The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-05

CHICAGO. May THE following reso-
luton was passed By the Methodist Gen
| eral Conference today:
Resolved. That Bishops shall receive
nothing over travelling expenses in at
tending the dedication OF churches, com
mencement exercises Of educational insti-
tutions. and such other religious services
/ rendered the Church"
To this had been appended the following
amendment, which was placed on The ta-
BILE:
Resolved, That the former resolution
salaried officers Of the Church"
! The amusement question bobbed up dur
ing the early part Of the session. DIT.
! Henry Brown. Of the Columbia River Con-
/ ference. proposed a resolution, which was
! referred to the Committee on the State of
the Church, declaring the rules Of dis
! cipline remain substantially unchanged.
The treasurer of the Episcopal fund re
ported that the receipts for the quadren-
mum were s347 7.52716 and the expenses
$500. .SS5.O6. leaving a deficit for the term
of S22. $3.50.
The first business OF the morning session
was the presentation OF reports Of the va
rious committees. Among the statistics
given by the General Missionary Commit
tee were the following:
The aggregate membership, including
probationers, reported fr four years was
1929. The annual report for 1899 gives
an aggregate CT 1886, an increase Of
32,755. The number of sunday School
scholars in 1895 was 154. .267: in 1899. 49,
9G7, a gain OF $3.50. The sum col ected
for all purposes Of self-support in 1895 was
s3le,1sS; in 1899. S491sC1O. an increase Of
Sl74s22.
The estimated value Of churches ard
chapels in the foreign field in 1895 was
S2,5sl,103; in 1899. $3,134g7S. gain OF
S5@3.zI5. In 1885 there were 225 mission
aries and 224 assistant missionaries (most
ly wives Of missionaries, and inciuuing a
few unmarried laGies) a total OF i49. In
1899 there were 234 missionaries, > wives
OF missionaries, and % unmarried lady
missionaries, a total Of 49, and a gan Of
is. In 1895 there we're 6g1 native ORDAINED
preachers; in 1899. 765. a gain of "a In
1893 there were 1,159 unordainei native
preachers; in 1899 there were 1851. loss
Of l2S. due probably to imperfect reports.
In 1895 there were ], ,651 local DIT, achars ard
other helpers: in 1899. 2,502. a gain of S5l.
In 1885 there were l56,2S3 reported adher-
ents; in 1899, 1851, gain Of 2422s.
Missions have been established In Alas
la. Porto Rico. and in the Philip nes
The following figures were giyel b. II
Board Of Managers Of the SunIay School
Union: Number Of Sunday Schools. 3IS4S; I
increase. 1882 number Of Officers AID
teachers, 347,9l4. decrease 4,513; number OF /
scholars, 2,547. .3l9, increase S9.27L These /
figures are for the entire Church. both
in the United States and in foreign lands. /
Tbs increase in the foreign lands during .
the quadreEnium was 637 schools. 1925 Of !
hcers and teachers. and 3l.573 scholars. /
The conversions during the four years we're
ioF05S The aggregate collections we're
S93 312
The report Of the National City Evan
gelical Union said in part
During the four years il has become very
evident that none too soon has the Meth
)dist Episcopal Church concentrated its at
tcntion upon the needs Of the cities and
the Church may be grateful TO the earnest
meu-a large number Of them laymeu-
who have voluntarily devoted themselves
to the work Of lifting to their true place
among the great fields OF the Church's
andeayor these vast centres of population.
in which now fully one third Of the people
Of our nation dwell"
The report Of the Epworth League show
ed gains in every department March l,
1900 there were 1881 chapters with a
OF over 1850. 900. In the
Junior League there were 057 chapters.
and a membership Of more than 400 900
The total membership IS, therefore g7O4g
chapters and about 1,750.0OO members
There has been a rapid and steady in
crease in the membership in 1900. tspe-
,ially in the Junior League chapters.
The report of the book committee was
less satisfactory. Among other things il
said:
There is a marked decline I'm the sale
Jf books. We are aware that this is
rue not only in dcnOminati0nal books. bur
IN those designed for the general trade
The people are substituting newspapers.
magazines the public and circulating
Libraries for the family library. During
he past quadrennium the decline in the
ale Of books by the Eastern house over
he previous four years amounts TO
,iiS. 900. and that Of the Western house
o sos, 7S6. These figures alone are sufi-
lent to arrest attention and stimulate
he minds OF all responsible parties 10 a
olutOn Of the problem involved"
The commission OF federation with the
Methodist Episcopal Church South made
he following suggestions.
With reference TO both Churches occu-
ing the same territory we recommend
he respective General Conferences to en-
.rt provisions to he effect thai where
irher Church is doing the work expected
Z Methodism, the other Church shall not
,rgauize a society nor erect church
uilding until the Bishop having iurisdic-
ign in the case Of the work shall be con
ulted and his approval obtained
Relative to transfer Of ministers. we
greed 10 recommend to our respective
General Conferences the provision OF
IAN by which a travelling preacher Of an
nnual conference in either Church may
e. received into an annual conference of
be ether Church, retaining his credentials
ithout the formality Of having his or d
ars recognized.
The report Of the general committee Of !
hurch extension showed that 81 l2-S45O
ad been asked for. but only $IS6 329 had
cen received by collection" D
STAY FOR FUNK AND SMELL.