Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-09
DECKS ARE CLEAR.
Methodist Conference Can Now
Proceed in Order.
WOMAN QUESTION OUT OF THEwAY

The -Four Delegates Elected Having De-
sidsd 20 Give Up Their seats-Iasues IN
Which the Episcopacy Il Involved Dis.
eusscd In Committes-Proposition to Cur
tall the Powers Of Ministers-No Con-
ei1sion - 10 Time Limit,
CLRvELAND, May 9-The Methodist
general conference has now been well
started in the consideration of the mass
Of important business which is before il.
The excitement over the woman delegate
question having passed the general cur
rent OF interest on other matters is becom-
Ing more apparent. The lay delegates are
showing their purpose to curtail. if posi-
Bile, the powers vested in the ministers
and make the conduct Of church affairs
more democratic. That issue was raised
yesterday In one form in committee, and
will doubtless be the cause of more than
one hot debate ON the floor of the confer
ence. The general committees are In SEES
sion every afternoon, and yesterday was
begun the consideration of the PROPOSE.
zion to inceease the number Of bishops:
Work in the Standing Committees.
Among the meetings Of the standing
committees that of the committee on
episcopacy was probably the most i'm.
posed 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 au-
thority. The Cleveland Methodists asked
for the establishment Of an episcopal resi-
dence in this city. The colored Metho-
dists asked for bishop Of their own and
said they had q man eminently fitted for
the place. They refer to Rev. DR.. J. w.
+. Bowen, president OF Cannon Theo-
logical institute, Of Atlanta, Ga.
Ease and Comfort for Aged Bishops.
A resolution was introduced providing
that the senior group of bishops be per.
mitted to SO arrange their work as to be able
to pass the remaining years Of their lives
in case and comfort. The proposition is
to provide them with suitable salaries, 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 1877, and are all
Of them we'll advanced in years. They
are Bishops Bowman, OF St. Louis; Nor
rill, of Chicago; Andrews, of New York,
and Foster, Of Boston. They object to the
action proposed. desiring to remain in the
harness.
Curtaflmeut Of Powers Of Ministers.
The committee ON temporal economy
decided to submit to tho conference
proposition curtailing the powers of tho
ministers, which will probably be opposed
by the latter. This Is to the effect that
hereafter IL shall DO understood that the
congregation and not the ministers shall
choose the local church officers 1t has
been the practice to have the class leaders
appointed by tho ministers, and in three
fourths Of tho churches the pastors make
out lists OF who they want for stewards
and trustees and they are chosen by the
mcmb RS.
Admission of Women Deiegatea
Rev. DIR. Moore says the four women
delegates have decided not to resume their
seats in the conference, though they arc
probably entitled to them. He and the
other advocates Of women delegates feel
that they have made n long stride toward
their goal in securing the vote in favor of
the constitutional amendment. The COM
mittee on constitution is considering q
proposed new article Of the constitution
relating to lay delegates, the general in
tention being to make it sufficiently lib
eral 70 meet tine wishes of the general
conference regarding the admission Ct
women.
Time Limit for Preachers
Another meeting Of lay delegates was
held last night to discuss the ministerial
time limit. A resolution was introduced
providing for Il flexible arrangement con-
trolled by the bishops, but after being de-
bated for some time it was laid on tho
table. The same fate befel n resolution
to make the time limit three years. Tho
meeting adjourned without having &C.
complished anything.