The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-04
AGAINST 4 Time LIMIT
A Change Proposed BY the MethO-
dist General Conference.
Il Suggestion in the Address of the
Bishops That Pastors Services
should Not Be Bounded by the
Five-Year Rule Warmly Received
Small Increase in Membership.

CHICAGO, May 3.-The abolition of the
time limit of Methodist pastorates was a
keynote at today's session of the Metho-
dist General Conference at the Andito-
rum. No formal discussion of the sub
ject was made in the debating of the day.
but the note was sounded in the quadrsl-
NAL address of the Bishops. and the tre-
mendous applause from both lay and min
isterial delegates indicated that the time
limit system was doomed.
The Bishops address said plainly that
the fve-year limit method had proved a
failure-that many pastors and churches
became mutually dissatisfied long before
that limit expired, while on the other hand
many churches would wish TO keep a be-
loved preacher far beyond the f1ye-year
figure.
Reference to the anti-canteen law was
received with loud applause.
On the question of membership the ad-
dress says:
The increase of membership. including
probationers. has been in round numbers
105.0 eco. an increase of nearly per cent,
since 1896. The ratio of increase in several
quadrennials past has been much larger
than this. How to account for this smaller
gain is not easily seen"
Prosperity OF the publishing houses OF
the denomination the increased collections
for missions, and the good outlook in other
branches are mentioned. Complete con-
currence in the vote for laymen's represen
tation is expressed, plea for Christian
unity is made, and ''unwholesome, coarse
and debauchng amusements, the theater,
the concert, and the dancehall," are con-
demned
II is rumored that five Bishops will be re-
tired by the present conference, Bishop S.
NJ. Merrill Bishop L. G. Andrews. and
Bishop J. NJ. Walden. for old age; Bishop
c. d. Foss, for i'll health, and Bishop J. +.
Hurst, that he may better devote his time
to the National University at Washington.
More missionary Bishops are desired and
it is thought that eight new Bishops Will
be chosen.
The morning session was largely taken
up with reports of the growth of
Methodism in all countries. Rev. E. w.
Parker reported progress in India. and
said that the Church there numbered
$4,000. Rev. W. T. Hogan said the growth
in Liberia had been satisfactory. Rev.
julius Soper, Dean of Philander Smith Bib
lical Institute at Aoyama, Tokyo. said that
there we're sixty-five ordained native
preachers and $500 native Christians.
Continuing, he said:
The character OF our converts and the
loyalty of our preachers and members have
greatly improved. There are now over 4O.-
0CO Protestant communicates in various
Nominations in Japan. The Government is
kindly disposed to Christians, but there,is
still much opposition on the part of Budd-
hists. ultra -nationalists and many of the
scientific men Of the Empire. The outlook
is encouraging. however, and the work lis
teresting Faith is put to a strong test.
but the faith of the japanese Christians is
strong"
The business session was presided over
by Bishop f. G. Andrews. who has pre-
pared the Bishops report of $1,000 words.
dealing in a general way with Methodism
and work and progress in all parts of the
world