Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-25


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.H, MW II week in May, and de-
M31 ny vote a month to
I&ESasS legislation which will
@El5agE affect nearly 5000, 900
-&sE members. Delega-
A4& lions are expected
~ from all sections of
the United States, and from Norway, Ger
many, Italy, China, Japan, Mexico and
South America. Fra ternal messengers will
represent English, Irish and Canadian
Methodists. the Methodist Episcopal
church South and other evangelical de-
nominations. There will be over 500 dele
gates In the general conference.
Since the conference is the great quad
rennial event Of this denomination, 1t is
safe to assume that the visiting preachers
and laymen will be numbered by the hum
dreds and possibly thousands. The numer-
Gus vital questions to be settled and the
accessibility of Cleveland increase the
probability Of q large attendance of visit
Crs; Inc entertainment committee, of
Mhlch Or. A. }. Palmer of New York city
Is chairman. has secured from the hotels a
promise that the Usual rates will not be
lncres sed during the conference. The ex-
lenses OF delegates will be paid by the
churcn Out, or course, visitors will be re-
CURED TO pay their own expenses
Inc sessions of the conference will be
held In the auditorium Of the new armory
Indeed, it was the promised completion of
tnls auditorium that led to the selection Of
Cleveland as the place for holding the con-
ference, because there was no other place
OF meeting In Cleveland large enough for
the purpose. Early in the winter the audi
forum was ready for the floor, and was be-
ing hurried to completion, when a decision
or the supreme court put a stop to all
work 1t was found that $4,000 would fin
ish and furnish the auditorium and COM
rooms. soip
from the commissioners, Methodist laymen
OF Cleveland gave the money, and the work
was resumed. Tine auditorium will be
ready Tor use when wanted, May +.
general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church is interesting IN many
ways as a national convention or a session
OF Congress. 1t attracts numerous visitors
VINO are more less interested in the
matters up for consideration, and who are
eager to be present at each session. The
finance committee this year has decided to
charge 800 for box and $40 for a chair
and the visitors will doubtless pay the
amount asked without a murmur and thus
help replenish a treasury badly in need of
funds.
Some Important Questions.
The coming conference is one of peculiar
interest because of the various constitu-
tional questions to be settled, If possible
For years women have claimed the right
to assist in making the laws of the church,
but the men have denied them the right on
the ground that it was unscriptural and in
expedient for women to have the rule over
men in the church. By a large majority
the church at large has expressed Itself
In favor Of the admission of women to the
general conference. Four women have
been elected and will present themselves
for recognition. Those opposed to women
contend that the vote in favor of admitting
them will not be a law until ratified by
the general conference Since the women
elected he xf-in
be claimed that they cannot come in at the
present session. Their friends will I'M
doubleday endeavor to seat them by di-
rect vote. They have the power, and may
exercise it, but such a course may lead to
serious disturbance of ecclesiastical har-
mony.
Next in importance to the woman ques-
ton Is the proposed removal of the time
limit regulating the length of a preachers
stay in charge OF one church. The bishop
nXeS the appointments at the session Of
the annual conference. but cannot reap
point for more than five years. At the end
Of five years the law Of the church re-
quires the removal of the preacher. Dur
ing the past quadrennium there has been
considerable discussion Of this question.
particularly among the city pastors The
circuit riders and men appointed to small
stations are not much in favor Of re-
moval of the limit. The argument urged
that a metropolitan church cannot be de-
veloped to high degree of efficiency by
a pastorate of five years.
The removal Of the limit places the
whole responsibility the bishop, who
must continue to reappoint a pastor as
long he wants him to stay at one place.
Early in the history OF the denomination
there was no time limit, but the limit was
enacted at the earnest solicitation Of a
pioneer bishop, who found that there were
some things that even Methodist bishop
could not do. It was hard thing some
times to move preacher by mere author
ity md cd Y1onr doc h 10
to have a law that would create vacancies
at stated intervals. At first the limit was
two years. Four years ago,it was extended
to five years, and now the demand is made
to have it removed altogether. The mat
ter will doubtless provoke considerable dis
cussion.
Popular Amusements.
Another question of more widespread
interest among the laity, and especially
the young people, Is the proposed elimina-
ton from the church discipline of the spe-
cific rules against popular amusements.
Dancing, card-playing and theater-going
are named particularly, and provision made
for the expulsion OF any INDUCING In these
amusements. A rigorous enforcement of
these rules would have q bad effect on the
membership of some of the city churches,
where there is superabundance of
specified restrictions did not emanate from
the mind of John Wesley, the founder of
the church. They were incorporated in the
discipline as a sort of Interpretation Of
clause in the general rules which forbids
amusements that cannot be taken in the
name of Christ. They have given preach
ers endless trouble, because a literal en-
forcement arouses resentment and fails to
accomplish the desired object.
Preachers who are opposed to the emuse-
ments named urge the removal Of the spe-
cific restrictions because they feel that the
proper way is to make the amusement
question a matter of conscience, and not
of arbitrary restriction. The matter has
been freely discussed, aud there is a strong
probability that The rules touching amuse-
ments will be considerably revised
matter Of deep concern to the more
advanced Methodists and the leaders in
all sections is that of the election of addi-
tional bishops to particular geographical
stations. At present there are eighteen
bishops, two Of the number being desig-
mated as missionary bishops" The dis
tinction is that missionary bishop is in