The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-12

CLEVELAND. o., May 1.-THE high
temperature and the humidity OF the
atmosphere both operated to prevent
a burst of oratory at the Methodist
Episcopal general conference today,
and the routine business transacted
was disposed of with as little effort as
possible.
The most important question disposed
of was the fixing of time for the cleo
ton of bishops. The election will begin
on Thursday of this week, and continue
until all the officers are chosen. F.eso-
lutions were presented favoring the, OBJ
liberation of the color line in the cleo
tion of bishops, and condemning lynch
ings. both of which were referred to
appropriate committees without &C
ton.
Another resolution proposing a re-
duction in the salaries of conference
officials, because of the hard times, was
also referred to committee.
Bishop Walden presided this morning
at the Methodist Episcopal general
conference. Rev. B. F. Wittierson OF
southern California presented a reso-
luton declaring that color and caste do
not enter into the conference and the
election of bishops of African descent
should be viewed in the light of ability.
1t was presented for adoption, but the
conference referred it to the commit
tee on episcopacy. The committee on
the Freedman's Aid reported on the ap-
plication Of the Delaware conference
to change the name to the Southern
Education society. The report was in
favor of retaining the old name. After
debate the report was adopted.
DR.. Lanihan moved to reconsider the
vote by which Monday next was set
as the day for
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
In making his motion, DR.. Lanihan
said the reasons were manifest why an
earlier action would be desirable and
that more business could be transacted.
A general smile was the result of this
statement. DR.. Lanihan's motion was
carried almost unanimously. Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday were set.
Dr. Buckley made a most humorous ar
gument in favor of Thursday. He re-
ferred to the Sabbath and humorously
portrayal the temptation to break the
Sabbath, not by candidates, but by
their ardent friends, and begged that
Thursday be substituted. This date
was selected, and the elections will be-
gin on Thursday of this week. DR..
Walden then introduced to the confer
ence Rev. r. F. Rust of Cincinnati,
who was his colleague in the managing
of the Book Concern.
Rev. William Wilder. of Illinois pre-
scented a resolution which proposed to
reduce the salaries of all officers, mis-
sionaries and general conference Of
ficers, in view of the general depres-
sion in business and finances. A pro-
test was entered but the resolution was
referred 10 the committee on temporal
economy. A resolution in condemna-
ton of mob violence was referred to
the committee on state of the church.
THE SPECIAL ORDER
of presentation of Cleveland pastors
was Then taken up.
The conference then joined in sing
ing "Blest Be the Ties That Bind, -
after which an adjournment was taken
until evening.
AT meeting of the committee on
episcopacy this evening, sub-com-
mittee reported that it had examined
the law bearing on foreign episcopacies
and has reached the conclusion there
was nothing to prevent foreign bishops.
The question of whether the church
should exercise jurisdiction outside the
United States was warmly debated all
the afternoon and laid over until the
next meeting.
The sub committee recommended a.
bishop for Europe. In response to a
previous request, the bishops report ed
that they were in good health and
capable of continuing the discharge of
their duties, but that in view of the
growth of the church and possible con-
tingencies, the election of two more
bishops was desirable.
The committee on itinerary con
sidered the proposed changes in the
CHURCH DISCIPLINE.
Two of the questions asked of an as
pirant for ministerial appointment.
both before and at the close of his
probation are: "Will you promise to
abstain entirely from tobacco?" ard
Are you in debt?'
The bishops proposed to omit these
questions from the final examination.
and allow the first promises to stand.
There was a long debate over this i'm
committee, but the recommendation of
the bishops was finally sustained on
the vote.
"A subcommittee the committee on
combination of benevolences recon-
mended the joining of the Freedmen $
Aid and South Educational society and
the board of education, under the
name Education and Freedmen's Aid
Board" also the union of the Sunday
School society and the Tract society
under the name Sunday School and
Tract Society," This met opposition
and the question went over to Wednes-
day. The committee on revisal of the
constitution decided against shortening
the time of probation, which is six
months.
A subcommittee was directed to
draw up an order of church services,
strictly Methodist Episcopal, which
SHALL BE MANDATORY.
The committee on the state of the
church recommended the appointment
of one evangelist or more in each
The proposition that the corresponding
secretaries of all the church benevo-
lences be nominated by the bishops
and elected by the boards of control
of these institutions, was received, but
no action was taken on it.
The discussion in the proposition to
ask for the insertion after the word
'posterity" in the preamble of the
United States constitution, the words
sin God we trust, was long and
heated and the question was finally
referred to a subcommittee.
FEW ENDETGN EAcTc