The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-05-05
METHODIST CONFERENCE.
Opening of the Twenty-Ninth Gen.
eral Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church.
IT WILL EXTEND OVER THIRTY DAYS.
IL Is Expected to he the Most mpo
tnnt md Memorable conference
Since 1Sti. when the Southern
Branch Severed Itself over the
Question of slavery.

Chicago. May 2.-The twenty-ninth
general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church-the twenty-third of
the delegate congresses-began here
1t will last a month, and is expected
to be the most important of any con.
terrence since the memorable one of
1884, when the southern branch of the
church severed relations with the
main body over the slavery question.
The pit of the Auditorium theater
was filled with delegates-from north
and south. and east and vest; Warne
and Smith, from India, bronzed by
the sun of the equator; Hagan and
Camphor, from Liberia. and innumera-
Die others representing Methodism in
all parts of the world. Further back
in the big hall, where the conference
is to be held, were the spectators and
the provisional delegates. whose fight
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
NhiAN-iitllNd ibISiOP Ihobldo W lila II
arose to declare the conference
opened. Behind Bishop Bowman were
the other bishops in the places OF hon
or IN 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 gravest
consideration of matters which would
be brought up. and her declared TIE
conference open.
Bishop II. w. Warren. following
Bishop Bowman. Announced the inst
hymn, which was sung with Vigorous
enthusiasm by the grea- audience.
The apostles creed. led b.. Bishop !.
NJ. Thoburn. OF India, was recited by
the audience, and then Bishop c. d.
Foss delivered a prayer. This was
followed by the reading of Psalm 4G
by Rev. II. II. Lowrcy, ID. d, Of the
| North China conference. The GLORIA
was hen 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
nounced 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
po,Drad hv pcN Incnh NunEarS ,f
the North Germany conference.
As the last note of the hymn died
away Bishop ). NJ. Merrill took the
chair, the first move made in the bust
ness of the conference. Grave ques-
tons confront the gathering. The lay
delegates demand vote for vote with
the clerical delegates, and there are
i41 provisional lay delegates awaiting
action by the conference, 4. detcrm-
med effort will be made to raise the
ban on dancing, ard playing and the
alter going. and arguments advanced
for the conservation of bishops OF
limited jurisdiction, the dropping OF
The time limit on ~pastoratcS and the
referring of the election of confer
ence editors. secretaries and book
agents to the committees governing
the different societies. 1t i also eX-
pected that some steps may br taken
looking TO the reunitiHg OF tn" Gouth
branch of the church with the main
body. There will be a general morn.
ing session OF the entire conference
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