The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-28
THE METHODISTS
Pass the Third Week of the General
Conference at Chicago.
eIIaE LIMII" ENDED FOREVER.
Large Premiums Placed Upon
GOOD Preaching : Layman Now
Known as "Lay 1Iember"-Latter
on Equality With the Minister.

the Methodist General Conference is in
stronger evidence than ever. II any
body Imagined 1t was met to satisfy it.
ae.f with amenities and platltudes, that
illusion is dlspell9d Fraternal dele
gates from Methodist and other bodies
At home and abroad have been received
and given a cordial hearing, and their
departing has not been 'speeded"; en-
thuFIastic anniversaries OF all the ben
eyo.snt societies have been held, and
numerous incidental social functions
have been enjoyed, but this conference
has with determined purpose re-
served It's strength for mightier mat
tiers. and has brought things to pass
which will be felt In the church for
hundred years. These matters have
first been slfted thoroughly in commit
tees and subcommittee, and finally
unon the floor OF the conference in de-
bates which would be credit to any
legislative body.
Preachers to be Appointed Annually.
He (the bishop shall appoint the
preachers to the several charges annu-
ally" seems an innocent EXPRESSION, but
its adoption made an end forever of the
time limit" in the Methodist itineracy.
An effort was made to substitute for
this provision for possible extension
Of the term beyond the present limit in
exceptional cases. and three-fourtbs'
vote OF the quarterly conference re-
questing 1t. This led to the most spir-
tied debate OF the conference, and a
long-drawn parliamentary battle, in
which the last tactics of obstruction
were used. The discussion, which had
run through three days, was closed by
Or. f. S. Upham. of Drew Theological
Seminary. who, aschairman OF the COM
mlttee on itinerary has presented the
majority report favoring abolition. The
speech was the most statesmaullke OF
the whole session. When the lUng-sus-
tanned applause ceased there vas a
startling crash behind the stage scehu
ery-occaslonIng some alarm. The
witty DR.. Cadman said: "pon't be
afraid! It's only the time limit falling
down."
The Enactment Perfectly VaIie.
No cloud can ever rest upon the
validity Of this enactment, passed as 1t
was-by vote of two to one. A large
premium is now set upon good preach
ing, and 1t will be possible for the bish-
ops to continue acceptable men In their
respective pulplts indefinitely. OF
this action. Dr.. Frank M. Bristol. Of
President MoRInley's church In Wash
ington, says:
The episcopal prerogative has been
maintained. The bishops have the
power to appoint each year whom they
see 1T. The action taken viii tend to
improve the ministry Every man will
be put at his best"
DE-. S. P. Cadman said: at Is pro-
gresslye step that will mark the con-
ference of 1900 as an important one"
]. r. Day, president of Syracuse Uni
varsity, said the removal of the time
limit would cause some ministers to
burn their old sermons. at will keep
our ministers thinking and studying"
he said. TO know that they have a pos
sIblllty Of staying in one place TO build
up church and congregation.
An End of woman Question"
This general conference. already nick
named the revolutionary conference"
has also made an end forever OF the
woman question" viz, the eligibility
OF women as delegates to the body. DR..
David H. Moore. blshop-elecL, intro
duced an amendment to the report of
the commission on parliamentary law,
changing the word "layman" to LAY
member" After the usual parliament
ary sparring the amendment prevailed.
As mera matter Of form, threG-fourths
OF the annual conferences must approve
OF the constitution thus amended. Then
women as lay members" can be elect
cd as lay delegates, and can be seated
in the next general conference without
successful challenge or cloud upon their
title.
Ministers and Laymen Equal
Equality of representation between
ministers and laymen. eligibility of wo-
men and abolition OF the time limit
would be enough to make this general
conference one OF the most remarkable
in the history of the church. but still
other things, though less important,
have, or viii, be brought to pass. Econ
Omy Of administration has been a work
ing principle under which three "AdYo-
Yates" which, in spite OF subsidies
have lost money. are abolished. andithe
benevolent societies may be restricted
70 one secretary each. and the secre-
tIryshlp OF the Epworth League and the
eIiJ3rship OF the Epworth Herald have
been consolidated. Some thousands OF
dollars in salaries and subsidies have
thus been saved. Whether this is ex-
penslye economy or not. time alone will
ten.
The Bnlloting Tedious Ordeal.
As was expected. the balloting for
bishop was n tedious ordeal. continuing
through almost a week. and extremely
trying upon candidates and their
frlends The rule requiring two
thirds majority for an election to the
cpiscopacy Insured this prolonged con-
test-l deadlock seemed Inevitable. AZ.
ter fifteen ballots motion to Indefinite
ly postpone the election came within
eight votes of prevailing. The candl-