The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-30
METHODIST CONFERENCE ENDS
Review OF Sess on Notable for Con
" tutional Changes.

Chicago, May 29-The twenty-third dele
gated quadrenniaI conference Of the Meth
odist Episcopal church came % az end
today, after a session of four weeks The
conference IS considered 10 DC one of the
most noteworthy since the days when
AethOdlsm vas divided over the slavery
question. and has resulted in many radi-
cal change. in the laws and polly OF the
church. AS a result the church viii en-
ter upon the Twentieth century q diner-
ent body from what X was before the
conference met. Principal among the inn
portant actions Of the conference were the
abolition OF the time-limit on pastorates.
the ratification OF the equal representa-
ton amendment as proposed by the Rock
River conference. together with the seat
ing OF the provisional lay delegates; the
adoption Of new constitution. subject to
approval of the various annual confer
ences including substitution OF the words
| LAY members, for the term 'laymen."
thus permitting the seating OF women in
the general conference. and the election
of TWO additional missionary bishops.
There was a huge amount Of routine busi-
ness which was practically settled in com
rjttoe
The first day of tn conference, May :.
saw lsymen and preachers given equai
representation. Under the BELIEF that tets
would be done. provisional delegates we're
Ton hand ard were. following this action.
admitted as regular lay delegates max
ing the $50 conference the largest of it's
kind in the history Of the church.
OF great interest TO MethodIsts was the
abolition. total and Unconditional. OF the
! fiye-yedr limit on pastorates. The con-
| ference did not modify paragraph = Of
the Discipline. which. among other thing 8,
| forbids attendance upon theatres, cir
| cuses and dancing.
| The report OF the committee on educa-
/ ticn. which was under discussion at last
! nights session Of The conference. was
| taken up for final action today An
| amendment offered BY Or. jordan OF
South Dakota requiring the university
| senate of the church 10 recognize certih-
/ Gates from students from ether than
I Methodist colleges presenting themselves
| for examination FOR the ministry. causej
| considerable discussion The report as
amended was finally adopted. The con
/ terence also approved the authoriz ton
/ OF GnOrdalned ministers 20 perform the
marriage ceremony. Reports OF minor
/ Importance were received from the ether
/ committees and adopted. The delegates
/ then INDUCED "a a little amueement y
auctioning OF the table SCARED by ne
bishops gavel during the four yeeks'
| session. The table was made by the hoy
of the manual training school at Veuicc.
/ Il was disposed Of Tor 800
| Debate on proposed changes IN the ratio
Of representation q general confer me,
consumed much time Arguments were
1 made IN favor ~ the majority report
| recommending a change in tbe ratio. Of
| one delegate TO each sixty preachers. ir-
stead of one delegate 70 every forty-fve
! preachers. as now prevails. II uas CON
+ tended that the present body wa IN
/ weilJly. This statement was vizo-ousiy
/ ccmbatied by several speakers. and che
/ conference by an overxhe. ming vote &C.
/ clded O. make no charge
/ Trustees Of the American university a.
! Washington were named and anor yee8.
At = O'Clock all business xas laid "a To-
table and the rsuai complimentary rsso-
lutions attendant uoon closing sessions
were adsgted. TIE venerabie BISHOP
+ Bowman. nov su2eranuusfed. then faacs
a brief address = parting 30 The dele
gates The minutes - tsdas>s me IHe
we're read and fhe roH VAS csrsa =
( brief prayer By Bishop Wer-sn fsflews
ard shortly before Z u'c'ook the vtenva.
! conference pasted into history.