The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-05

CHICAGO, May 4.-The following reso-
luton was passed by the Methodist Cen
eral Conference today:
Resolved. That Bishops shall receive
nothing over travelling expenses in at
tending the dedication OF churches, COM
laencement exercises of educational insti-
tutions. and sach other religious services
rendered the Church
To this had been appended the following
amendment, which vas placed on the Ia
BILE:
Resolved, That the former resolution
govern book agents. editors, and other
salaried officers of the Church
The amusement question bobbed up dur
ing the early part of the session. Dr
Henry Brown. of the Columbia River Con-
ferencc, proposed a resolution, which was
referred to the Committee on the State of
the Church, declaring the rules of dis
cipline remain substantially unchanged.
The treasurer of the Episcopal fund re-
ported that the receipts for the quadren-
mum were s347 7.52716 and the expenses
1863, ,SS5O6, leaving a deficit for the term
of 2.35T90.
The first business OF the morning session
was the presentation of reports of the va
rious committees. Among the statistics
given by the General Missionary Commit
tee were the following;
The aggregate membership including
probationers, reported fr four years was
14s, ,203. The annual report for 1899 gives
an aggregate CT 1856, an increase CT
80, 755. The number of Sunday School
scholars in 1895 was l54 ,267; in 1899, 49,
a07. a gain of 37,64O The sum col.ected
for all purposes of self-support in 1895 was
1915. 1888; in 1893. s491, ,G10, an increase of
s174.s22.
The estimated value of churches ard
chapels in the foreign field in 1895 was
s2.5s1, ,7O3; in 1899. S3,13i,97S. a gain OF
S553.27s. In 1895 there were 225 mission
aries and 224 assistant missionaries (most-
ly wives OF missionaries, and including a
few unmarried laGies) total of i49. In
1899 there were PA missionaries, l wives
OF missionaries, and 90 unmarried lady
missionaries. total of i61 and ga Of
is. In 1895 there were 691 native ordainei
preachers; in 1899. 765. a gain OF "A. in
1895 there were 1,159 unordainei native
preachers; in 1929 there were 1881. loss
of 12S. due probably to imperfect reports
In 1895 there were l 651 local pre- achers ard
other helpers: in 1899. 2.502, gain OF S5l.
In 1895 there were 156,2S3 reported adher-
ents; in 1899, 1851. gain Of 24.92s.
Missions have been established in Alas
la. Porto Rico, and in the Philippines.
The following figures were given by IL
Board of Managers. of the Sunday School
Union: Number of Sunday Schools. 3l,S4S:
increase. 1859: number of Officers ard
teachers, 347, ,914. decrease 4,513; number of
scholars, 2,e47. $40, increase S921L These
figures are for the entire Church, both
in the United States and in foreign lands.
Ths increase in the foreign lands during
the quadreIrium was 63I schools, 1926 Of
ficers and teachers, and 31,573 scholars.
The conversions during the four years were
4S9, ,05S The aggregate collections were
S93. .3I2.
The report of the National City Evan
gelicaI Union said in part:
During the four years-it has become very
evident that none too soon has the Meth
odst Episcopal Church concentrated its at
tention upon the needs of the cities. and
the Church may be grateful to the earnest
men-a large number of them laymen-
who have voluntarily devoted themselves
to the work Of lifting to their true place
among the great fields Of the Church's
endeayor these vast centres of population,
in which now fully one-th third Of the people
of our nation dwell"
The report of the Epworth League show
ed gains in every department. March l.
1900, there were 1891 chapters, with a
membership of over 1,350 600. In the
Junior League there were 1867 chapters
and a membership OF more than 100. 900
The fetal membership is therefore. 27.O4S
chapters and about 100000 members
There has been a rapid and steady in
crease in the membership in 1900, ospe-
ciaIly in the Junior League chapters.
The report of the book committee was
less satisfactory. Among other things it
said:
There is a marked decline in the sale
of books. We are aware that this is
true not only in denominatiOna books, but
in those designed for the general trade
The people are substituting newspapers,
magazines. the public and circulating
libraries for the family library During
the past quadrennium the decline in the
sale OF books By the Eastern house over
the previous four years amounts to
SAB 600. and that of the Western house
to $25S, 1856. These figures alone are sufli-
cient to arrest attention and stimulate
the minds OF all responsible parties TO a
solution OF the problem involved"
The commission OF federation with The
Methodist Episcopal Church South made
| the following suggestions:
With reference to both Churches occu-
pying the same territory we recommend
the respective General Conferences to en-
act provisions to the effect that where
either Church is doing the work expected
| Of Methodism, the other Church shall not
| organize a society nor erect a church
building until the Bishop having iurisdic-
| ticn in the case of the work shall be con-
| suited and his approval obtained
Relative to transfer Of ministers we
agreed to recommend to our respective
General Conferences the provision of a
plan by which 4 travelling preacher of an
annual conference in either Church may
be received into an annual conference of
the CT Ter Church, retaining his credentials
without the formality CT having his or
ders recognized.
The report of the general committee of
church extension showed that 81 22S. $50
had been asked for, but only S4SG329 had
been received by collection"
STAY FOR FUNK AND SMELL.