The Van Buren press., 1900-05-05
METHODIST CONFERENCE
Opening Of the Twenty-Ninth Cen
eral Conference of the Metho.
dist Episcopal Church.
IT WILL EXTEND OVER THIRTY DAYS
II Is Expected to be the Most ImpOr
tnnt and Memorable COnferenc,
Since 1Sit, When the Southcrs
Branch Severed Itself over tn,
Question of slavery.

Chicago, May 3.-The twenty-nintb
Episcopal church-the twenty-third OF
the delegate ngresses-began here
| 1t will last month, and Is expected
to be the most important of any con
Terrence since the memorable one o
1884, when the southern branch of th'
church severed relations with the
main body over the slavery question
The pit of the Auditorium theatei
was filled with delegates-from north
and south, and east and west; Warn'
and Smith, from India, bronzed b,
the sun of the equator; Hagan anc
! Camphor, from Liberia, and innumera
BILE others representing Methodism ir
all parts OF the world. Further back
in the big hall, where the conference
is to be held, were the spectators ant
the provisional delegates, whose fgh
for admission to the conference Is eX
pected to occupy the first days OF the
meeting.
The peals Of the great pipe organ
were still echoing when venerable
White-haired Bishop Thomas Bowmap
arose to declare the conference
opened. Behind Bishop Bowman were
the other bishops in the places of hon
or on the stage. They, in common with
the remainder Of the assemblage, be
came silent as the veteran bishop
raised his hand.
Briefly he called attention TO the
Importance Of the conference, coun'
seled conservation, and the gravesi
consideration Of matters which would
be brought up. and then declared the
conference open.
Bishop II. w. Warren, following
Bishop Bowman, announced the First
hymn, which was sung with vigorous
enthusiasm by the great audience.
The apostles creed, led by Bishop j.
NJ. Thoburn, OF India, was recitcd by
the audience, and then Bishop c. d.
Foss delivered prayer This was
followed by the reading OF Psalm AZ
by Rev. II. II. Towrey, ID. d., of the
North China conference. The GLORIA
was then chanted, the second scripture
lesson from the first chapter Of Acts
first to fourteenth paragraphs, read
by Rev. Austin Griffin, OF the Wyoming
conference, and another hymn an
nounccd by Rev. Harry Swan, Of the
West Texas conference. Prayer by
Rev. Hilary A. Goblin, OF the Northwest
Indiana conference, followed and was
succeeded by another hymn, an
nounced by Rev. Jacob funkers, OF
the North Germany conference.
As the last note OF the hymn died
away Bishop S. M. Merrill took the
chair, the first move made In the busl'
ness of the conference, Grave qnes'
tions confront the gathering The lay
delegates dcmnnd vote for vote with
the clerical delegates, and there nrt
i41 provisional lay delegates awaiting
action by the conference. A determ'
lncd effort will be made to raise the
ban on dancing, card playing and the
ntcr going, and arguments advanced
for the conservation OF bishops Of,
limited jurisdiction, the dropping OF
the time limit on pastorates and the
referring Of the election of confer
rnce editors, secretaries nnd boob
agents to the committees governing
the different societies. II Is also ex
pectcd that some steps may be taken
looking to the reunting Of the South
branch Of the church with the main
body. There will be general morn
Ing session OF the entire conference
every day except on Sundays.
Eaual lay Representation.
Chicago, Mny 3.-The Methods,
Episcopal general conference, by .
unanimous vote, decided TO admit
equal lay representation to all Meth
odist conferences.
Provisional Delegates Admitted.
Chicago, May 3,-The confcrcnc,
voted to admit the provisional dele
gates.
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