Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-03
MEIH].ODISTS
ARE MEETING
Twenty-third Delegated Cen
eral Conference Opens
in Chicago.
MANY IN ATTENDANCE

Governor shaw ID Among the Promin.
emit Speakers ON the Program
Conference to Last a Month
Opening Session.
Chicago, May 2.-(By Associated
Press.)-The twenty-third delegated
general conference of the Meth
odist Episcopal church opened in
the Auditorium today, and will con-
tinue until the Goth. Delegates are
present from all parts of the world,
and includes 700 members. Governor
Shaw, of Iowa, Ex-Governor Patterson,
of Pennsylvania, Congressman Dolli-
yer, of Iowa, Bishop Hartsel, OF South
Africa, and Aaude Ballington Booth
are among the principal speakers. A
hundred years ago there were in the
United States eight conferences of the
Methodist Episcopal church; there are
now 124. In 1900 there were 2Ss
preachers; there are now 1858
| preachers and 14,2S9 local preachers.
The membership of the church 100
years ago was 64,S94. 1t is now 2,S71,-
949. No other church in the country
has had such rapid growth, and yet it
is reported that during the last year
there has been a decrease in the mem
bership of nearly $4,000. In the. four
years since the last meeting OF the
fquadrenhial conference, however, there
has been an increase of 105, 293 men,
bers and 557 ministers. The new rule
as to lay delegates. confirmed by the
vote OF the! annual conferences is.
before the. conference for approval.
II, it shall be approved. lay delegates
! will have more weight in this confer
ence than in any preceding one. There
certainly is more independence as to
1.-the purely ethical questions among
.sMethodists than there was ten and
twenty years ago, and the discussions
Of this matter is being watched with
keen interest by those outside Of the
church. Purely theological questions
and the election of new bishops inter-
est the church membership, but The
pronouncement as to amusements and
lethical questions generally appeal
with greater force to observers who
watch, from the popular viewpoint,
the proceedings. Of the largest Pro-
testant Church in America.
OPENING; SESSION.
The pit of the Auditorium theatre
was filed with, delegates when Bishop
Bowman called the conference to order
L ,t,,<r /, ,rr
conservatism in the consideration of
any grave matters which may come. up.
ltBishop II. W.tWarren, following Bow
imam, announced the first hymn, which
was sung with vigorous enthusiasm, by
lop,J. NJ. Thoburn, of Indiana, was re
cited by the audience and then Bishop
c. ID .Foss delivered a prayer. This was
followed by the reading OF Psalm 46,
| by Rev. I'll. III. Lowry, d. D.oof the
then chanted: The second scripture
lesson from the first chapter of Acts,
first to the fourteenth paragraphs. was
read by Rev. Austin Griffin, of the
Wyoming conference, and another
hymn was announced by Rev. Harry
l;Swan, of the West Texas conference.
Prayer by Rev. Hilary A. Goblin, of the
Northwest. Indiana conference follow
ed and was succeeded by another hymn
announced by Rev. Jacob Yunkers, of
the North Germany conference sFt AS
the last noteaof the hymn died away
laBishop S. NJ. Merrill took the chair,
and the first move was made in the
business of the. conference.
LAYMEN GAIN THEIR POINT.
Chicago, May 2.--lBy Associated
Press.)- Methodist Episcopal con
ference by unanimous vote decided TO
admit an equahlay representation to all
Methodist conferences. ,
The announcement of the vote was
greeted with cheers as it was a victory
over which, the fight had waged a hun
ldred years. The book of discipline ref
erence to representation at conferences
now reads: The lay delegates shall
consist OF one layman for each annual
conference, except such conferene as
has more than one ministerial dele
gate, which conferences shall each be
entitled TO as many lay delegates as
ministerial delegates. The general con-
ference shall not allow more than one
| ministerial representative for every
| fourteen members of the annual con-
| ference; nor OF less number than one
for every As; nor of more lay dele
gates from any annual conference
than there are ministerial delegates
| from such annual conference"
DR.. David S. Monroe, of Central
Pennsylvania. was elected secretary of
the conference by reclamation. The
conference voted to admit provisional
| delegates.
There was some doubts as to the
outcome of this matter early but the
vote over the equal representation
proposition cleared these away and the
Overwhelming victory was not sur
prise.
SUIT BY MRS. LEONARD SWEET.
| Widow of Chicago Lawyer Claims l o..
| 900 Damages From Burlington.
| Burlington, May Mrs. Marie D..
SWEET, widow of Leonard SWEET Of
Chicago, has begun suit for $1o,OUO
damages against the city of Burlington