New-York tribune., 1900-05-24
NO METHODIST TIME LIMIT.
CHICAGO GENERAL CONFERENCE VOTES
TO ABOLISH FIVE YEARS RESTRIC-
TIoN OF STAY OF PASTORS.
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !

TBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
chicago. May 23.-Hereafter pastors OF Meth
odist Episcopal churches viii be allowed TO re-
main IN their charges for any number OF years
o-as long as the churches want 10 keep them BY
, ,-o-e Of 4S3 70 SIS the General Conference de-
ci6ed 10 abolish the pastoral time limit Thus
onA q. the fundamental laws Of the denomina-
ION and one Of the principal features of the
itfnerant ministry is laid aside, and preachers
nay remain n places as long as the bishops
appoint them
FOR three days the all absorbing question was
debated vigorously by lay and ministerial dele
gates and when the discussion was shut off
one parliamentary move followed another in an
effort 10 delay the verdict Of the Church's legis-
alive body while under a special rule, adopted
On motion Of DR.. J. NJ Buckley, many amend
rnents were presented under the previous ques-
non The oratory OF the preachers who favored
doing away with the restriction had its effect
However and the victory won an aye and
no vote after all the conditions at first attached
y the plan had been put aside
The procedure by which this revolutionary
change is wrought In the Methodist Discipline
was the adoption OF the majority report OF the
Committee On the Ittnerancy, presented last
week as g result OF the recommendation in the
Bishops address and Of the many memorials
from annual conferences. This report was for
unconditional removal Of the limit a minority
report advised that the period be extended TO
ren years, with the condition that after the fifth
year a 1hree-fourths vote Of a quarterly con-
ference be needed for pastors return. An
amendment rom DR.. Buckley removed the ten
year restriction in this, making the time indefi-
ni-e. and another. from Dr. D. S. Monroe pro-
vi6eG for 2 return to three years from five, but
these and various other propositions laid
on The table. together with the minority report,
on motion of DR.. P. H Swift OF Chicago.
MANY AMENDMENTS OFFERED.
The report Of the Committee on the Itinerancy
vas taken Up soon after the session was called
70 order by Bishop Foss to-day. Secretary Mon
roe presenting an amendment 10 the minority
report so as 10 substitute the word three for
The word 1--WE" IN Section 8 OF Paragraph 173
os the Discipline. Dr. J. r Graw. Of New-Jer-
sev, supported this amendment. While he was
speaking some OF the Auditorium scenery back
Of the seats occupied by the Bishops fell with
crash DR.. S. P Cadman called out: Never
mind. Its only the time limit going TO de-
struction'
Dr.. Buckley opposed putting IN the three year
amendment. supported by the minority recon-
-nendation for q three-fourths vote by quar-
terly conferences 10 retain pastors after five
years, and moved that under the previous ques-
ton amendments be allowed without discussion
The motion passed. Dr. r S. Copeland, Of
Ann Arbor. Iaynan. declared himself in favor
OF unqualified, unconditional and unrestricted
abolition OF the time limit"
Cries OF Vote" followed Dr.. Copeland's re-
marks and motion for the previous question
prevailed Chairman S. F. Uphazn Of the Com
nlitcee on the Iunerancy took ten minutes for
the closing speech. under the rules. He reiter-
a-ed his intention TO support with all his might
the majority report 70 abolish the tine limit.
Immediately Dr.. Monroe's amendment was laid
the table DR.. Buckley moved TO amend the
minority report so that instead Of three-fourths
only majority OF the quarterly conference be
needed 10 ask preachers return after the fifth
year. Delegate Small OF the North Indiana
Conference moved that everything before the
house relating TO the time limit be laid the
table But great majority voted not to lay IT
on the table
VOTING BY ORDERS NOT WANTED.
Dr.. + P. Swift. OF Rock River. then precipi-
-ated the test by moving that the minority re-
port and all its amendments be laid the table.
By d vote OF 800 TO 2Ss this decided, and
the vote on total removal Of the pastoral limit
was called for. AT this point DR.. ". 2. Cor
coran introduced a resolution to refer the whole
matter 10 the annual conferences. but this was
put OF the table amid uproar. Mr.. Payne, Of
Iowa called for vote by orders. Cries Of mo.
no." net this request.
More amendments for slight changes in the
wording were disposed Of promptly, and DR..
Charles J Little moved 70 suspend the rule per
-nfrring amendments 10 be offered under the
previous question, and II ordered. DR..
Buckley called for aye and vote Bishop
F0ss asked those IayTnen who desired a separate
vote. dividing the General Conference into two
houses, 70 rise, but the necessary one-third did
not stand. the vote being only 81 in favor Of
decision by orders. This disposed Of a colored
brother called for q separate vote behalf Of
the minister's but the call was by no means
sustained The call for aye and no vote was
sustained, however. and the result 433 for
and DIS against the majority report, which
sounded the deathknen Of the five year limit
pasIOraJes-
n an address that showed the fraternaI feel
ing between the Church Of Calvin and the
Church Of Wesley. and by its eloQuence aroused
srnens and applause from all the delegates TO
the General Conference. DR.. Samuel J. Niccols,
of 81. Louis, frauernal delegate from the Pres
byte-ian General Assembly to-day conveyed
the greetings OF his denomination.
Dr. John T Goucher president Of the Women's
College Of Baltimore. called 10 account the
methods Of Bishop Hurst ct the meeting Of the
Committee or Education yesterday. He charged
t1a- the Bishop had violated the covenant Of
l>st- by opening the university in Washington
when only S1.O00.O00 Of the S5000O00 needed
mad been collected. The natter-was referred 10
q special committee OF eight
BISHOP EarJseIl's trip 70 fulfil a lecture en-
gage1nent Racine. Wis. Monday night
blshop missed The afternoon train on the North
western road In order that he might not dis
appoint ms audience, he chartered special en-
---ir ana coacn, and made the OF SiXty-One
niles II an hour and fifteen minutes Taking
fSt ne tine Ior stops he travelled az better
rare -lEn q nile q minute. He arrived the
-E p-al-orrn I'VE minutes before the ap-
l--t=1 i-II3e' ana said he only regretted that he
was unable 70 procure an automobile 10 trans
hail