Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-10
NJ. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.
THE GENERAL CONFERENCE HAS
IT'S FIRST PLEASANT WEATHER..
REPORT ON FEDERATION.
Cooperation tp n Certain Extent i'm
Limited Fields - The Epworth
AIRY ChnnGc-tricies Of Religion.

BALTIMORE. May 9.-Cheerful wea-
thcr and bright skies greeted the
members Of the General Conference OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church. South,
this morning for the first time since their
advent into this city.
The most important feature Of the days
business session was the presentation of
the report Of the committee appointed
10y this conference. TO discuss with a
similar committee from the Church in
the North. the advisability and practi-
cabllity OF a federation of the two sec
lions. The report consisted solely Of the
printed minutes Of the joint session OF
the Committee on Federation, held in
Washington on January eth. at which
resolutions were adopted recommending
cooperation 70 limited extent in GER
tain fields but nothing in the form OF
consolidation.
Bishop j. T.. CRANBERRY presented the re-
port. the principal recommendations Of
which are as follows:
"Apprcciating fully the Christian
comfy which prevails among our mis-
sions I'm foreign lands, and having given
careful consideration TO the possibility
and dcsirabuity OF cooperative admins
trati0n. as "a means for lessening the ex-
pcnditure Of funds in the prosecution Of
the work, We. therefore, without attempt
ing 10 formulate any plan for such CO.
operation, commend the subject to the
consideration OF the two general con-
ferencCs.
we recommend the respective general
conferences TO enact provisions 10 the
effect that where one Church is doing the
work expected OF Methodism the other
Church shall not organize a society nor
erect a church building until the Bishop
having jurisdiction in the case Of the
work proposed, shall be consulted and
his approval obtained.
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
1--WE have observed with much interest
the growth OF the Epworth League in our
respective churches, and rejoice in
the spirit of fraternity manifested IN
their biennial international conferences
and we commend 10 the several govern
ing bodies of the churches Interested, the
question as to whether official recosni-
tion of these meetings can be given, ana
whether authoritative regulations are re-
quircd TO increase or promote their ell
cheney.
I'VE recommend to our respective gem
eral conferences the provision of plan
by which a travelling preacher of one
national conference of the Church may
be received in the other national con-
ference, retaining his credentials without
the formality of having his orders recog-
nized."
Bishop Hargrove called the conference
To- order. and presided during the session.
The Rev. DR.. J. w. Hinton. of Macon,
Ga, offered the opening prayer.
CONFERENCE BOUNDS
The Western Virginia conference in
troduced a memorial TO take small slice
off the Baltimore conference in West
Virginia. I'M order to make the Allegheny
mountain ridge the dividing-lne between
the conferences. The memorial was re-
ferred To the Committee on Boundaries.
The Committee on Epworth League
presented a recommendation that the Ep-
worth Era, the official organ of the Ep-
worth League, published at Nashville, be
enlarged to twelve pages, and as soon as
possible to sixteen pages. The committee
also recommended the appointment Of an
Epworth League editor whose salary
should be fixed by the Book Committee
and paid by the publishing agents.
A lively discussion arose over the re-
port of the commission 10 revise the ar
ticles of religion of the church. Some
members of the conference wanted I'm
mediate action on the report, and others
wanted to wait until Wednesday, in or
der to get time 10 read the revised arti-
Giles, which had been submitted in print
ed form by the committee. 1t was finally
decided 10 postpone until Wednesday.
The changes made i'm the articles are
mostly in correction of typographical
errors