The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-10-28
bishops or METHODISM.
Semi-A nnuul Sessions of the Prei-
ates In Baltimore.

ates I'm Baltimore.
BaltiuIore, Oct 2s.-The seini-annual meet
ing of the bishops of the Methodist Epis-
| copal Church was begun yesterday at Mount
| Vernon Place Church. 1t is expected
that they viii adjourn ON Monday. Their
sessions will be secret.
or the sixteen bishops who We're eX-
oected 10 attend he first meeting all came
except Bishops Henry W. Warren, of Dem
yer: william X. Ninde, of Detroit, and
John II. Vincent, OF Topeka, Kan. They
are expected today. Those present in
Guided Bishops Thomas Bowman, X. s. Fos-
ter, S. NJ Merrill, z. G. Andrews, John
+. Hurst, ]. NJ. Walden, w. F. Mallaiien,
| c. n. Fowler, j. N. Fitzgerald, j. p. New
man, II. A Goodsen, c. c. McCabe and
| Earl Cranston.
Work to be done by the bishops includes
the arrangement of a place Of Episcopal
visitation TO the spring conferences, tile
consideration of special cases of admins
tration that have occurred since their last
annual meeting; attention "a the courses
of study for local and travelling ministry,
and the transaction OF miscellaneous mat
tiers.
The matter of most interest TO ministers
of the Baltimore conference Is who will he
assigned To preside over the neXt annual con-
ference. Some look forward to this selec-
ton with anxiety, as upon IL IN great meas
urc depends their appointment to a more
desirable field after the next conference.
Ii was said yesterday that Bishop Walden
may be the one to come to Baltimore la
March.
Sessions are to be held by the bishops la
the morning and in the afternoon. 1t is
unlikely that any session will be held in
the evening. as many OF the bishops ha We
engagements to lecture or To preach. Els
pecially is this the case with Bishop Charles
Fowler, OF Buffalo. who Will tomorrow
evening deliver his famous lecture on
Abraham Lincoln at Madison Avenue
Church, Madison and Lafayette avenues.
Arrangements for the comfort of the
bishops are in the hands OF a committee
from among the congregation Of Mount
Vernon Church. The bishops well be enter
tanned at luncheon each day at the Severn.
Owing to a slight indispOsition. Rev Dr.
Joseph +. Smith, the pastor of Mount Yer
non Church. was unable to receive the
bishops, but il is expected that lie VIII DE
outin a few days.
A reception is TO be given the bishops
this evening at Mount Vernon Church, and
IL Is prohahlt that the church viii he thruul
ell. Mayor Hooper will NAL IAN address wei
coming the bishops TO the CITY 4 ddresses
Will also be made by Rev. H. :. France.
president of the Preachers Meeting, and
DIR. Henry NJ Wilson.
IL Is highly probable that one subject that
will engage much OF their consideration
VIII bc the matter of equal rcpTes.uta ton
In the general conference. Within the past
SIX mouths nearly every conference in the
country has already organized, or has sig
nificd its intention TO organize lavmen's
associations. These associations have been
so successful that the subject has assumed
altogether "A new aspect, and, instead ar
being foriorn hope, as last year IL is
likely that three-fouTths OF tie confer
encr Mil vote III favor OF equal rep
RESERVATIONS.
Several OF the bishops seeing the waV
the tide is turning, have already .xnrassed
themselves ia favor OF extending greater
privileges 20 the laymen. While the Law
men are contendinC for equal representa-
ton In tac ecneIal conference. their uIti-
mate object H. admission to .the annual
conferences, and "A change in the metb.d
or appointing presiding elders.
In view of the presence Of the bishops
and the interest conferred in these vital
questions 10 Episcopal Mcthodism. Rev.
Or. Johh Lanahan introduced resolution
az meeting OF the ministers [ wo weeks
ago, extending an invitation to the bishops
TO attend the meeting next Monda morn
iEc\ lnd discuss these topics with the min
istn a.. 10.
invited. ID! Lanahan does not anticipate
that the bishops viii accept. lie il. how
ever much interested I'm the subjects. es-
peciailv the one in reference tua change in
the method of appointing presiding elders