New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17
NETHODTSM IN COUNCIL.

Its deliberations are marked by the sturdy COM
mon sense and dislike Of needless fiummery that
have always characterized Methodism Ihough
its delegates are charged with the interests OF
n great spiritual kingdom, they are always ana
under all circumstances essentially human. Spir-
ltua minded men. doubtless, most OF them are
hut their spirituality is OF the robust order, ana
Is in close touch with the activities OF real llfe
There is no such thing as spiritual fog III
Methodism: the most rapt graduate or the anA-
io,s seat or believer in personal holiness sees no
visions and dreams. no dreams that he cannot
somehow or other realize in his daily walk ana
conversation, and give to the whole Church as
mart OF its common dowry. Methodism, like
Roman Catholicism. IS n gigantic and we'll
ordered machine in which the personal prcdiec-
t,ons of individual members count for little. SO
long AS they work for it's interests in advancing
the Kingdom of God they find field Of work
and abundant honor; when for any reason they
cease to he useful they are remOrselessly set
aside Here and there are heard rumblinss or
revolt In the body against the spiritual autocracy
created by the genius Of Wesley; ana IN rev
matters notably, in the admission Of the laity
TO the supreme council Of the Churct-conces-
sions have been made to the modern spirit Of
autocracy and cannot. without danger of dis
intcgratlon. become anything else.
The remarkable victory Of the women in this
Conference after more than eight years of cease
less agitation might appear at first sight to
prcsage a revolution in the Church. The Confer
cnce refused TO decide for or against four women
who presented credentials as lay delegates, ana
by much more than the constitutional majority
No. lioli itt-
Of women as lay delegates That the annual
conferences will indorsc this action is foregone
conclusion But. after all. the admission OF
women will not seriously disturb the traditions
OF the Church even II II were certain, which 1t
Is not. that many OF them will DO elected lay
delegates. Both officially and unoflically women
are already potent factor In the life and work
~ the Church. and they have always shown
themselves 10 be- on the side OF conservatism.
In,crd. the giving To women ~ larger voice
! In the councils Of the Church is likely to add
/ greatly 10 It's power and influence in the old
! traditional lines. To take concrete OK
annie II the conclusions OF modern Biblical
| criticism should ever come 10 be accepted by a
considerable number OF Methodist preachers
! n contingency by no means impossiblc-the WON
en- Of the Church would be found among the
]
was understood and interpreted by John Yves
| lev In regard 10 other questions that might
arise. the women would always range them
selves on the side Of tradition and conservatism,
So that POSSIBLY some OF the conservatives who
have been lighting against their admission may
vet live 10 see the day when they will ask their
| aid In unfolding the conservative traditions or
the Church The right OF women to sit a lay
/ Hk.lv o., In nh Slpl "A
principle. but simply rs a matter Of expedicncy,
! and ~ a recognition Of womans growing influ-
encc in every other sphere Of modern life, her
admission TO seat in the Church's governing
body would seem TO be- cmnently wise For
the time might come when. II such recognition
were refused her. she would feel called upon to
hc the critic mthcr than the working arm, Of
the Church
Mcihodsts are keen ecclesiastical politicians.
and have occasionally allowed this trait In their
character TO carry them beyond the bounds Of
oroprcty Yet 1t is entirely natural that there
should be a widespread desire for the perma-
ncnt ofilc,.s In the gif. OF the Church.
For however much may he SAID In favor OF
the ltlneracy as the best possible working sys-
TEN. 80 far ms the interests Of the Church are
concerned, It bears hard on individuals, and it
should seek to escape 1t Ivy an election to a life
office with n liberal salary. During this last
week the Conference took an unprecedented
course In retiring as "non-effective" the two
venerable senior Bishops OF the Church, Bow
man and Foster, by an offhand v0te-a method
that will seem needlessly harsh to many who
acknowledge the necessity OF relieving these
faithful servants of the Church OF some of the
| l,ir NJ IN p Loot
only two new Bishops this year, and the ballot
Ing for them began on Friday The general
secretaries and editors will be elected this week.
An important question yet to come up is the
removal OF the time limit In its action on this
question the Conference Is hardly likely to do
more than adopt the suggestion OF the Bishops,
that the time limit Of pastoral service be re-
moved in certain exceptional eases. While it is
| certain that growing minority In the Church
would like to see the ltneracy abolished, on the
ground that II has outlived its usefulness. no
such radical step will be taken for many years
TO come. The same Is true OF the proposal TO
modify the rule against certain amuscmrnis.
Such a course would seem too much like re-
treat. and the Conference will probably content
itself with rcasserting, leaving to each pastor
the same discretion rs to enforcing it which he
has now But the Conference finds few fail
ures or mistakes to face. The last qladrennlllm
has been period Of unexamped growth and
prosperity in the Church, and the future Is
bright with the promise of still grenter victories
than those that have marked the history of
Mehodism In the past.
Mr. Plat says his second choice Is Miller. but
Mr.. Miller does not seem to have an equally high