The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-05-28

Ugh office on Tuesday next at II
clock a. m.
Tow THE CONFERENCE DOES ITS
WORK.
A word may not be out of place
d the methods of work followed in
Il e general conference. As every
n ethodist knows and perhaps every
d e else, this body is the highest
q Inference IN our connection and
D sses all laws, makes provision for
Il elr execution and sits in judg-
ent upon their legality. The
conference is made up, at present,
OF one minister for every forty-fve
methodist preachers and two lay
men for every annual conference,
wi ch is entitled to two ministers.
IfRn annual conference should be
soSmall as to only have one minis
teFial delegate then there can only
BID one lay delegate.
The conference Immediately after
it's organization proceeds at once to
create large number of standing
and other committees. These COM
M ttees are large in number, some
tiltes there being as many as $50
pefsons on one committee. Like
our United States Congress most Of
the work of the conference is done
in these committees, and like Con-
gresS too (only more SOY the work
of tie fsSmittees is liable to sudden
ara yrHlg ny changes by the house.
These committees carefully consider
every side and phase Of our great
church. Nothing escapes. Every
innovation or alteration is carefully
and ably debated by men who are
intellectual giants, first in the
committees then on the floor Of the
conference.
The conference usually is con-
servaJive body, 1t is made up for
the most part Of men who are IN
middle life or beyond. There are
many more gray haired men than
those whose hair has yet its natural
hue.
SOME PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS.
Not one of the least attractive
things connected with the confer
ence is the stirring debates which
are ALWAYS springinp M. The
prince of parliamentarians and the
astute debater Of this great body is
the Rev. j. NJ. Buckley, D. D.,
editor of the New York CHRISTIAN
AdvOcatc. Rev. 7. B. Nealy, of
Philadelphia; Rev. \. j. Kynett,
of the same city; Rev. S. Nj. Bris-
tol, Rev. Leroy Belt, and Rev. VIM.
Swindells may be mentioned as
leaders, although when you look
upon such d body of giants it is
difficult to single out any-all are
great. To give the noted laymen
of the conference would be but to
repeat names that are already IA
mliar to the public. There are
eminent judges, lawyers, doctors
apd business men who give up lu-
-5fvfve employment for a month
and deYote themselves to most
ariuous work for the church, and
all without money or without price,
but simply for Christ's sake and
The church. | must, however,
bfore closing this perhaps too long
letter, mention one Of our own
eminent laymen who has been hon
ond by one Of the high positions Of
trust in the general conference.
The Hon. George G. Sturgiss, q
bpther to A.G .Sturgiss OF Oakland,
iseasily in the forefront among the
laTmen. He is chairman Of the
large standing committee on book
accounts, and but day before yes
to-day presented the report of his
committee and steered it through
The general conference in the high
est and most efficient manner. He
has brought great credit to himself
and honor to the conference which
elected him by his able speeches
before the conference and his wis
dom IN the arduous committee
work.
The end of the session is begin
ming to appear. Many think con-
ference may effect an adjournment
bynext Wednesday or Thursday.
Trusting ! have pot trespassed
too much upon your space and the
patience of your readers, | am,
S, X. ARBUTHNOT.
Mckinley and LOWndeS.