Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-05-15
METHODISTSAT WORK
QUADRENNIAL CONFERENCE is
BEING HELD IN CHICAGO.
A Large and Notable AssembIaxe of
Christian Workers. Much mportans
Business to Be Transacted Measures
Which May Mark Innovations.

One of the largest and most notable
gatherings OF Christian workers ever held
assembled in Chicago Wednesday, when
the twenty third delegated general confer-
ence Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
began its session, which viii continue
throughout the month About G50 dele
gates are in attendance and there is
large representation OF laymcn. Dele
gates have come from all parts of the
world. including four from Germany. TWO
from Italy, TWO from Norway two from
Sweden, two from Switzerland. two from
Liberia, six from India, four from China,
two from Japan, two from Mexico, and
two from South America. and the list OF
laymen embraces many Methodist leaders
OF distinction and eninence.
The general conference, which is the
highest legislative and administrative
body of the church, acts on behalf Of a
constituency Of nearly 3,000,000 and an
organization embracing nearly $4,000
ministers and II, 900 local preachers The
delegates 81 the conference naturally in.
clnde the most able and experienced of
church workers. and they came from
widely remote regions-from all parts OF
this country and Canada, from Germany,
fran Europe and even from the orient
The work which this body must per-
form is arduous, and includes, besides
the consideration OF questions affecting
the general policy of the church, the cleo
ton of bishops and the administration Of
the immense business involved in the con-
duct Of church finances and the various
enterprises in which the church is engag-
ed This year, moreover, several Ques-
tons of vital Importance and unusual in
terest will come up for settlement. Some
of these contemplate measures which
would mark an innovation upon the ac-
cepted policy of the church. A new con-
stitution will be considered; the question
of LAY equality" has been brought for
ward; much time and attention probably
will be given TO the subject of the time
limit now placed upon the pastoral term
And among other things the conference
is expected to witness warm debate
between the conservative ard the liberal
elements upon the question of amuse-
ments and the ACCESSIBILITY of abolishing
certain restrictions regarding card play
ing, dancing and other similar pastimes,
Both on account of the character of the
work to be performed and the eminence
of the representatives. assembled, the ses-
sons of the conference will be Of wide
general interest by no means confined to
the church constituency. The business
to be done is as formidably complicated
in variety and detail as that transacted
in an ordinary session of Congress.
Bishop Merrill Presides.
Bishop Thomas Bowman called the CON
| ference TO order in the great Auditorium
and presided over the half-hour religious
service Then he laid down the gavel and
Bishop Merrill, the senior effective bishop,
took his place and announced the opening
of the business session. David 5. Mon
roe, who has been secretary of four con-
| ferences, then called the roll of districts
and delegates in alphabetical order
The provisional delegates were admit
| ted without contest. There were 15T
| provisional delegates elected to fill up
the disparity in their proportional repre-
sentation. Only eighty-6ve, however, re-
| sponded to the roll call following their
| admission. The limited lay representa-
| ton gave the pews 90 votes. -Four min
| isterial delegates We're absent. As the
roll was made up on the opening day
there are 365 preachers and 236 laymen
on the regular list.
Without a dissenting vote the confer
ence at its first session ratified the action
of the annual conference in extending
equal representation to the laity. The
| pulpit and the pew share equally in the
| highest governmental body of the Meth
| odist Church. The ministers were more
| enthusiastic over the loss of their au-
| thority than the laymen over their addi-
| tiona powers. The victory was celebrat-
ed by singing the doxology. The "Old
| Hundred" is the battle hymn Of the Meth
| odists It announces the conversion Of
| the penitent at the revival. 1t is the pean
| of rejoicing when n church debt has been
raised. 1t is the safety valve of pent-up
enthusiasm. 1t rang through the yaulted
chamber of the Chicago Auditorium in a
roar that drowned the roll of the organ.
The step taken makes the Methodist
| Church a democratic body; the rule Of
the preacher passes with the century.
The episcopacy in the church long since
has been restricted to a superintendent
without any authority beyond the placing
of ministers and suggestions to the gen
eral and annual conferences.
The bishops address was read to the
conference Thursday. IT deals with the
state of the church and the progress of
the past four years. The committees
were announced and organized. All the
proposed revisions of the book of disci-
pine, especially those relating to amuse-
ments and dress and creation of bishops
with limited powers. We're initiated Thurs
day by resolutions that We're referred TO
committees.