The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-03

Many Matters Of Great Importance Are
to Be Acted Upon.
PARTICIPATION OF LAYMEN
In the Conference Is One Of the Most
Important Of Them.
MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ministers Are More Enthusiastic Over Loss
W.. OF Power Than the laymeu.
40 DFNlNG OF THE CHURCH RULES
Relating TO Pnstimes and Pleasures
WIZ he ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Lecture Ia BE Delivered.
MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
20 OfNlNG OF THE CHURCH RULES
Special to The Post)

StueIdl conference OF the MtlHuulSt
church began in this city this moring. II
will continue until Monday, May IS, and
during that time much church history
will be made There are many matters
of interest to the people OF all denomina-
tons to be discussed and acted upon, and
the proceedings will be closely followed,
Its sessions, centering in the auditorium,
but occupying with various committees
and auxiliary bodies, dozen or more pub
lie halls and lasting a full four weeks,
will consider changes in Methodist Gus
toms and church institutions which Will
be fun Of moment for the future OF the
church.
The greater participation of laymen In
the government OF the church and in the
adminl. tration OF its agencies for moral
and material welfare, fight for the adj
mission Of women to a voice In the general
conference and broadening OF the rules
relating to pleasures and pastmes 80 as
TO give greater freedom to individual con-
science, are some of the matters that de-
mand attention and from which an Idea
Of the tendencies Of the church at the
present time can be Judged The fact
that the conference when it adjourus Will
thar will be taken at the gathering OF all
the more vital Importance.
1t is everywhere noted that the ques-
tion of the admissions q, the provisional
lay delegates was the one that excited
most discussion. The movement 10 give
the laymen as many delegates In the gem
eral conference as the ministers have has
long been the subject of hard struggles
in the church. The present conference,
indeed, had its delegates chosen largely
with reference 10 this one question OF
equal representation.
The ministers In their annual confer
ences approved the plan last year by very
hearty maiorites. and today. without a
dissenting vote the action was reaffirmed
a view to taking seats as soon MS the
final favorable action was secured had
their deman granted and will take part
in the conference
There are 141 Of these provisional dele
gates out of total number of 703.
Mrs. NJ, y. McMahan withdrew her claim
80 seat in the conference rather than
jeopardize the status of her male col
leagues.
The step taken makes the Methodist
church a domestic body the rule of the
preacher passes with the century. The
episcopacy in the church long since has
been restricted 20 a superintendent with
out any authority beyond the placing OF
ministers and suggestions to the general
and annual conferences. The ministers
were more enthusiastic over the loss Of
their power than the laymen over .her
additional power.
The proceedings Of the general confer
ence vary in many respects from these OF
other legislative bodies. Most of the work
is. of course. done in committees and sub
. q in
which meets every morning, is given dur
ing the first half OF the month in large
part to receiving and referring proposals
for legislation and the hearing OF reports,
and during the last half to action. Abou;
the middle Of the month 1t elects the
bishops. OF general superintendent Of the
church, as they are technically known.
Probably four or FIVE Will be elected this
year, though the number is still uncer-
tain. Elections are entirely by ballot
without nominations or speechmaking of
any kind.
As soon as the conference is we'll organ
lied roll call Will be had for the purpose
of giving general opportunity TO present
memorials Memorials are supposed TO
come from the conferences direct, while
resolutions are presented by delegates per-
sonally. These memorials are referred to
committees and their titles appear In the
Dally AuFlSUlaD AuFOcdAes Aue NoutVi cue 2
paper the next morning. The committees
refer them to subcommittee, and when
they are favorably acted upon they 60 u
special committee for verbal changes.
Then they are published in the Daily Ad-
vocate in fun and the next day tine gen.
eral conference is at liberty TO act on
them. SpeechmSking is usually limited
to from three TO ten minutes.
One Of the Interesting events OF the con-
ference will be the holy communion, par
ticipated IN by all delegates, next Sunday
morning. This will probably be held in
two churches. the First Methodist and tbs
Wabash Avenue Methodist with the bish-
ops officiating.
The lecture by Bishop J. c. Hartzel on
Briton and Boer IN South Afrlea will at
tract much interest aud Will probably
draw a full house to the auditorium, Blsh-
op Hartzel landed in New York yester-
day. having been in South Africa for some
| time He is a missionary bishop for Az
RIGA. with headquarters al Monroyla, ii,
IBERIA. While he has not yet expressed
publicly his views on the Boer war, he i
thought TO be rather friendly TO Grea
Britain,