The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-24
TEE TIME LIMIT ABOLISHED.
Decisive Action Taken by the Metho<
dist Conference.

dist Conference.
CHICAGO. May 23.-By a vote OF 1873 to
23s the General Conference OF the Meth
odist Episcopal Church today decided to
abolish the pastoral time limit by which
minister has been able to remain in one
charge not longer than FIVE successive
years. Thus one Of the fundamental laws
of the denomination and one Of the prin-
cipal features of the itinerant ministry Is
laid aside. and preachers may remain in
places as long as the Bishops appoint them.
The discussion this morning was mainly
over the minority report OF the committee.
which provided for ive-year extension
OF the pastorate only en- three-fourths
vote of quarterly conference, which one
speaker declared to be vicious
proposition and an amendment offered
by Secretary d. s. Monroe. substituting the
word three" for 1--we" in section of
paragraph 173 OF the Discipline. thus re-
turning to the three-year time limit. but
with the provision that the pastorate
| might be extended for periods OF three
years by majority report Of n quarterly
conference.
DIR. J. NJ. Buckley advocated as CON-
nority report DR.. Il. s. Copeland. lay
delegate OF Ann Arbor. aroused storm
Of applause by advocating an ''unmodifed.
unrestricted. unqualified abolition OF the
time limit and when he concluded cries
Of Vote! Vote," came from all over the
hall.
The previous question was ordered by
an overwhelming vote and DR.. s. +. Up
ham. Chairman Of the Committee on Itin-
ri he lab In favn ~ tha
majority report.
motion to lay the minority report on
the table was carried by vote Of 365 to
2S8.
Substitutes offered by various delegates
were howIed down. and a yea and nay vote
was ordered on the majority report
Bishop Hurst. President OF the American
University at Washington. was drawn over
the Goals by the Committee on Education
today. The prelate found his antagonist
In DR.. John F. Goucher President OF the
Women's College OF Baltimore. DR..
Goucher charged Bishop Hurst with vio-
1ating the covenant entered into at ;he
General Conference In Omaha. which pro-
videS that no university should be opened
until the authorities possessed s5.000.000
in addition to the value OF the property.
1t Is claimed that Bishop Hurse. who acted
as chancellor of the institution. opened
the doors OF the American University
when but 81 coo COO was in Sigh.
The matter was referred 10 a special
committee, OF which DR.. GUucher was
made chairman, and DR.. J. r. Day, Chan
cellor OF Syracuse University. { member.
despite his plea that he know too many
things to act as a member.
The first OF the afternoon sessions OF the
conference was held today. On motion Of
DR.. J. NJ King, of New York. q memorial
to Congress was adopted app,auding its ac-
ticn in excluding the polygaHiizt Roberts.
and making an appeal for constitutional
amendment prohibiting polygeny.
The conference after a proteacted debate
and determined opposition adopted a re-
port from the Episcopacy Committee,
through Chairman Buckley fixing one
episcopal residence at Zurich and another
at Shanghai. 1t is rule among the
Bishops that the new corners to their ranks
are sent to the most remote points, and the
rule sent Bishop Moore to Zurich, and
Bishop Hamilton to Shanghai.
The conference after some debate and OPP
position adopted report from Chairman
Shaw Of the Book Concern Committee in
regard to the consolidation OF the deposit
tories and Church newspapers. The ses-
sions tomorrow are certain to be Of great
interest. 1t Is possible that the report on
temperance and report on amusements may
be made and discussed. ard many i'm
portant elections are to be held. After the
election OF secretaries will come the cleo
ton of editors, and among these a few
changes are expected.