Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-29
mrrunnIsr Ir1NEnANrs.
Change of Preachers FROM Conference to
Conference. ...

Change of Preachers From Conference to
Conference. ..
baltimore Methodist.
Tho administration of our bishops
has been subjected to very considerable
criticism 10 recent years IN reference
to the transfer Of preachers from one
conference to another. The Discipline
confers on the bishops this power with
out restriction. The makers OF the
law. having faith in the wisdom of the
administrators, PLACED this authority
in their hands. We can point with
recuisr pride, on the whole, to the
wisdom and fairness that has chara,-
terized their administration of this
important trust. 1t IS an evidence of
divine assistance that SO little friction
has resulted from the conclusions
reached by the general superinterdeGts
Of cur great church concerning the
assignments of preachers to their
various fields of tuil.
In the discussion Of the subject that
stands at the head Of this article two
| important questions should be con.
sideisd The one that the Methodist
| Episcopal Church is unit. The
convenience of administration. And
the other, that 10 applying this prin.
ciple we must, TO . certain extent,
overlook conference boundaries and
take in the church as q whole.
| Who SO we'll rs the bishops are
familiar with the needs Of tho entire
church, Are they not more competent
than any others to decide concerning
| the disposition of preachers and the
accommodation OF the chuIchesP We
should have exact data On which to
base criticism of them. Is this always
at hand9 In answering the question
we are apt to survey the work Of u
single conference only, and in reaching
our conclusions to be guided alone by
the effects rs seen therein, II a con-
ference Is ovarcrowded, aod claimants
on its funds are increased by the trans
fer system, as sometimes operated in
recent years, then we must reach the
inevitable conclusion that the working
OF the system is at fault.
That the evidence can be produced
to substantiate the claim of the un-
wisdom Of its operations at times in
certain conferences cannot be ques-
toned. IL is aS plain as the light that
shines about ne. To transfer man
into a conference when his coming
means the forcing Of some hard worker
in the Lords vineyard into the non
effective relation, against his will and
conscience, ard, II the matter was sub
mitted to the decision of his brethren,
would be condemned, is most nssuredly
harsh il not an unwise administration
Of law. Again, when a church within
the hounds Of conference has secured
transfer from some other conference
where the first minister named ia to be
changed, to bring another transfer in
and leave tho first also there, cannot
be justified in view of all the interests
involved.
The remedy is simple. II one is
brought In some one must go out.
This principle carried out would re-
lieve the bishops Of burden that, il
would SEEN to US, they gladly would
have taken from them. We have
always hesitated to favor any change
in our economy that weuld take away
any authority conferred on our bishops
at the same time we are convinced CT
tho need and wisdom of o change in
the method of administration of this
matter. ... .... ...