Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-08
METHODIST
Reports of Various Commit
tees for Past Quadren-
MUM Presented.
THE EPISCOPAL FUND.
1t shows u Surplus of Receipts Over
Expenditures for the Year 1900
Today's Session OF the
Conference.

Chicago, May. 4.--(By Associated
Press. 1.-The devotional exercises be-
ginning the third days session of the
Methodist Episcopal general confer
ence were conducted by H. j. Cozine,
Puget Sound University, while Bishop
w. w. Warren presided over the bust
ness session. The first business was
the presentation of the reports of COM
mittees for the past quadrennium.
The report of the treasurer of the
Episcopal fund showed the receipts for
the quadrennium to be $S47,527 and
the expenditures, $369,Ss5. In. 1899
the receipts exceeded the expenditures
by $4,000.
Commission on Federation,
The commission on federation with
the Methodist Episcopal church
(south) said in their report:
The adjustments of the foreign mis-
sionary work of the churches in the
matter of episcopal oversight, the pub
fishing interests of the two churches
in foreign fields, the seeming compeli-
tive attitude of the churches in vari-
Gus parts of the United States, Inc
need of a common catechism and hymn
book and of uniformity of public yor.
ship, international Epworth League
conferences, the transfer of ministers
from one church to the other, and the
claims of the American university
were all carefully and prayerfully eN-
amined, with an eye single to the
glory of God and the concord and ct.
fectiyeness OF the churches in their
divine mission of extending the king
dom of God without injury to either
or to the common cause OF our Lord
Jesus Christ. As result of the con.
ference. held the following resolutions
were adopted by the commissioners O,
both churches in joint session, and
are now submitted to you for adop.
ton, alteration, or rejection, according
to the terms upon which the commits.
sion was appointed:
Il. Resolved, That we recommend
to the general conference of our re
spective churches to adopt measures
for the joint administration of nu1
publishing interests in China and
Japan.
Y. Respecting our joint mission
ary work in foreign fields, the follow.
ing was unanimously adopted. Ap
preciating fully the Christian comfy
which prevails among our missions il
foreign lands, and having given care
full attention to the principle and de
STABILITY of cooperative administra
tion as means for lessening the ex
Expenditure of funds in prosecution OF
the work, we therefore, without fur
Their attempting to formulate an,
plans for such cooperation, commend
the subject to the consideration Of The
two general conferences.
N3 Resolved, further, that we com
mend the taking OF prompt steps fol
the preparation of common care
chism, a common hymn book and ;
common order OF public worship, ant
that other branches of Methodism b,
invited to cooperate in this undertake
ing.
"a. With reference to both churche.
occupying the same territory, the fol
lowing was agreed to:
Resolved, That we commend the re
Bpective general conferences to enac-
provisions to the effect that wher,
either church is doing the work ex
pected of Methodism, the other churcl
shall not organize a society nor cree
church building until the bisho,
having jurisdiction in the case of thu
work shall be consulted and his an
proval obtained.
IS. Relative to transfer of minis
ters, we agreed to recommend to ou
respective general conferences til.
provision OF plan by which a travel
ing preacher Of an annual conference
in either church may be received int
an annual conference of the othe
church, retaining his credentials
without the formality of having hi.
orders recognized.
IS. Concerning the Epworth League
international conferences the follow
ing action was taken:
Resolved, that we have observer
with much interest the growth Of thu
Epworth League in our respective
churches and rejoice in the spirit O.
fraternity manifested in their biennia
30 The !.