The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-03
THE GENERAL
CONFERENCE.
The Conference is One OF
the Most Important
Since 1874.

Chicago, May 2,-Ths twenty.tilr1
quadrennal General Conference OF the
Methodist K isoopal Church began les ses-
sion today at the Auditorium, 1t consists
of 72j delegates, in which e laity have
representation OF los What has boon re-
garded as tho greatest accomplishment this
conference could achieve wascompletod Ibis
morning. At the first session the lOj pro.
visioral lay delegates were seated. after
the constl u on had boon am ,nded to make
the rale of tho Church for INC future.
!. The vote was 0 II tho proposition OF tho
Rock River Conference OF Illinois for
eanal ministerial and lay representation In
tho General Conference. and, much to the
SUNRISE of all, here was not vote against
1t among tho 5O7 delegates who responded
to the rol-cal BY u mnJo ity vote, IL
was also decided to admit the provisional
Delegates chosen in anticipation OF this
action.
The opening session Of the conference
settled several qucs ions concerning the
great meeting which Is to draw tho rcilg-
ions world to Chicago for a III NTH. Tho
question of women representation was
dropped ..aftor the reading of II letter or
resignation from Mrs. McMahan, of Grlggs.
vile, H.. who had bnen appointed Law
deiegaI and it was duo 30 hor resignation
that the otheg Iay delegates were admitted.
Bishop S. III. Merrill presided. The
DO&o5 uuu DhacoHy WIZ khiioN VIVA ePoo-
tators' the delegates occupying tho stage
and floor OF tho big ,heater. Tho half
hour that followed was ono of devotion
ministers and lnymcn uniting IN song
and prayer, sthe venerable Thomas Bow.
man, the oldest bishop In the Church
Offering the inv ocation. The bishops and
lelegaIes from foreign countries led In
tho services.
Between the votes on the Rock River
amendment and tho admission of provis-
onal delegates, Dr.. Eaggerty presented
toilhe presiding bishop Y gavel. made OF
wood from the old John Street Church
New York, where American Methodism
had its beginning, and from the First
Church west of the Mississippi.
With the exception of II. S. Foster, all
the bishops were in attendance. Bishop
Thoburn, tho missionary from India,
arrived this morning, Ga the platform
behind the chairman Bishop Morrill,, vera
the oldest aud highest officials In the
Church. They wcro the bishops who con-
stitus Its superlntendcncy.
Bishop Bowman vino has boon retired
and Is one Of tho oldest divinos III the told
occupied IL prominent seat on the plat
form. Throughout the psoceodtns' OF tho
morninT, DIR. Allen the Gratc"nal delegate
from the Wesleyan Church OF England,
sat among the bishops. lo will have no
voice in tho deliberations, and Is hera
simply tip express the good viii OF his
mother Church.
Tho resolution providing for thu seating
OF lay dele gates also provided that SIX OBJ
jectors to any delegate could keep him out
until tho conference had examined the
case. This was intended to hend of the
admiasson Of Mrs. Nc. Mahan. but her
resignation made II unnecessary to nSo the
rulo in bGr casn.
Rev John Hanlley. OF Camden NJ j..
and five others objected to tho seatihg OF
Lay Dologato Caleb ButIorWorth NOR.
chant of Camden. He contonded no was
not member Of tho Quarterly Conference
when sent him to the General Conference
mad therefore was not u properly elected
delegate. A committee OF fifteen Will
consider his o,se.
While the roll was being called ut the
opening OF tho session there was somo
laughter when resignation was handed
in from Wisconsin delegate, who Gx-
plained that he had not seen church 10
three years, md did not baliero him.
cntit cd to the rights OF the meeting.
Among tho spectators in tho boxes Mt tho
tho opening session of the conference wers
the following PhiIado!phians:-
Mrs. Or. Neely. john Il. jams, Thos.
Bradley, Charles SEQ t, Miss Il, A. scott.
ox.t;ovornor Robert II Pa.tis0n and John
Field, who were among tho provisional
lay delegates admitted to stat
Admiral Dewey and his wife wcro giVon
an invitation to visit tina conference as
their convenience. butithe Admiral re-
Piled that his lime was SO taken up with
prior engagements 1t would DO Impossible
to do SO.