Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-15
Methodist Conference Talks
Over the Use of Them.
RESOLUTION DISCUSSED.
Rev. Albert Rich Wants to Mako it
Violation of Trust Not to Devote Pro-
fits of Book Concerns to Sup-
port of Aged Ministers.

SulSaSo, sMay 1f.-lDy aSSOCldL-
ed Press.)-Bishop Fitzgerald pre-
sided at today's session of the
Methodist Episcopal general con-
ference, Rev. John T. Riley,
of Oklahoma, leading the devotional
exercises. After unimportant routine
business motion was made by Bishop
Hurst, that a commission be created
by the general conference, consisting
of one member from each general con-
ference district, to select the 129 dele
gates to the ecumenical Methodist
conference in London. 1t was adopted.
A little politics was then injected into
the proceedings by a resolution to al
low delegates the privilege of saving
vacant seats in their delegations for
their friends. 1t was opposed on the
ground that it would give too much
opportunity for lobbying, and was IL
nally defeated.
Rev. Albert R. Rich. OF the Erie
B(Pa.) conference, introduced resolu-
tion to make it a violation of sacred
trust to devote the profits of a book
concern to any other object than the
support of superannuated ministers
This was introduced to stop the pay
ment of the expenses of the general
conference out of this fund and the
subsidizing of non-paying official pa
pers. Rich said that if necessary, an
injunction should be served upon the
general conference, or those holding
these trust funds, to prevent their
diversion to any other channel than
that for which they were intended.
DR.. Eaton, of Troy, n. Y, agent of
the eastern book concern, made a
strong plea for the adoption Of the
resolution. I'm my Judgment" he
said, I'VE have too many periodicals
in the Methodist church. :. DR.. Lewis
Curtis, of the western Book Concern,
also favored the resolution. A motion
by DR.. Buckley to lay the whole mat
ter on the table resulted in lengthy
debate.
Buckley's motion to lay on the table
finally prevailed by large majority.
The regular order of the day, the or
ganic law of the church. was then con-
sidered, article ten beng read for
amendment or adoption. This article
defines the powers and restrictions of
the general conference. After some
debate the resolution was referred to
a committee for further considera-
ton.
The report of the committee on cleo
tons which was made public Satur-
day, recommending that the election
of bishops be held under the two
thirds rule, was brought up, and re-
suited in q spirited debate. DR.. j. NJ
Buckley, of New York, editor of the
Christian Advocate, made strong
plea for the adoption of the report,
which, he said, would tend to neutral
ize electioneering methods. The re-
port was voted on section by section.
The section providing for the election
Of editors of the several advocates was
recommitted to the book committee
for further action, the intention being,
it is understood, to discontinue some
of the subsidized publications, for
which editors are to be selected The
two-thirds rule on election was then
adopted by a noverwhelming vote.
Chairman Buckley then read report
No.2 of the committee on Episcopacy,
dealing with the effectiveness Of the
board and general superintendents.
The report, which was adopted after a
short debate, recommended that the
whole list of present acting bishops be
declared effective Conference then
adjourned for the day,