The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-29

all sections is that of the election OF
additional bishops to particular geo.
graphical stations. At present there
are eighteen bishops, two of tine number
being designated as missionary bish-
ops" The distinction Is that a mis-
sionary bishop is in power only while
in a particular territory, while u ''regu-
lar" bishop is in full authority any
where in the world. Bishop Thoburn,
of India. and Bishop Walker. of Africa.
are missionary bishops. There will
doubtless be a move to abolish the dis
tinction and make missionary bishops
bishops indeed. Closely related to this
question is the one of episcopal resi-
dence and geographical restrictions.
Methodist episcopal bishops are not
limited at present the same as Roman
Catholic or episcopal bishops. They
travel all over the world and exercise a
general superintendency over the vari-
Gus annual conferences, according to a
mutual understanding and agreement.
Bishop Bowman resides in st. Louis,
yet he exercises Episcopal functions In
all parts Of the United States Bishop
Goodsell has his Episcopal headquar-
ters in San Francisco, but has recently
been assigned to duty in Europe. All
bishops are equal. but Bishop Bowman
preSideS at their semi-annual meetings
by virtue of his seniority. A bishop
has no authority aside from that given
by the discipline, which is the crystal
lized enactments of the general confer
ences. A number of prominent preach
ers and laymen have been urging u
plan of episcopacy requiring each
bishop to look after given territory
for q term of four years. This move
ment also includes the Quadrennial 10
cation of bishop in China. South
America, Africa, India and Europe, the
remaining bishops to be stationed IN
various parts of the United States. 1t
Is claimed that this plan will enable
each bishop to gain more intimate and
accurate knowledge Of his field than he
can possibly gain under the present
system of dependence in presiding eld-
ers and preachers.
The consolation of the book concern
Is under consideration. At present the
publishing interests of the church are
carried on by two establishments, one
in New York and one in Cincinnati.
Branch offices and repositories are To-
Gated in the leading cities. This move
ment toward consolidation also carries
with 1t the proposition to elect laymen
as agents instead of preachers.
A LEGISLATIVE BODY.
The general conference is purely a
legislative body. 1t makes all the laws
of the church. In u general way 1t
corresponds with the national con-
gress. Ministerial and lay delegates
are sent by the hundred or more annual
conferences. Four years ago there We're
3l5 preachers and lS9 laymen. This
session there will probably be an In
crease. Ministerial and lay delegates
meet in one body and have equal pow
ers, although not equal in numbers.
Separate votes can be taken on ques-
tions before the conference II demanded.
The bishops preside In rotation one
session each. They are not allowed the
privileges Of the floor. Unlike some
legislative bodies the bishop cannot
call substitute to the chair, take the
floor and make speech no matter how
much he may desire to do so. Like
congress, most of the work is done in
committee. There are twelve standing
committees, viz: Episcopacy, timer
arcy, boundaries, revivals, temporal,
economy. state of the church, book con-
Germ, missions, education, church extern
sion, Sunday schools and tracts, freed
mans aid and work in the south. Each
member of each delegation, beginning
with the chairman, selects q committee,
and so on through the list until the del
egation Is represented on each commits
tee. None of the standing committees
are appointed by the presiding officer.
Each delegate will be on several COM
mittees. and each committee will have
about 100 members. The names Of the
committees indicate the class of legis-
lation referred to them. The committee
on episcopacy stands first in impor-
tance. 1t is formed of the chairmen
of the various delegations. The COM