New-York tribune., 1900-05-28
BUSINESS IN METHODTSM.
CHANGES IN METHODS NOTED AT THE
CHICAGO CONFERENCE.
SENTIMENT PUT IN THE BACKGROUND
BITTER PILLS FOR BISHOPS
AND OFFICIALS.


tiers have swept 10 the front. At their SIDE
worrying with them. are those ministers whose
minds are pest capable OF grasping the great
questions OF organization and Of econoTny'-fnen
whose ability 10 secure action on given pTopo-
sftions lies in their tact, shrewdness and their
knowledge OF parliamentary law
This has been the line Of development during
recent years. but Il remained for the Conference
Of 1900 10 give the first clear exhibition OF it
The policy OF the denomination the destinles OF
The Church for successive gears and its ten
dency for longer periods in the future are deter
mined ty the ouadrenniel conferences. The chi
oago meeting al The close Of the nineteenth cen
rury viii make more history for the RECORDS OF
the institution OF Nethodisrn than any three OF
four OF irs predecessors Il viii be known 10
churchunen as a Conference % 'raoicailsIn' q
Conference which has been controlled nE men
strong enough 10 change traditional provisions
in discipline. TO insist upon managing the al
fairs OF the Church largely without the Board
of P.shops 10 make these formerly supreme
masters rather the servants Of The Church and
10 launch movements which tend 10 an econonl-
cal administration OF the fsanCial enos OF the
Church organization
There has been exhibited broadness Of spirit
and g fearlessness ia dealing with what have
been heretofore considered as delicate ques-
tions TO discuss publicly. Spirituality and senti-
blunt business frankness. II there were needed
any SPECIFIC evidence Of this il would be found
N the fact that only once during four weeks OF
continuous convention work has the camp meet
ing fervor been brought into play This was al
the tine when the Conference was about 10 pro
oeed 70 the election OF the two Bishops from
among the long list OF candidates. For TWO
weeks the ante-election campaigns Of the inol-
viduals had been conducted personally and
10
corridors had been noticed by the delegates.
Special efforts had been made on the part OF
candidates 70 attract attention TO their own par
ticular fitness for the high Office Of Bishop by
eloquent speeches and debates Men who aspired
70 Join the Church fathers had sought TO gain
credit for having engineered important measures
10 successful issue. and there was feeling
that the Conference was about 10 enter upon
what actually proved &c be a protracted ana
unpleasant period Of balloting.
THE PRAYER BEFOR- ELECTION.
This was the situation when the venerable
iayrnan from the Maine Conference. Ira s. Locke,
arose and addressed the Conference Il move,
sir" he said that. in view of the importance
Of this occasion and the solennity under which
every should vote. this Conference now
unite in prayer under the leadership Of the
president Of the Conference" And Bishop Joyce.
in obedience TO the vote. delivered an eloquent
prayer Of the camp meeting kind that raised
responsive "Amensr' from all parts of the house.
All other elections. ali other actions Of the
Conference. were taken without mention Of
prayer or religious Importance. On the other
hand whenever there has been indication
that action might be affected by the influence of
sentiment il promptly checked by the cold
water Of business sense brought out by some
laynan or ministerial delegate And they
have ruthlessly assailed the methods in the ad-
. A = -.-fso
itors. of Bishops and of the secretaries of the
various societies without regard TO the personal
feelings Of the men al whom the attacks have
been directed.
The first striking incident IN connection with
this came on the night Of the meeting Of
laymen held two days after the fight won
which gave them equal representation. "A lay
man. John Field, OF Philadelphia, presided, and
he outlined what he thought 10 be the trend
Of the meeting by delivering opening address
Of exhortation for the laymen to perform their
manifest duty IN upbuilding the spirituality Of
the Church. Chief Justice Lore Of Delaware,
followed with speech more On the lines Of the
practical things the laynlen could and should
&c. and this opened the way for a layman from
the West. who declared:
II was my understanding that We had met
here tonight 10 consider what attitude the lay
men ought TO take on the great questions which
are 70 come up IN the Conference. We ought
TO talk about the time limit and the amusement
question and the reduction Of the size OF Cen
sral Conferences, and things like these L came
10 this Conference for the first time. and would
like TO get down TO business. II the presiding
bishops are allowed TO continue TO recognize
Only g few OF the churchmen the floor OF the
Conference shall never accomplish anything
Of Importance
And from that moment 10 the end Of the
meeting il was these things the lay delegates
talked about
AIMING AT THE BISHOPS
This attack on the Board Of Bishops. as a
whole, but the precursor Of a running fire
which has been aimed al them throughout the
entire session J. II. Buckley, Editor Of The
Christian Advocate" Of New-York came down
on the Presiding Bishop who was inclined to
rule him out Of order, while attempting 70 make
a correction in the reading Of the minutes.
Reaching the speakers platform, DR.. Buckley
declared that there was power greater than
the Bishop which would compel him to enter
tain the correction. and that power the
General Conference itself Another cross fire
from DR.. Buckley came only during the last
week. On Thursday morning Bishop Walden,
who was in the chair. got tangled in the intrica-
cies Of parliamentary debate with motions
and amendments piling up by the score. Fur
therrnore he had missed number OF the ses-
sions and uniformed TO a previous ac-
tion. II became apparent, and DR. Buckley.
gaining the floor. shouted:
IF the Chair is in a condition 10 receive light
can give an infallible statement Of the action
taken few days ago"
The Bishop retorted, The Chair is always
ready 70 hear infalIibIe statements from DR.
Buckley"
And. though the Conference enioved laugh
at the expense of each, there was no effort TO
shield the Bishop The 1oke I'm the ,,se of tho