Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-12
METHODIST CONFERENCE.
A Considerable Amount Of Business
Transacted Yesterday.
The Color Line to be Obliterated'
Bishops to be Selected on Ac-
count Of Ability and With No Re-
gard for COlor-Blection Of Ott-
GERS Set for Thursday-A Reduo-
ton of Salaries Proposed.

CLEVELAND. O., May 11.-Bishop
Walden presided this morning at the
opening of the NJ. E. general conference.
A resolution to prevent duplication
Of studies in the church schools in the
south was read, but referred to the
committee on freedman's aid.
Rev. B. F. Witherspoon, Of southern
California, presented resolution de-
claring that color and caste do not en-
ter into the conference and further de-
claring that the election of bishop OF
African descent should be viewed sole
" in the light of ability and without re-
gard to color. 1t was presented for
adoption. but the conference referred
it to the committee on episcopacy.
The first formal application for the
conference of 1900 was presented by
Saratoga Springs, n. Y, and referred
10 the committee on entertainment.
The committee on freedman's aid
made it's first report on a petition from
the Delaware conference to change the
name to Southern Education Society.
The report was adopted
DR.. Lanihan moved to reconsider the
vote by which Monday next was set as
the day for the election of officers.
Thursday was selected and the cleo
tions will begin on Thursday of this
week. Dr.. Walden then introduced to
the conference Rev. Dr.. R. f. Rust, of
Cincinnati, who was his colleague in
the management of the book concern.
Rev. VIM. H. Wilder, of Illinois, pre-
sented a resolution which proposed TO
reduce the salaries of all officers, mis-
sionaries and general conference Of
ficers in view of the general depression
in business and finance. protest was
entered, but the resolution was referred
to the committee on temporal econ
omy.
A resolution in condemnation 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 joined in singing
"Blest Be the Tie That Binds" after
which an adjournment was taken until
evening.
At the meeting OF the committee on
episcopacy this afternoon a sub-commit-
tee reported that it had examined the
law bearing upon foreign episcopates
and had reached the conclusion that
there was nothing to prevent foreign
bishops. The subcommittee recon-
mended bishop for Europe.
The committee on itinerary considered
the proposed changes in the church dis
cipline. Two of the questions asked of
an applicant for ministerial appoint
ment, both before and at the close OF
his probation, are: "Will you promise
to abstain entirely from tobacco? and
Are you in debt?'
The bishops proposed to omit these
questions from the final examination
and allow the first promise to stand.
There was a lonk debate over this in
committee, but the recommendation
of the-Dishops was finally sustained
on the vote.
The committee on state of the church
recommended the appointment Of one
evangelist for more in each district
conference for revival work. To-day's
discussion on the proposition to ask
for the insertion after the word 'pos-
terity" in the preamble Of the United
States constitution the words IN God
we trust" was long and heated, and
the question was finally referred to
Subcommittee.