The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-05-14
FOR FOREIGN BISHOPS.
AN NJ. f. COMMITTEE DECIDES
THEY CAN BE CHOSEN.
Probation Still Six Months-~A Deci-
sion Against Shortening 1t by
Committee - The Election of
Bishops Changed.

CLEvELAND, May " The standing
committee Of the NJ r general confer.
enoe have considered and voted to re.
port on some important subjects
AT tho meeting of the committee or
episcopacy sub commtteereported that
IL had examined the law bearing on for.
eign opiscopates, and had reached the
conclusion that there was nothing To
prevent foreign bishops. The SUI. com
mitteo recommended bishop for
Europe The question of whether the
church should exercise jurisdiction out.
side the United States was warmly de.
bated and the subject held over until
the next meeting. In response to pre-
vious request tho bishops reported that
they were in good health and capable
of continuing in the discharge Of theii
duties, but that in view of the growth
of the church and possible contingencies
the election or two more bishops was
desirable
The committee on itinoraoy ronsid.
cred the proposed changes IN the church
discipline. Two of the questions asked
Of an aspirnnt for ministerial appoint
mont, both before and at the close Of
his probation, are "Will you prom.
ise to abstain entirely from tobacco?"
and "are yon i'm debtY'
Tho bishops proposed to omit these
questions from the final examination
and allow the first promises to stand
There was a long debate over this in
committee, but the recomme nLat!on of
tho bishops was finally sustained on the
vote
subcommittee Of the committee on
combination of benevolenc, recon.
mondcd the joining of tho Freedman's
Aid and South Educational society and
tho hoard of education under the name
Education and Freedman'S Aid
board :" also the union of the Sunday
School society and the Tract society nm.
der the name Sunday School and Tract
society" This met with strong opposi.
tion and the matter went over until to-
morrow
The committee on revision of the con-
stitution decided against shortening tho
term of probation, which is six months
A sub committee was directed to draw
up an order of church services, strictly
Methodist Episcopal, which shall be
mandatory
The committee on state of tho church
recommended the appointment of one
evangelist on more in each district con-
ference for revival work The promo
sition that the corresponding secre-
taries Of all the church benevolences
be nominated by the bishops and elected
by the boards of control of those insti.
tutiOns was received, but no action
taken on it, The discussion on tho
proposition to ask for the insertion after
the word "Postcrity" in the preamble
of the United States constitution the
words 'In God we trust, was long and
heated aud the question was finally
! efcrred to subcommittee.
he high temperature and the hnmid-
ity of the atmosphere both operated to
prevent burst Of oratory at the con.
ference, and the rontino business trans
acted was disposed of with as little
effort MS possible. The most important
question disposed Of was the fixing of
the time for tho election of bishops.
Tho election will begin on Thursday of
this week and continue until all the
officers are chosen Resolutions were
presented favoring the obliteration Of
tho color line in the election Of bishops
and condemning lynchiugs, both OF
which We're referred 10 appropriate com.
mlttees without action Another rcso.
lntlon. proposing reduction in the
salaries Of conference officials bccause
OF the hard times was also referred To
= committee