The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-10
FEATURE that adds much to
the interest centering about the
annual Wyoming conference to
bo, hold ncxt Anril ai Owepn Ia

IX be held next April at Owego is
the question of equal lay and
ministerial representation in the Ma
tional Methodist Episcopal quadrennial
conference at Chicago next May. Here
tofore the Wyoming conference has
sent more clerical delegates TO the
conference than lay delegates and Ut
late the natter has aroused consider
able attention on the part of the lay
members of the conference. The
matter has long been regarded in a
Quiescent way by the lay members,
and heretofore they have never made
an attempt for decisive action. but it
is said the matter will be settled onH
way or the other in Arril.
The committee in charge Of the ar
rangements for the annual conference
bers of the denomination ever held In
the history of the church.
In 1900 the dencmina tiop had eight
conferences. Now it has 141. Then
there were 2Ss itirerant ministers
there are now 17.gS3 and l4,2s9 local
preachers or "cXhortcrs." a century
ago there were e4.S94 lay members, to-
day the total membership is 2.S71, ,949
with a Sunday school army of over
100000 The number of churches is
$1,000. valued at s116,275.oO7, while there
are 1l,0O0 parsonaees valued at $1S,'
341,Si1. The state of Pennsylvania
alone has over a quarter million Meth
odists within its bounds.
Questions of the most vital import
ance will come before the National
conference. One of the first things tbs
body will be called upon to do will b.
to admit the provisional, lay delegates
Their admission Is highly probable, but
by no means certain. one woman has
been elected as lay delegate and thus
the right of women to pe delegates
will again come before the conference
The question of making the pastcrate
Of the minister q permanent one will
also come up for consideration agair
this year.
The amusement question is another
serious problem. Four years ago ar
effort was made to change the rule
against dancing, thcaters. horse races
card-playing or playing at games bu'
the effort failed. There is said to be a
sentiment in favor of not naming q
list of Objectionable amusements bu
favors emphasizing the general rule or
the question which says that members
shall avoid taking such diversions a;
cannot be used in the name of the
Lord" Fraternal delegates will at
tend from Canada. Ireland. England
and New Zealand. Special session.
will be held 70 hear their addresses.
Perhaps that part of the conference
about which the most interest centers
sc nf
agents of the book concerns and thir.
teen editors and ten corresponding
secretaries of the benevolent societies
1t is thought from three to five bishops
will he elected to take the place OF
Bishop Newman who died. and others
who will probably retire. Among
those spoken of for the bishoprics are
Rev. Thomas B. Neeley OF Philad el
phia: Rev. DR.. John w. Hamilton. o
Cinc'nnati; Rev. DR.. Joseph F. Berry
Of Chicago; Rev. DR.. A. j. Palmer
and Rev. DR.. William V. Kelley. o.
New York.
Rev. Luther Hess Waring, pastor o.
Grace Lutheran church of this city
will be in attendance upon the meet
ings of the North Branch conference
of the Susquehanna synod Of the Ev
angelical Lutheran church, which will
be held in Grace Lutheran church
Wilkes Barre, next week, March 12 t,
II. w. +. Shoener will attend as la,
delegate. and James Matter as alter
nate. This conference includes twen
ty ministers, scattered from Sunbur.
to Scranton. along and near the nortl
branch of the susquehanna river.
Rev. Charles Lee, pastor of the Pres
byterian church in Carbondale, will
exchange pulpits with DR.. Mcleod. o
this city tomorrow. DR.. Lee is one o.
the ablest preachers in the presbyter,
Of Lackawanna.
Gospel meeting at the West Scranton
branch Of the Young Womens Chi is
tian association at S.45 p. IN. tomorrow
Mrs. Gates leader. All women ant
girls are invited.
Gospel meeting at the Young Wo
mems Christian association at 345 p
m. tomorrow. All women and girl!
are invited.
Secretary j. B. Sweet, of the WyO
ming conference, is busy these day!
preparing for the annual sessions, t
begin April is. A movement is OF
foot to send Rev. Mr.. Sweet as dele
gate to the general conference in May
1t is fitting that one of the five min
isterial delegates should be a pastor
They are usually presiding elders
Other representatives who are promi
nently mentioned are Rev. DR.. Hard
Rev. DR.. Giffin. Presiding Elder!
Hayes, Forsyth and Hall. One of tn,
lay delegates from the Wyoming dis