have
been prosecuted with vgor and sclf-dcnylng
zeal. and have been crowned with large
measure of success. since 1883 two thousand
six hundred and forty churches have been built
During the same period the aggregate receipts
for all objects were SI.9j3 1913. an increase oi
SIIg1.GJi over the receipts of the previous
auadrcnnium. Steps have been taken to cStab-
lish q great university 1T Washington. which
will require $4,000. 600 for its equipment.
The Epwotth League. during the three years of
It's existence has established 5000 chapters,
and now has 800, 600 members. The attitude
Of the Church toward other religious bodies
has become more fraicrnal than ever and It's
war ON the saloon and other forms Of vice and
crime has been wagcd with is accustomed
yigor. It's record of work among the colorcd
people has been so splendid as to command the
admiration Of other denominations, the Roman
Catholic Church even paying it a tribute of
rrai~c in one of ia organs. II Is troubled by
no serious ,chismS. and lis general condition
T., one al quic; and aggressive progress. y
Church which can make such magnificent
showing has no cause To feel discouraged for
the future
The passage of the resolution giving scpa-
rate seats 10 the aymcn in the conference
aroused an earnest discussion but beyond sat
sfyng the aymcn the measure will not appar-
emily have much effect on the legislation OF the
Church. rs natural aptitude and trimming
nearly all Methodist ministers are accomplished
dcbatcr,. while the laity, as a rule. are not +;
and they felt. with some justice. perhaps, that
when they were hidden away among the MN
lstcrs thcy'wcrc at disadvantage i'll the t0ulna-
mcnt of debate especially IL they are III u
numerical minority. 1t is pretty certain, how
ever that though they will now SIT by them
selves. they will continue TO act i'll general har-
mony with the ministers, Is they have always
done heretofore.
On Wednesday there was the usual quad
rcnnial display of rhetorical fireworks over the
rights. privileges and limitations OF the bishops
Hearing n few Of the good brethren talk, one
might suppose that the Church was threatened
with some dreadful form of hcrarchical dom
nation. But there is really nothing in il. The
ministers do not believe in any sach POSSIBLE
ity: and even if the bishops were trying to
4 10, l,,t br.n ,,ki,h thav mot
they would not he able to do so. Their powers
and limitations are exactly defined in the Con-
stitution of the Church. They do not belong
TO an order, but simply exercise an office of
supcrintcndcncy, and it is pretty safe To say
that no serious attempt will ever be made by
ANYBODY to change their status in that respect.
But it plcascs some excellent delegates to lift
ND their voice against IN ecclesiastical hicr
archy in every conference and rs the bishops
do not object, no great harm is done.
Considerable feeling was aroused over the
Chinese Exclusion Act, which It was feared
will react mfavorably on the missions of the
Church in China but the whole matter was
finally referred TO a special committee, which
will draft a report cmbodying the views of the
Church Oh the question. The woman question
has not vet come up before the conference cx-
cept incidentally but it may come up at any
time, in which case it is likely to he referred
to the Church again. This will be the course
most pleasing to the advocates OF the women.
for they profess to believe that the sentiment
of the Church is rapidly growing in their favor,
and they hope by the time the next conference
meets to be able to carry the measure with a
rush.