The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-27
GREAT PROGRESS IS MADE
GLOBES REPRESENTATIVE At NJ.
E. CONFERENCE COMMENTS
ON IT'S WORK
TWO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Relating to Itineracy and Women
Disposed Of-Pen Sketches of
Some of the Prominent
Men.
Special Correspondence of the Globe

Special Correspondence of the Globe.
CHICAGO, May 25.-The election of
bishops has made the time wearisome
for more than week Sixteen ballots
were taken before a choice was made.
About sixty were voted for, and not until
three motions were made to indefinitely
postpone the election did the membership
center on the man of their choice The
bishops of the Methodist church are al
ways elected by informal ballot It is a
slow process, as every man has the priv
ilege of making choice Then the fea-
ture of q two-third majority being nee
essary TO an election increases the diff
Guilty. This, it is claimed avoids the pos
sibility of an Objectionable man finding
his way to the office of CHIEF suparin-
tendent of the church. Seven days seems
a long time to consume in this work, but
when it is done there are no regrets.
While the ballots are being counted de-
bates continue with uuabated interest,
such as the organic reconstruction.
ITINERACY AND WOMAN QUESTION.
The latter, which has been before this
great body since 1868, is probably at last
finally settled. 1t has been adopted in
the organic law of the church to be sub
mitted to the annual conferences for rat
ification. There is no question abaut
women being seated in the general con-
ference of 1904. When the vote was
taken and carried with so large a major
ity, six thousand people broke for h into
tumultuous applause, The ladies presen-
gave the Chatauqua salute Another
epoch had dawned upon Methodism.
A feature plainly and painfully notice
able through the proceedings Of the past
week was the entire silence of every
man who was candidate for office E.
cry one of them, like sheep before the
shearers, were dumb. ard opened not their
mouths. There was the question of a
local negro bishop. Easily within the lin
its of solution, and certainly of immedia tie
demand. but for fear of estrangng sentt-
ment all the colOred leaders, one cand-
date for general secretaryshiD of Freed
mems Aid and Southern Education, an
other for bishop, another for assistant
secretary of Epworth league, and another
for the editorship of a Sou hern Advo-
cate, kept perfect silence while this ques-
ton, dear to every colored heart went
: down in the flood. Verify an Office will
make coward of almost any one When
a preacher once moves out OF the pas
torate into what is commonly thought OF
late TO be the line of promotion. mistake
indeed, he is seized at once with an inor-
short of the Dishopric ahead To that he
bends every energy and ensaves every
thought. The result is that legislation
is not as safe as 1t might be. The sins
of omission are cOmmoner than the sins
Of commission. The general conference
Is made up of this class. In the present
composition, 1900 pastors are represent
ed by siXty-three, While 157 presiding ell
ders are voicing the wants of the church.
The balance of ministerial representa-
ton, Us in number. is composed of gen
eral secretaries, editors, college profess
sors and presidents.
TINE LIMIT.
The time limit received its death blow
Wednesday, by a vote of 1913 to 23S. Pas
tors will now be permitted to stay as long
as there is agreement between them and
The people. The cities will feel the effect
of the change more than the rural dis
tricts. In the discussion Of the question
the advocates of the permanent pastor
ates claimed that Methodism did not take
root in the great centers as did some
other denominations Time will reveal
the wisdom or the unWisdom of the
change. The amusement question does
not seem to trouble the conference very
much. There is disposition, however. to
remove the paragraph Of the discipline
relating thereto from the penal code to
the chapter on adVices.
One thing has been especially noticeable
in this great conference. and that was
the religious spirit. The day star CT
Christianity will never go down in gloom
If the evangelical denominations of the
world continue to manifest the hope ex-
pressed by this great body now in ses
sion in Chicago. The work OF retrench
ment was taken in hand and by doing
away with several secretaries and with
drawing support from some useless and
improbable papers, a saving of over
100000 annually was made. This has been
a history-making conference, for the
prospective success during the next
quadrennium much credit is due the lay
members