Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-03

CHICAGO, May 2.-The twenty ninth
general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church-the twenty-third of
the delegate congresses-began here
to-day. 1t will last month and is
expected to be the most important Of
any conference since the memorable
one of 1874, when the south branch of
the church several relations with the
main body over the slavery question.
The pit of the Auditorium Theatre
was filled with delegates from north
and south and east and west-Warne
and Smith from India, bronzed by the
sun Of the Equator; Nagan and Cam
phor, from Liberia, and innumerable
others representing Methodism in all
parts of the world. Further back in
the big hall, where the conference is to
be held, were the spectators and the
provisional delegates whose fight for
admission to the conference is expect
cd to occupy the first days of the meet
ing.
The peals of the great pipe organ
were still echoing when venerable
white-haired man, Bishop Thomas
Bowman, arose to declare the confer
ence opened. Behind Bishop Bowman
were the other bishops in the places of
honor on the stage, facing the audi
in with tho
mainder of the assemblage, became
silent as the veteran bishop raised his
hand. In a few words he called atten-
tion to the Importance of the confer
ences, counseled conservatism and the
gravest consideration of matters which
would be brought up and then declar-
ed the conference open.
Bishop H. w. Warren, following
Bishop Bowman, announced the first
hymn, which was sung with enthus-
iaSm by the great audience. The
Apostles creed, led by Bishop ]. NJ.
Thoburn, of India, was recited by the
audience and then Bishop C. D. Foss
delivered prayer. This was followed
by the reading of Psalm 46, by the Rev.
H. H. Lowry, D. D., of the North China
conference. The gloria" was then
chanted, the second scripture lesson
from the first chapter of acts, first to
fourteenth paragraphs, read by the
Rev. Austin Griffin, of the Wyoming
conference and another hymn an
nounced by the Rev. Harry Swan, of
the West Texas conference. A prayer
by the Rev. H. A. Goblin, of the North
west Indiana conference, followed and
was succeeded by another hymn, an
nounced by the Rev. Jacob Yunkers, of
the North German conference.
AS the last note of the hymn died
away Bishop S. M. Merrill took the
chair, the first move made in the BUSH
ness of the conference. Grave ques-
tons confront the gathering The lay
delegates demand vote for vote with
the clerical representatives, and there
are 141 provisional lay delegates await
Ing action by the conference. A deter
mined effort will be made to raise the
ban on dancing, card playing and thea
ter going, and arguments advanced for
the conservation of bishops of limited
jurisdiction, the dropping of the time
limit on pastorates, and the referring
OF the election OF conference editors,
secretaries and book agents to the
committees governing the different So
cieties. 1t is also expected that at
least some steps will be taken looking
to the reuniting of the south branch of
the church with the main body.
There will be general morning ses-
sion of the entire conference every day
except on Sundays. The fourteen
standing committees, whose functions
are analogous to those of congress
sional committees, meet three times
week, seven each day, and report to
the general conference such resolutions
as are deemed worthy of general dis
cussion and action.
OF the seven hundred and fifty dele
gates entitled to seats the greater
number were present this morning.
By unanimous vote the delegates
to the Methodist conference decided
to give equal lazy representation in all
Methodist conferences. The announce
ment of the vote was greeted with
cheers as it was victory which had
been fought for for hundred years.
A fight was expected over the mat