The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-14
MAKING RAPID PROGRESS
The Methodist Conference Is a
Good Business Body.
lAB0RS NEARLY ENDED
Tho Bishops Plain Talk to the Glass En-
terins Conference.-The Equal Lay
Representation Amendment Car
r1ee-The Cause OF Missions.

The Methodist Episcopal conference
made rapid progress In the TRANSACTION
OF Its business yesterday and will prob
ably be ready for adjournment by to-
morrow noon. As the time approaches
for the announcement of the appoint
ments. the interest and curiosity in
~creases. II being rumored that a num-
Der of important changes are to be
made. The best spirit prevails among
the preachers. however. and IL there
are any rivalries they certainly are be-
getting no ~jealousies.
The principal event OF to-day is
Bishop Mallalieu's annual sermon at
1880 o'clock this morning. A Methodist
bishops sermon is always a religious
n literary treat. Bishop Mallalieu is
famous both for his scholarship and
his orthodoxy. and his sermon this
morning will surely be a notable one.
One of the most important pieces Of
business transacted yesterday was the
vote taken upon a proposed amend
ment to the Methodist constitution. AS
at present constituted the general con-
ference Of the church, which meets
once every four years. admits as dele
gates from each annual conference n
minister for each AZ members of the
conference n two laymen. The large
Eastern conferences. under this rule,
send five, six or seven ministers apiece,
while the number of lay delegates new
er exceeds two. The proposed amend
ment makes the representation of lay
delegates equal to that of the clerical
delegation, whatever 1t may be. The
amendment originated In the Rock Riv-
er conference Of Northern Illinois, and
the Montana conference was the first
of the annual fall conferences to vots
upon It So great was the interest of
the Chicago clergymen in the matter
that they telegraphed Secretary King
to wire them the result Of the vote. A
few of the Montana ministers were in
clined to object to the amendment on
the ground that IL would make the
general conference. which is already a
large body. too unwieldy, but the
amendment carried by the decisive vote
of "a to 2. II II receives a majority
vote in all the conferences, 1t is posi-
BILE that the basis of representation in
the general conference will be changed
from one to every As ministers to one
to every so. or such a matter, so that
the actual size of the general confel-
ence will not be materially increased.
The Business Meeting.
Mr.. McAllister onducted the devo-
tional exercises at the opening of the
conference in the morning. George
Comfort, M. J.. Hall, T. II. Garvin and
j. +. Snyder were continued as super
numeraries. Jacob Mills. a supernu-
merary, was made effective. He is one
of the strong men Of the conference and
his friends were glad to learn of his
return to regular service. These were
continued in the third year studies:
IAA- C-ns4A DAAa-N II Dad DAHa,+
j. Forbes, Frank J. Bradley, Elmer T.
Maring. These were continued in the
studies of the fourth year: John @.
Clark, Fred s. Clemo, A. w. H~artshorn.
Martin f. Coen passed the studies of
the fourth year and was elected to ell
ders' orders.
The class for reception into full con-
nection was then called. 1t consisted of
p. w. Haynes, w. NJ. Howard, c. +.
Smith, r. p. Smith and j. T. NJ. Ste
phens. The character Of each was
passed and each was elected to full
membership. Bishop Mallalieu deliv-
cred a Enthusiastically strong address
to the class. He said in part:
There are II, 900 Methodist preachers.
] wish o to feel thar in joining them
you are Joining a picked company. Don't
be small men or cheap men. Be large
men. Better die than not do it. Better
die twice than not try to do 1t. Be alive
10 the things of to-day. But don't ride
a hobby. The difference between rid
ing a hobby and riding a horse is you
can get off a horse. but you can't get off
a hobby. Be awake to present issues,
but don't run after fads. Some men
will lecture for a month or sociology,
when all they know about sociology
could be told in a dozen lines. They
nave not yet found out that the rum
traffic is the greatest stone of stumbling
in the path Of progress. What / know
about sociology can be ound mostly
In the Ten Commandments, the sermon
on the mount, the 18th chapter of Ro-
mans and the 18th chapter of First Co
Be scholars. / want you TO
review with me the four years course
of study. / passed in 1t, but / want to
see how much / have forgotten. II you
are not progressive students you will
be preaching old sermons and the peo-
pie will be asking what's the use of that
man living anyhow? Be gentlemen. I
held a conference among the colored
people once n i noticed that the
preachers had their hands in their pock-
cts a great deal. Y GU know tina often
a MAJ doesn't know what to do with
his hands. Well, If you don't know
what to do with them, put them behind
you and let one hold the other. Be gen.
tlemanly."
The bishop read and commented upon
the questions to be p~ropounded, and
continuing said: Again, carry a por-
ton of the Bible with you. I've got
and the Psalms in these two little
books in my pockets. When I go to
visit the Eastern conferences I put a
copy of Job in my pocket. Have a
hymn book. It's a wonderful book.
When o were singing oh. how happy
they who their Savior obey /
thought If I could only sing as some of
you CAM! 1 saw myself riding in a buggy
over the mountains to a charge 20 miles