The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-06

work lie IS an orator and writer, and
is RECOGNIZED as a man who would. af "a
bishop have his own way or know why
he could not.
AS rule bishops are selected from
among the book agents missionary sec
retaries or those conspicuous in Walhs
other than the pastorate III the Rev.
DIT Spollmyer is chosen DO viii be an
unusual but not an unprecedented selec-
ton The Board of Bishops is asked.
early I'm a General Conference session,
whether additional members are needed.
Being more conservative than Confer
ence membership. the Board usually men
tions q low number 10 is likely that 10
will name two or three this time II IL
does. four or five may be chosen Geo
eraphy plays some part in the selection
but personality plays far more. New
York IS not the heart of American Meth
odism and IL is recognized that b.. or
even New England thrown in. cannot
look for more than one of the four
There may Doe one man declared nom
effective. The pressure from below is
tremendous and bishops must not linger
too long ON the order OF their going
There has been but ono death Bishop
Newman. but 10 is almost year before
the Conference meets and some present
members may break down. Another Gle
ment rs the funds from which bishops
are paid. These have been running low
and that fact may have something 20 do
with the number Of new men. All Meth
odist bishops receive the same salary
s.. 800 a year. They are allowed an arbi-
trary sum for house rcnt-&l20O year,
save I'm the case Of the bishop resident
IN New York who is allowed $500.
AN IMPORTANT ACTION.
Next 10 the election of new bishops
the most important action that will Doe
taken will be the seating of enough adj
diti0nal lay delegates TO give ministers
and laymen equal representation. Since
1872 there have been lay delegates I'm
General Conferences. but there have not
been enough of them TO control the ac-
ton of Conference on any question. The
General Conference of 1896. for instance,
was composed OF about five hundred dele
gates of whom three hundred were min
isters. The laymen have been continu-
0uslv working for equal representation.
At first ministers were stoutly opposed
90 release of power. but they have been
gradually converted the coming COM
ference viii vote to seat the additional
delegates, probably men, for the women
agitation has subsiied. They also will
do IL at this Conference. and not wait
the size of the General Conference about
six hundred. but that is not considered
a too large body. and no agitation to de-
crease it Is likely.
The question Of the abolition OF the
five year pastoral limit has come mp IN
every General Conference for some years
past. If this Conference proves To he
made up like the last one 10 might be
possible the limit would be removed.
which would permit ministers to be re-
turned TO charges for the sixth or tenth
year as they now are for the third or
ffh. But with the addition Of one hun
bred laymen the situation materially
changes. The ministers oppose the limit
and the laymen favor TT, mistakenly the
ministers say No change will be made,
is the safe prediction.
AS everybody knows the Methodist
Church has always taken a decided
stand ON amuscmeuts which members
could with propriey indulge in. The
church has in It's discipline prohibited
certain forms OF amusements as being
"for the glory of God" I'm the last Con-
ference the judiciary Committee pre-
scented a report 10 The effect that any
specinc prohibition of amuscmCnts was
Unconstitutional on the ground that it
is not permissible for the Church 10 tell
any individual what could not be- done
"for the glory OF Cod by that particu-
lar Individual and that the amusoments
iu which a member might indulge must
be chosen by each member according TO
the dictates of his individual conscience.
The Conference adjourned without taking
final action. but the question is a live
one and is sure 10 come up at Chicago.