The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-04
KNOTTY PROBLEMS.
Methodist General Confer
ence to Be Held in Cleve-
land This Year.
WOMEN GlAR FOR REPRESENTATION
Additional Bishops and the Time
Limit Question Will be Fought
Out-Church News.

Methodists in every city and State of
the union will, in a few weeks, begin a
little ele~ctioneering business. There
will be aucus and conventions and
nominations for high positions. So far
as a layman is concerned, it is the high
est and proudest position he can occupy.
To the minister it is an honor and one
which carries with it a great deal Of re-
sponsibilaty. To serve at the next meet
ing of the various conferences delegates
Will be chosen to the quadrennial confer
ence to be held in May in Cleveland,
Ohio.
The Newark Conference, of which Jer-
sey City, Hoboken and Bayonne churches
form a part. will meet in April previous
ly and elect clerical and lay delegates,
and every other conference will do the
same.
Three very weighty questions will be
brought before the General Conference.
and there is sure to be very prolonged
and exciting discussions concerning them.
These vexata questio are:-Tgme limit;
additional bishops and representation by
women.
Concerning the first of these, time
limit, a great deal of time in local con-
1NSh oAN
SO many for extending the time of a
minister witch a charge and so many
against any change in the Did Methodist
rule that a bitter fight will be made on
the floor of the convention and in all
probability the matter will be tabled for
another four years. The view of one
minister who approves of a change vas
given yesterday to a News reporter.
fe1sol c M oura ~ O n - l,a he~o, ssIIaro
l am in a church where 1 feel entirely
at home. My congregation are good
enough to want me to stay with them
them. l am building up the church by
making acquaintance and drawing these
gradually into the church. The Sunday
School is growing and my work for the
past four years is beginning to show good
returns and it ~gladdens my heart. But
just think, When everything is worked
compelled, by the time limit, to go to a
strange charge. My successor has to
begin as l did from the beginning. People
very often the last condition of the
church is worse than the first. Then
when l go to a new charge l am out of
a auns w the t dangers ! sc SO npf fuzzy a now %
by my predecessor, who vas acquainted
with each of his flock, and before per-
h haps i e ye sar,r IS nao oyer M N.Y. cg hagse mapn
- I Inv tAAN P<|SOA AM 80
ing unpleasant comparisons and | am
snubbed by the quarterly conference and
am glad to get out.
shall say how long a minister shall stay.
II they want him for ten years ali right.
If they don't want him ten minutes, why.
There will be little or no objection to
the second subject, Additional Bish-
o q p,sS Meshq % SITS k IN oS5 f that tn the ev Hog 35s
creasing work of the church. Confer
ences are growing in size and conse-
quently work, and that means more work
think that there viii be six appointed
and others think that they will pc made
be. easily disposed of when the first
thing is settled.
As for the third question. The, Rep
is confidently expected. For years the
ladies a W been trying to secure rep
resentation in the conference as dele
avoided taking action In such a delicate
matter, and the women tired of the, poll
icy of mastery inactivity have managed
General Conference.
Mrs. William H. Beach, a prominent
said saitHD to 4 the writ Writer sa Some aVs time e ago ii
speaking of this subject
ITS a shame that ministers should
they want any money raised for their
salaries Oh the church debt they come
to us and what do you suppose could
they do with bazars and fairs If the wo-
men didn't come to the front Oh, yes,
we are right, when they want us to
raise raise funds aa1asa but when we ask :sbot to be e,
do women want as delegates. They
don't understand church matters" If
women are admitted to church member
ship they have equal rights with men in
the convention"
Mrs. Beach's logic was warmly en-
dorsed by other ladies of the church
to whom the matter was referred.
Whatever may be the results of the
General Conference it certainly will be
profoundly interesting.
AMONG THE CHURCHES.