The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-09
MORE HOT DEBATES.
They Are Foreshadowed By the Pro-
ceedings of the Methodist Confer
ence at Cleveland.

ence at Cleveland.
CLEVELAND, O., May S.-The
Methodist general conference has now
been we'll started in the considering of
the mass of important business which
it has before it. The excitement over
the woman delegate question having
been passed, the general current of in
terest on other matters is becoming
more apparent. The lay delegates are
showing their purpose to curtail, if
possible, the powers vested in the min
listers, and make the conduct of church
affairs more democratic.
That issue was raised today in one
form in committee, and will, doubtless,
be the cause of more than one hot de-
bate on the floor of the conference.
Today's session was begun with the
consideration of the proposition to in
crease the number of bishops. The
colored Methodists want a bishop of
their own, and so does China. 1t is
proposed also to tighten the labors of
the four older bishops who were ap-
pointed in 1872.
Bishop Hurst presided.
Morris Sharp, of Ohio presented a
resolution to excuse the women dele
gates who had relinquished their seats,
and providing that their expense be
paid to the date of their withdrawal.
The resolution also called in their male
reserves.
DR.. Nicely, of Philadelphia, presented
a substitute, in which the women were
invited to remain as honored guests of
the conference and their expenses
ordered paid.
DR.. Cranston asked for ruling as
RI I,n 70 Of in
the conference.
Bishop Hurst decided that that was
a matter of Interpretation for the body,
and ruled that DR.. Nicely had the floor.
Just after DR.. Nicely began speak
ing, DR.. Fryssinger, Of Pennsylvania,
appealed from the decision of the chair
on DR.. Cranton's point.
Bishop Hurst put the question IS an
appeal of DR.. Cranton. There was
great, confusion. A motion to lay the
entire matter on the table was lost by
a vote of 21S to los. Bishop Hurst held
that DR.. Nicely had the floor. DR..
Kynett appealed.
Bishop Hurst declined TO entertain
the appeal and a dozen men were on
the floor shouting for recognition.
Bishop Hurst pounded until he broke
the gavel
The resolution states that this cen
eral conference, representing the Meth
odist Episcopal church, reiterates its
conviction that the cure for sectarian
and ecclesiastical aggressions is to be
found in the adoption of the proposed
sixteenth amendment to the United
States constitution, drafted and pro-
mulgated by the National League for
the Protection of American Institu-
tons. 1t is directed that a record of
no r1f 1Xy r5o1 10
the secretary of the United States SEN
ate, the secretary of the house of re-
personalities, and the secretary of the
interior at Washington.
This general conference directs that
the signatures of its president and sec
rotary be signed to this action
The committee on constitution is
considering proposed new article OF
the constitution relating to lay dele
gates, the general intention being to
make it
SUFFICIENTLY LIBERAL
to meet the wishes of the general con-
ference regarding the admission of
women.
Another meeting of lay delegates
was held tonight to discuss the min
isterial time limit. A resolution was
introduced providing for a flexible ar
rangement controlled by the bishops,
but after being debated for some time
fate befell a resolution to make the
time limit three years. The meeting
adjourned without having accom-
plished anything.
The platform meeting in the Armory
tonight was under the auspices of the
Methodist board of education Adj
dresses were made by Rev. DR.. j. W.
E. Bowen of Cannon Theological in
stitute, Atlanta, Ga; Rev. DR. C. H.
cation; Bishop Warren, the protector
of Denver university, and Bishop
Hurst of the American university
Among the meetings of the stand
ing committees this afternoon that Of
the committee on episcopacy was the
most important. India protested
against the proposed retirement of
Missionary Bishop Thoburn and the
placing of a regular bishop in his
stead. On the other hand, China and
Japan asked for permanent resident
bishops, with full Episcopal author
ity.
THE COLORED METHODISTS
asked for bishop of their own, and
said they had man eminently fitted
for the place. They refer to Rev. DR..
Brown, president of the Cannon
Theological institute of Atlanta A
resolution was introduced providing
that the senior group of bishops be
permitted to so arrange their work as
to be able to pass the remaining years
of their lives in comfort. The propo-
sition is to provide them suitable sal
aries, in view of their services, and
allow them to select their own places
of residence after the other and more
active bishops have divided their
own work. The senior bishops were
appointed in 1872, and are, all of them,
well advanced in years. They are
Bishops Bowman of st. Louis, Merrill
of Chicago, Andrews of New York
and Foster of Boston. They object
to the action proposed, desiring to
remain in the harness.
The committee on temporal economy
decided TO submit to the conference
a proposition curtailing the
POWERS OF THE MINISTER'S,
which will probably be opposed by the
latter. This is tc the effect that here
after it shall be understood that the
congregations and not the ministers
shall choose the local church officers.
1t has been the practice to have the
class leaders appointed by the min
listers, and in three-fourths of the
churches the pastors make out lists
of whom they want for stewards and
trustees. and they are chosen by the
members.