Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-29

things to pass, the effect of which will
be felt in the church for hundred
years. These matters have first been
sifted thoroly in committee and SUBJ
committee and finally upon the floor
of the conference in debates which
| would be credit to any Legislative
body.
He (the bishop shall appoint the
preachers to the several charges annu-
ally seems an innocent expression, but
its adoption made an end forever of
the 'time limit" in the Methodist tim
erancy. An effort was made to sub
stitute for this provision for a possible
extension of the term beyond the pres
ent limit in exceptional cases and up
on three-fourths vote of the quar-
terly conference requesting it. This
led to the most spirited debate of the
mentary battle in which the last tao
The discussion which had run thru
three days, was closed by DR.. L. S. Up
ham, of the Drew theological semina-
ry, who as chairman of the committee
on itineracy, had presented the major
speech is conceded to have been the
most statesmanlike of the whole ses-
sion. When the long-sustained APP
plause ceased there was a startling
crash behind the stage scenery, occa-
sioning some alarm. The witty DR..
Cadman cried: Don't be afraid! It's
only the time-limit falling down"
No cloud can ever rest upon the va
lidity of this enactment, passed as it
was by vote of two to one. A large
premium is not set upon good preach
ing and it will be possible for the bish-
OPS to continue acceptable ministers in
their respective pulpits indefinitely.
OF this action DR.. Frank M. Bristol,of
President McKinley's church in Wash
ington, says: 'The Episcopal prerog-
ative has been maintained. The bish-
ops have the power to appoint each
year whom they see fit. The action
taken will tend to improve the minis
try. Every man will be put to his
best" DR.. S. Park Cadman, of New
York, says: ut is a progressive step
and will mark the conference of 1900
as an important one" DR.. j. r. Day,
chancellor of the Syracuse University,
says: ''The removal of the time limit
will cause some ministers to burn
their old sermons. 1t will keep our
ministers thinking and studying to
know that they have a possibility of
staying in one place to build up
church and congregation
This general conference, already
nick-named the Revolutionary Con-
ference" has also made an end for
ever of the woman question: viz:
The eligibility of women as delegates
to the body. DR.. David H. Moore, bish-
op-elect, introduced an amendment to
the report of the commission on organ
ic law, changing the term "laymen" to
lay member" After the usual parlia-
mentary and forensic sparring the
amendment prevailed. AS mere mat
ter of form three-fourtbs of the annual
conferences must approve the consti-
tuition so amended. Then women as
.'lay members can be elected dele
gates and can be seated in the next
general conference without successful
challenge or cloud upon their title.
Equality of representation between
ministers and laymen, eligibility of
women and abolition of the time limit
would be enough to make this general
conference onesof the most remarkable
| in the history of the church, but still
| other things, tho less important, have
Or will be brought to pass. Economy
of administration has been working
principle under which three Advocates
which in spite of subsidies have lost
money, are abolished, and the benevo-
lent societies may be restricted to one
secretary each and the secretaryship
oflthe Epworth League and ,editorship
of the Epworth Herald have been con-
solidated. Some $4,000 per annum in
salaries and subsidies have been saved,
but 1T will take a quadrennium to de-
termine whether this has been wise
or expensive economy.
| As was expected the balloting for
bishops was a tedious ordeal, continu-
ing thru almost a week and supposed to
have been trying to the candidates and
their friends. The rule requiring
two-thirds majority for an election to
| the episcopacy insured this prolonged
contest. A deadlock seemed inevita-
BILE. After fifteen ballots motion to
indefinitely postpone the election came
within eight votes of prevailing. DIR.
Joseph F. Berry, editor of the Ep-
worth Herald, made the election of his
antagonists, Drs. Moore and Hamilton.
possible by withdrawing when he was
far in the lead of either of them.
Methodist.
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