The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-02
arent DAVIS for Methodism.

The twenty-hfth quadrennfat General
Conference OF the Methodist Episcopal
church meets in the great Auditorium
In Chicago to-day. and will remain IN
session throughout the month Of May.
1t is one of the most important events
in the history of this influential denoml-
nation.
The arrangements for this great gath
erlng are on a colossal scale. The audi
forums seating capacity is 5000. Be.
sides this stuJebakcr Hall, the Auditor
Ium Recital !Iall, University Hall and
seven other halls for the use Of the
committees and anniversaries have been
engaged, and fine suite of rooms di-
rectIy connected with Auditorium Hall,
has been secured as headquarters for
various church societies. Private boxes
have already been taken at the Audi
torium netting $1,000. A DAILY Chris
tlan Advocate" will be published -
three ministers engaged by the two
book concerns at New York and Gins
cInnad.
The influence of Methodlsm is, per-
haps, more widely distributed in this
country than any other Protestant de-
nomination. on last Sunday Rev. DR..
Chichester, one of the most prominens
Presbyterian divlnes of Chicago, dellv-
cred eulogy on the founder of the
church, John Wesley. paying the follow
ing tribute to Methodism:
When Wesley died his Ndherents num-
bered 10000, and'tO-day he has a constitu-
ency Of 25,00O, 900 In this country nlone-one-
third of our population thus depending on
the Methodist church for religious instruc-
tlOn. and one-hnlf OF our Sunday school
children being gathered IN Methodist EPis-
cOpal Sunday schools. Without any eX-
ception Methodism is the most wonderful
and far-reaching religious movement Since
the time of the reformation. II Is the one
Protestant church q al Others whiS ,.
country It multiplied the places OF wor-
ship ut the rate OF TWO every day IN the
year, while its efficiency and economy In
church administration are standing re-
buke to all the rest OF us.
Interest in the General Conference
will center around the deliberations on
the proposed changes in church govern
meut. Happily for Methodtsm there are
no dlsagreements as to the creed The
church has been sIngularly free from
ali contentious on this point, for the
reason that the creed condenses in few
words simply teaches believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved There is really more religion
and less theology in the Methodist
church than any other denomination,
ana this is undoubtedly one of the elea
ments OF its greatness. OF the many
questions that will comebafore this leg
islativc bodyor interest to the members
Of the church and the genral public, the
first to b. decided will be the admission
or exclusion of the 15l provisional lay
delegates. All the constitutional steps
have been taken for their admission eX-
cept one. Two-thrds Of the regular del
egates of this General Conference mus
vote to admit them. There was never
a doubt about securing this last votg
for their admission until it was learned
that the Illinois conference had elected
one woman as a provisional delegate,
Mrs. NJ. Y. Mcmahon Now to vote 70
admit the provisional delegates would
be to pass on the much mootsd woman
question, which has agItated the entire
church for a number OF years, but
which was never finally settled
Another question that win receive
much attention is the time limit in the
pastorate. The sentiment against the
present law is largely on the increase.
One other question likely to interest
the general public more than any other
is the proposed legislation on the
amusement question. The genral rule
OF the church on amusam2n;s which WIS
embodied in its constitution from the
beginning, forbids Methodists taking
such diversions as cannot be used in thu
name OF the Lord Jesus"
Attempts viii be made to remove the
prohibition that now obtains on dane
ing, card playing and sttcndanc on
theatres. The advocates Of this changa
in the discipline argue that ;ha inhlbt
ton might as well be axpung' d. as 1t is
virtually dead letter. and that I'll
would be wisdom on the part OF ths
church to lsavc these matters to the
court of conscience We do not think
the conference will agree to allow tic
communicates of the church to take Up
their residence on Easy street. lei
would be radical change that woull.
perhaps, open the door for liberalism
inconsistent with the tenets
Other matters of moment will be the
election of bishops and twenty-five or
thirty other general church officers. The
nearly 100000 colored members of the
church are clamoring for colorel
bishop. China and Japan think they
are as much entitled to missionary
bishops as are India and Africa. There
will perhaps be from three to five bIsh-
ops elected,
In view Of tho Importance Of this con-
ference the 1ntenigencer takes pleasure
in announcing to its Methodist readers
that It has arranged for the services OF
a capable correspondent who will keep
them fully Informed of the deliberations
OF the body.
Hanna and euav.