The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-07
RELIGION OF JOHN WESLEY
WILL REMAIN RELIGION or THE
METHODIST CHURCH.

Constitution May he Changed, but
the Articles of Faith Vtn Remain
as They Are-NO New Standard or
Rules of Doctrine To ne Estab-
Iishcd--The Hereto of the Future
Must Leave the Church as in the
Past.
Chicago, May s.--The report of the Con-
stituional Commission of the Methodist
General Conference, which will probably
be presented this week, will call fer the
continued maintenance Of the religion Of
John Wesley.
The episcopacy may be abandoned and
other constitutional features be changed,
but the articles of religion, the destinies
of the church, are to be retained in their
purity. The hereto of the future must
leave the church as he has done in the
past, but Methodism will not accept any
departure from the theology of the fathers,
The provision for the safeguarding of
the tents of Wesley is found in article II,
providing for amendments. The provision
is as follows:
The concurrent recommendations of
two-thirds of all the members of the sew
eral conferences present and voting and
of two-thirds of all the members of the
lay electoral conference present and vot-
/ g shall suffice to authorize the next en-
surg general conference by a two-thirds
ole to alter or amend any Of the provis-
ions OF this constitution, excepting section
/, article TO-"
The section is as follows:
The general conference shall not re-
! woke, alter nor change our articles of re-
ligion, nor establish any new standards
or rules of doctrine"
| The report of the commission provides
that the constitution shall consist of the
articles of religion, general rules and the
| sections of the general conference. The
| special advice is not included in the or
| ganic law. This omission dsposes of the
| controversy over the second specification
Let all our people be exhorted to con-
| form to the spirit of the apostolic precept
| not to adorn themselves with god OF
| pearls or costly array.'-I Timothy, 90"
The changes in the section of the book
| of discipnnes devoted to the general con-
| ference are very slight and In the direction
of amphhcation. The commission, antici-
pating equal lay representation, has in
| corporated 1t in the proposed constitu-
| ton
Questions of Interest.
In the business of the week the dele
| gates to the general conference race q SIT
uaton that may mark new courses for the
| future, and, in whichever way the Vita
| questions are settled, will leave effects
on the machinery of the great church
There are four questions of popular in
| terest, any one of which may be brought
up during this week. They are the amuse-
ment question, the fve-year limit of pas
torates, the consolidation of the Christian
Advocates, the consolidation of benevolent
societies.
The Methodists will have busy week
There is the general session each morn
! ing, and In the afternoon six and seven
committee meetings The evenings will be
occupied with receptions and events of So
cial nature.
The political aspect of the conference
will begin to shape itself this week. Eiec'
tons may come about May 49, and in the
meantime it will become more and more
evident who are the leading candidates
| Eight men have been mentioned promi-
nently for bishops, but until the commit
|. tee on Episcopacy has held number OF
| sessions there will be little to indica t
how many new bishops there are to be.