The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-09
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
Submitted to the Methodist Confer.
ence at Chicago.

Chicago May S.-Reports from the
various committees of the Metho-
dist Episcopal general conference
have been submitted to the as
sembly through the medium Of the
handbook, and the specific reports
were referred by motion to the proper
committees. Among the committees
in which interest centers is the "com-
mission of federation" Two ends
which are regarded as Immediately
attainablc are presented These are
the free interchange of preachers be-
tween tho church north and south
and the establishment of some kind of
arbitration board to adjust matters in
the towns and cities where the two
Methodisms meet.
Resolutions adopted at the joint
meeting of the commissions south and
north in Washington, Jan. {, 1898. are
submitted to the conference. Con-
densed they are as follows:
l. Resolved That the general conference ap.
proves the acts of the commissions
,. That the commissions be continued through
the ensuing quadrcnnum.
g. That they be given power to execute With
the college of bishops the measures thIs lar
adopted touching matters of general admins.
tration.
T. That they have power with the board of
missions to execute the measures regarding the
mission fields
Recommendation is made that the college OF
bishops be authorized to appoint committee to
compile complete doctrnal Catechism for hn:h
churches. 1t is also recommended that the con.
fcrenccs Of the various churches adopt measures
for the joint administration of the publishing
interests in China and Japan. The members Of
the commission are President MERRILL, Bishops
Nindc and Hurst, Revs. l.. B. Wilson, Il. J.
Cook and Laymcn Robert T. Miller and Thoma"
H. Murray.
The summary of the remaining re-
ports for the quadrennium is as fol-
lows;
Episcopal Fund-Exccpting 1890, ax)aldturos
exceeded receipts. The deficit for the four years
is S22,3j7o0 Surplus now is l,4G676, instead
of 23,s2iG6 four years ago.
General Missionary Committce-Debt Of $3.50.
O5j reduced to $4,000, and this covered by un-
paid pledges. Gain in various departments is
as follows: Membership, -, 753; Sunday school
scholars, S76iO; self-support collections, SlH,-
S22; chapels and churches in foreign lands,
$553,275; missionaries and assistants Is.
EducatiCn--Two hundred and twenty eight co..
legcs and schools; total value of properly and
endowmcnts, exclusive of debts, S2S,900,47l,
During year ending June, 1890, 4G,545 pupils
were in attendance. Income that year was 81
274690 from fixed sources and 81 ,000409 from
gifts. This is reported as inadequate.
Church EXtension--In this report the commit.
tee requests that its name be changed to
"Church Extension Conference" plea for
larger appropriation is made. A bonded in.
debtedness has been reduced nearly $4,000.
Deaths reported are: Rev. Alpha jefferson ~
nett, creator of organized church extension and
,ka Pnr r1,,
two years; Revs. Merritt +. Huburd, Bartholo.
NEW Lampcrt and f. NJ. Smith.
Freedman's Aid and Southern Education Soci.
ety--Organized thrty-four years ago last Aug
usU with $500 and twenty.four teachers. |:
has expended nearly 900 in southern states,
has nearly fifty schools, has 50, $4,000 invested
in school property, more than 200, 900 young men
and women have attended the schools. Hls
school attendance now of 10000, three.fou,rhs
of whom are colored. The industrial school
has 2,6i0 students.
Sunday School Union-The body consists G..
over 100000 persons, directed by board Of
managers which includes thirty ministers AMI
thirty laymen, appointed every four years. Re-
viscd statistics show: Number of schools, 81
s4S; increase in four years, 1850; teachers
and officers 3i70l4, decrease of Abb; number
of scholars, 2,67i,3i9, increase of S9,271.
Woman's Mlssons-Forcign society reports an
increase in collections Of Sl44,797 in the quad
rennium over previous periods. There are l65
missionaries in active service. The home So
ciety, ten years old, reports school property
valued at $3.50. 6.500.57.
Trusees-Trusts held amount to $780,.
477.90 of which Sl26, 263O4 was held four years
ago. Receipts for the period were sl2O576.06;
disbursements, $4,000
City Evangezation Unon-Ffty societies are
now included and average OF from $50, 900
to 100000 a year is raised by them. The total
for the quadrennum is S750,00O
Epwort League-Total membership is reported
as 27,Ois chapters, with l,750,OO0 members. Ep-
worth League Herald has circulation OF H..
600 subscribers, and the League Reading Course
output was 100000 volumes, The fact is en-.
phaszed that the consolidation of the Young
peoples societies has proved wise act,
American Bible Society-lts issues for the four
years approximate $500, $50 volumes; appropr-
alton for present year is 100000 for work in
foreign lands.
Twentieth Century Thank Offering-Subscrip.
tions are reported as follows: For Christian
education, S2,GOOOOO; debts on church proper
ties, S2,50OOO0 phianthropies and charities,
S75O,0O0 "If all reports were in" reads the
paper, 1--WE .uink they would show that one