Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-07

81 IN n 49, 81
8 FOR SUNDA Y READING 81
y Ala scrts Of Opinions. @l
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THE APPROACHING METHODIST
PARLIAMENT.
Aside from sectarianism and even re-
liglon itself, the assembling OF the
governing conference Of the Method
list Episcopal church will be current
event Of general public interest. The
great constituency represented and the
large monetary interests involved, to-
gether with the personnel OF the body.
give 1t an unusual Importance. The
somewhat bewilderng statistics can be 1
put in nutshell. In round numbers
there are 1900. 900 Communicates, and
on a moderate estimate 10000, 600 adher.
Sunday school and 2, 900 more in the
dained and $4,000 local ministers. The
ty is s1s4,00O,0OO. The publishing house,
quantity called the Book Concern
has had a unique history. Starting
rNSItIl4d SOUU, HOW
has assets of SO. 500 900. and has paid out
of its earnings to accounts OF salaries
of bishops and the support of superanu-
ated preachers the aggregate Of $1,000, 81
600. Since 1s4s. when. under decision
of the supreme court, the assets wers
divided between the church north and
the church south, the gross sales have
been s60,00o,00O. In its various educa-
tional plants the church has s30.000,0Oo
Invested. In the last quadrennium
$1,000. 900 were raised for missions, be-
sides large sums for other benevo-
llences. Afeditating on figures like
these, Thomas X. Beecher once ex-s
claimed In his characteristic style: II
feel the earth tremble as the chariots
and horsemen of this great Christian
army go laundering by know where
19they came from; and the camps they
have left and the victories they have
won.
4 The general conference having plen-3
airy power over those great interests is
4 a most uncommon affair. 1t is fellow
less among ecclesiastical bodies. It is
Ian evolution. The germ-eell was the
informal meeting of the pioneer timer
lants iilathe days of colon and reyolu-'
tion. to confer" about their work. Out
4 of this slowly, and by almost imper-
eeptible degrees, has grown this most
unique body. 1t is supreme court, elect
Ioral college and legislature all in one.
4 For many years j i was the last tribunal
A to which a convicted preacher could ap-
peal But as the conference met only
once in four years, delay of hearing
4 was felt 10 be a grievance, and when
leases finally came to trial they We're
found to consume time needed for other
interests. To obviatei this. II system of
4 appellate courts was provided for,
which has proved altogether satisfac-
Itory. The right of trial on appeal, how
lever, really inheres in the general con
ference, which could abolish the appel
Hate courts AT its own discretion.
4 The general conference is the only
Legislative body Of the church. I has
lspracticalIyl carte blanche to ma kesrules
and regulations. except in matters of
A faith. 1T is Inhibited from altering the
Articles of Religion and itroducing new
standards of doctrine The other re-
/ strictiNe rules limiting the power of
fIstnes general conference can be set aside
Thy three fourths vote of the annual
y conferences and two-thiras Vote OF
Il the general conference. These rules re-
liateto the ratio of representation, epis-
i scopacy, general rules, rights of tria
y land appeal, and disposition of the pro-
n Sceeds of the publishing house.
4 This great ecclesiastical parliament
4 has been the scene of some famous de-
4 bates, continued thru days and even
4 sweeks of Its sessions. I3efora the war ii
sl#vied with the national congress as an
|arena for forensic eloquence of anti and
4 pro slavery advocates. The attempted
n divison@ of the state was foreshadpwed
lSby Il real disruption of the church,
4 which occurred in 1S44. Another but
Il much smaller, bone of contention was
\ the presiding eldership. The effort was
j to make the office an elective one, and
4 thus limit the power of the episcopacy
4 in, the interest Of democracy. Tho in
A trodaced in the successive general con-
4 ferencess and advocated with ability, the
Z measure failed, and its failure caused
4 the first secession from the church,
4 Which. however. was comparatively in
!. significant. This failure is more thar
4 Offset by the success of lay delegation
Tho repeatedly affirmed inexpedient by
q the general conf srence, 1t was finally
\ adopted in 1872, after protracted agita-
ton. The coming conference will wit
4 ness for the first time the seating OF
Hay delegates in equal numbers with
the clericals
The Legislative, however, suffers j!
public interestsin comparison with th,
!, elective function of this body. The gen.
8 eral conference has in its gift the life
office and8emoluments of the Episcopa-
!. ley. The Methodist world awaits this
A vote with almost as much interest as
the Catholic World awaits the decision
of the college of cardinals. In addition
y 10 choosing the bishops, the conference
elects for a term of four years foul
4 book agents and twenty editors of re.
a ligious periodicals. The aggregat 81
a salaries paid TO bishops, agents ant
editors is not far from $4,000 per an
mum.
That this elective function of ths
general conference is hostile to efiicien,
cy in the discharge of It's Legislative
& 5duties is a palpable fact. All effort
however, to takethe elections out have
Il signally failed. The only exception i:
d III the case of the secretariat OF tht
I. Epworth League. which has been al
4 lowed to remain in the board of con
d troll, where IL recently originated. Tht
proposition to elect agents and editor!
Il by the book committee has not beer
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