The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-06
PIG DELEGATES PRESENT
TWO NEW BISHOPS, PERHAPS
THREE. WILL BE ELECTED
AT THIS SESSION.
NORTH CAR0LINA'S ABLE DELEGATION
There is not Much Expectation That
North CaroIinian will be Elected to
the Bishopric.
the Bishopric.


There are more than one and half
million members OF the Methodist
Episcopal church, South. The General
Conference of that church, which is
now in session at Baltimore. is the
supreme law making body for that hos,
of Southern Christians. The conference
met on Thursday and viii be in session
about three weeks. lit is composed of
212 delegates. divided equally between
preachers and laymcn. In the Northern
Methodist church the laymen are not
given equal representation, and there Is
now a strong effort being made in the
North to adopt the same representation
that obtains in the Southern church.
The first General Conference of the
Methodist church in America was or
ganized in Baltimore in 1TS4. 1t was
then small town. and the conference
represented small membership. Now
Baltimore has grown to be great
city. and the Methodists have grown to
be the most numerous of any of the re
ligious organizations in the United
States.
In addition to the important work be-
fore the conference two or three new
bishops will be chosen Bishops Keener
and Fitzgerald are physically unable to
do much work. and the growth of the
church makes it necessary to have a,.
least two more active bishops, and it
may be that three will be chosen. There
is hope that North Carolinian will
be chosen. but among Methodists there
seems to be little expectation that this
honor will come to the State at this time.
North Carolina grows Presidents and
Bishops for other States.
DELEGATES FROM NORTH CARO-
LIMA.
North Carolina is well represented at
this great gathering of Methodists. The
North Carolina Conference, composed of
all Methodist churches east of
Greensboro is represented by
four preachers-Rev. John G.. Kilgo, ID.
D., Rev. e. A. Yates. d. d., Rev. T..
n. Ivey, ID. d., and Rev. II. ID. Swim
dell, ID. D., and by four laymen-Joseph
G. Brown, of Raleigh; Benjamin n.
Duke, of Durham; DIR. ID. b. Zollicoffef,
Of Garysburg. and l.. l.. Smith, of Gates
vile. There are ten delegates from the
Western North Carolina Conference, five
preachers and five laymen. The preach
ers are Reys. James Atkins, Sunday
School Editor: ]. III. Weaver. of Greens
boro: j. Il. Brooks, of Salisbury; G. w.
Byrd of Asheville; z. j. Carraway, on
Greensboro. The lay delegates are
Messrs. L. Stikeleather. of Asheville; b.
T. Dixon, of Shelby; w. Il. Odell. of
Concord; Nj. O. Sheriff.. of Newton; Il.
$. Robbins. of Lexington.
1t is safe to say that no State will
have an ADLER delegation than these eigh
teen North Carolinians.
CONGENIAL SURROUNDINGS.
The Baltimore Sun editorially thus
welcomes the Conference:
THE members of the General Con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South will find themselves amidst
congenial surroundings when they meet
III Baltimore. They will have "A most
hospitable reception, and it is to be eX-
pected that they will have pleasan,
sojourn in this city. Each one of the
Southern States and several of the
Northern and Western will be represent
ed by ministers and laymen and the
bishops of the church will also be pres
ent. This conference meets ut intervals
of four years. It's last meeting was at
Memphis. 1t is the highest body Of the
church, and the number of delegates is
@
divided among clergy and laity. 1t is
expected that the sessions of the con-
ference will last about three weeks.
Many subjects Of Importance during
those weeks will engage its attention.
Among these subjects are proposed
changes in discipline. changes in the
boundaries of conferences. the work of
the publishing house. Epworth League
and mission and church extension inter.
ests. The conference will elect boards
to attend to each Of these matters Sum
day school work will also receive consd-
cradle attention. Local committees
have provided literally for the entertain
ment OF members, and number of ex-
cursions and other amusements have
been planned. Among the delegates are
many eloquent preachers and laymen
Of distinction in professional and BUSH
ness life"