Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-05-14
THE GENERAL CONFERENCE.
Proposed Commission to Draft constitu
tiou for the MethndiHt Church.

Proposed Commission TO Draft Constitu-
tinu for the Methndist Church.
Cleveland, O., May IL, To days |
aession of tho Methodist Episcopal
General Conferences opened with Bishop |
Fowler in the chair
Rev. Il. ID, Munger presented reso-
luton creating commission on con
etitution, to consist OF two ministers
and two laymen from zach district, as
it now stands. The resolution cited |
the fact that there is great question as
to what parts Of the discipline oonsti-
tute the constitution OF the church,
and this commission is authorized to
draw up a constitution. The members
of the commission are to be over 30
years of age, and will meet In Chicago
on the first Wednesday in August,
where they will organize by electing a
president and secretary. They are to
draw up the constitution, and 1T ia to
be published twice in all official papers
OF the church within 30 days after Its
completion. Tho commission Is also
authorized TO devise rules for election,
and not lass than three or more than
| six months afterward the church will
vote on the constitutions. Only those
over 81 years of age will be permitted
to vote, and the result shall be certi
| fed to the secretary OF the General
Conference. II adopted by majority
OF those voting, the constitution 80
adopted shall be effective ct once. The
resolution was referred wifhourt argu.
ment to the committee on constitution.
Associated Press Dispatch by sperial Wires.
Cleveland, o., May l3. The Method
ist Episcopal General conference
opened to-day with Bishop Vincent IN
the chair.
The proposition to change the time
az opening the General Conference
from NAV lat to the first Wednesday in
NAV aroused dlcussion on the point
OF eonstitutionality of the action,
Three fomths of tho annual conferences
had approved IL and it was approved by
mora than, two thirds of the General
Coaference DIR. Leonard led the op'
position, but he was literally buried,
j as the vote atood 39T yeas and 10 nays.
!, The next General Conference will con
vene on the first Wednesday in May,
) 1900.
The first resolution offered denounced
in strong terms the Armenian cntragel
and massacres and referred to thi
apathy Of the Ghristlan governments o
4 Europe and America. 1t closed b,
| calling on Congress to pass a Join
(. resolution authorizing the Presiden
F, to enter into negotiations with tn
/, European powers most directly IN
q. terested with tho view OF interferin
l. and preventing further massacres. !
was referred to the committee on stat
l. Of the church without discussion,
I. A proposition TO hold the Genera
+, Conference each six years, was Ere
sented by tho Rev. l.. II. Fisk OF De
troIt. The reasons given were that
would save 50, 500 per day and also tim
" as under the present arrangement %
d men are out of church work for
y weeks, or an aggregate Of 40 years
"a Other reasons were that 1t would II
1T duce the anxiety incidental to ele'
h tions, would give more satisfaction
I. test Of officers elected, would save cri
ID cisms, would give longer time
Is which to test changes in discipline an
n would insure greater stability az
10 permaneney. 1t was referred TO u
committee Of state Of the church.
Chaplain McCabe presented a const
tutional amendment which forhids
mt missionary society appropriating su
at in excess OF the income OF the ye
90 nreyious. This is intended to call
n. halt on appropriations in EXCESS OF
by come,