New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-29
THE METHODISTS ADJOURN
END OF THE GENERAL. CONFERENCE IN
CLEVELAND.


TENSION OF THE LIMIT OF PAS
ToRArEs TO TEN YEARS
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUNE.l
Cleveland, May 2S.-rhe Methodist IeherSl
Conference after having been in session twenty
four days, brought It's proceedings 10 an emu
about o'clock this afternoon. Its closing hours
were among the most busy and interesting OK 'pe
whole session Last night it sat late, adopiing
rsnorts IN favor Of equal representation Of the
laymen IN the General Conference. defining the
relations of full bishops and missionary bishops
providng for form Of conservation for deacon
esses. and discussing a report provldlhs lot an
extension Of the pastoral limit to ten years III
rare cases.
The report on equal representation provides for
an amendment TO be submitted 10 the annual
conferences allowing many lay delegates as
there are clerical delegates from any conference
This was passed by vote of 2S9fo A. Inc part
of the report providing for lay representation III
the annual conferences on the basis OF seven lay
delegates from each presiding elders district
was laid on the table by vote OF l96 10 H.
This part Of the report involved no constitu-
tional change but lay representatives could nave
been introduced into the annual conferences by
a majority vote.
DIAGNOSES AND THEIR DRESS.
report on deaconesses. DIR. Nicely and others
saw the entering wedge for another order in the
provision for a form Of conservation for women
who give themselves to this work and also Cd
iected to the requirement that as far as prac-
ticable they wear a uniform garb, but after an
appeal from DR.. Bordbeck, chairman OF the
snAciaI committed the Conference adopted the
report
The controversy as to the relative powers OF
general superintendent or full bishop ana mis-
sionary bishop in the field OF the latter was
solved by the adoption OF report from the
Committee on Episcopacy. providing Tor an
amendment Of the Discipline. SO as to require
the Board Of Bishops to invite any missionary
bishop who may be in the United states 10 meet
with them when they make their seml-anhuai
assignments and act with them When MS helu
is under consideration. and to make arrangement
for one Of their members to visit each MISSION
field once in each quadrennial, and further pro
viding that the. bishop making such Hlsit-snaii
sit conformity with the missionary bishop In hold
ing conferences and making appointments. In
n case Of deadlock between the two, the Board
:. OF Bshops In the United States IS to decide, the
status quo being maintained in themean time.
THE DEBATE ON THE ITLNERANCY.
s.rhe great feature Of the evening the de-
hate on the time limit of the itnerancy. This
came I'D on the report of the Complittee on the
Itinerancy providing that a Bishop may appoint
pastor to the same church in rara cases be-
yond the five-year limit but not more than ten
years successfully. where the quarterly con-
ference, in the absence of the pastor requests
II by q three-fourths vote to do so. 'for reasons
affecting the welfare of the church., the pre-
siding elder OF the district concurring. and a
majority of the presiding elders approving. DR..
Chaffee submitteda minority report representing
various schools Of opinion which agreed in OPP
POSING the proposed modification as fraught with
mischief. Dr. c. j. North Of New Haven. said;
II am here to say that believe there is not a
* church in New-York City or Brooklyn or In Its
vicinity anywhere that has come to the end or
the fifth year under such conditions as require
in the best judgments Of the officers OF the
~Hchurch the remaining Of the pastor for the sixth
year / asked a man best Informed. ramely the
president Of the New-York City Missionary So
ciety, whether a church in the downtown work
found 1t desirable to retain the pastor for the
sixth year. He said: Not one Is there
church where II has been found desirable to re-
tain the pastor for the sixth year because or IN
stitutional work. He said Not one. is there
one that found IT desirable because OF tne dne
That is the report of the man WHO, according 10
the judgment of those who know the metropoii-
tan Methodsm of NewYork City. Is best quail
ded to answer that not an exceptional case has
transpired for five years
General Rushing of New Jersey. appealed for
.,he plan presented in the majority report; he
said 1t gave needed 1exibility to the rule OF
itinerancy. DR.. T. B. Nicely. OF Phi'adelpha,
said: The time limit is not an essential 9 81
Netnodism, the itinerancy Will be preserved II
there be no time limit The itinerancy eXlsted
before there was a time limit. The METHODIST
Church in this country for over generation
had no time limit
TALK ABOUT GREAT PASTORS.
Dr. S. +. Upham. of Drew Theological Semi
nary, said: Nothing so thoroughly interferes
with pastoral efficiency. with the building up OF
strong. thoroughgoing evangelical Methodist
churches as our frequent ministerial removals
pastor hardly gets an acquaintance in great
city before the time comes around when he is
compelled to CO. Brethren talk about great pas
tors believe In such; but there can never be
great pastors until you allow man to stay In
q place until ne shall acquire ar. influence and
build q congregation around him. =.
49, This was said In answer 10 the argument ,oy
the other side that the proposed extension OF pas
torates was meant to favor prominent ministers
and rich churches.
RADICAL MOTION ALMOST CARRIED.
Dr. j. NJ King, New-York moved an amend
nnent which, II adopted, would have removed the
time limit altogether. storm of motions In
tended to defeat 1t were made, but the Confer
ence voted them all down. and finally amid great
excitement divided a motion TO lay DR.. King
amendment on the table, which motion prevailed
by vote Of $50 to $50. A change Of only six.
teen votes would have carried this radical mo-
tlon. The friends Of the removal Of the time
limit are greatly encouraged Further motions
were made, but the hour was late. and ae
several threatened TO demand a call Of the house
the whole matter, on motion OF DR.. Buckley, was
laid on the table Thus there will be no change
whatever in the rule for the next four years.
THE FINAL SESSION.
There was a smaller attendance at the last
session this morning. The Conference adopted
reports providing for a uniform order Of service
amending the disciplinary provisions respecting
superannuated ministers. giving subsidies to va
rious Methodist papers. changing the constitu