The San Francisco call., 1896-05-01

looked upon as Revolutionary and was gen.
erally repudiated by the church. The
original amendment of 1888 was taken up
and sent the rounds of the conferences,
but it was defeated by the small number
of fifty-seven Four women delegates
have been elected TO the present General
Conference. The opinion of some is that
they should be seated, and that the action
OF the two former general conferences
should be ignored.
They claim that each General Confer
ence is law unto itself. Others think
that inasmuch as the church has already
voted on the question twice ana 1T mas
failed each time, that 1t would be nag.
rant and radical violation OF all law to
consult the church accol ding to the forms
of law and then proceed directly opposite
to that decision. The conservative party,
the opponents Of the women, claim: that
the question should be sent down to the
churches again. An analysis of the vote
shows that the West generally favored
tue admission of women by large major
ity.. New England also favored them by
good majority, but the Central East was
strongly the other way. New Yorf,
Pennsylvania and the surrounding States
were more conservative. 1t is due to the
women to say that most of them prefer to
come into the law-making body OF the
church by the regular constitutional
amendment and not be crowded IN
through the backdoor by a mere majority
vote. :. = :.
The second great question that has agii-
tated two preceding general conferences is
the removal of the time limit in the pas
toral appointment. When Asbury had
his way in the early. days ministers were
changed every six months. This: little
later became fixed at term OF one year,
still later two years: then three, and In
1883 it was extended to five years. The
now urging that it be removed altogether.
10 an outsider this would seem to be
simple and easy thing to do, but the Meth
odlst ltlnerancy is a unique organization:
10 make the appointments at all upon any
other than an arbitrary basis every pastor
must surrender his appointment at the.
session of his conference. If the whole
work can be adjusted as well by his return
he is returned. The key to the arch is the
"time limit" The fact that one mans.
time has expired is a reason why all the
members OF the conference must stand on
an equality with him.. The time limit
being taken away there would be no as
surance that pastor desiring a change
could have an appointment. r..
The time limit is really the key to the
itinerancy. To remove it will be equiva-
lent TO changing the whole Methodist
greg gationalism. - -. -
To those unacquainted with the working
of the General Conference it may be of in
terest to explain that the conference is di-
vided into large committees. -
All matters pertaining to the Bishops
and their administration are referred to
the committee on episcopacy, amendments
to the book of discipline to the committee
on revisals. ETC., ETC., and the great battles
are often fought in these committees be-
fore the matter comes before the General
Conference for final action. -.
plpPtInn Of RiShnn
tended with intense excitement. Itmeans
q good deal. 1t is q position of great
honor, a life term, a free passport to all
parts of the world. 1t is generally conceded
that four new Bishops will be elected.
Who these fortunate persons will be is a
question of much speculation. DR.. Earl
Cranston, now at the head OF the Western
Publishing-house, Cincinnati; DIR. ohm T.
Gnucher, president of the Woman's Col
lese, Baltimore; DR.. John r. Day, presi-
dent Syracuse University; DR.. Frank
Bristol of Evanston and DIR. Henry A.
Buttz of Drew Theological Seminary are
doubtless among the strongest candidates.
for the episcopacy. No ore can certainly
forecast the action or general conference.
Two-thirds OF the delegates are new hands
at law-making and unacquainted with the
candidates for the episcopacy, never hav-:
ing been in a general conference before.
They are usually conservative. -: >''
The delegates are from all parts of. the
world-Germans, Swedes,i japanese, Chi:
nese, Africans-so that it is quite impos-
sible to analyze the opinion of q general
conference touching any great interest in
advance. Inc booming OF candidates is a
sure way to defeat them. 1t is supposed
that the delegates will make up their
minds as to the fitness of candidates in
quiet and unbiased manner. All "candi-:
dating" is strictly against the traditions of
the church, but as long as there are places
nf ofors rsnl- OFF
human nature is as it is there will be
some striving among the. brethren for
the best gifts" = -.
To change laws which affect 2,5OO, 900
members is%a grave responsibility 1t is
therefore probable that many of the radi-
cal changes proposed will never see the
light. Hundreds of the memorials will
be strangled in the committees. l.: -.