The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-12

Special from a staff Correspondent.
West Pittstcn, April ll.---This was n
very busy day at the conference. Abb
sentees had all struggled in and the
work was carried on with enthusiasm.
THE business schedule was strictly fol-
lowed for Bishop Fowler The sessions
we're crowded with visitors and were
full of interest. There were continual
breaks in the routine by the swift
little CLEANS OF humor which the bishop
flashed into the proceedings.
REV. w. l.. Hitler conducted the de-
rotional exercises. Rev. j. l.. Race
offered prayer. Bishop Fowler entered
and conducted the business session at
$50. DR. Hard offered a resolution that
Hon. William Connell should be elect
cd to succeed himself as trustee of Sy-
racuse university for the next sin
years. The vote clecting him was
unanimous. l.. d. Palmer was named
as reporter for the Northern Christian
Advocate.
DR.. Hard read the report Of the
Historical society. Among the recent
acquisitions OF value IS the Bible of
Aiming owen. a man whose work Is
nseparably associated with the his
tory of AIethCdlsr,.
The Dneonta district was called, and
Rev. 7. t. Hall gave an interesting
re port. The amount of S9,11S has been
raised this year. When the names Of
effective elders We're called it was sta
ted that j. &. Johnson, because OF ILL
ress. sought the supcrnumerary rela-
ton. The case was referred to the
committee on conference relations with
View to granting his request.
Report of Delinquents.
The statistical secretary gave the
report of delinquents and the bishop
SPOKE strongly in depreciation of the
cafelessness of conference members
who thus delay the work Of the sta
t.Sticians.
The chief business of the morning.
the vote or the church constitution.
was then taken up. The bishop read
the paragraphs from the discipline in
whici. We're comprised the changes.
The general conference is composed ot
ministerial and lay delegates. lay
members interpolated the bishop
me anin" any kind of members. the
discipline says lay members. not lay
uSI VI IdS Noiutu Iht loiiONiHS
is the text on the subject of the
changes:
The general conicrrnc. shall be composed cF
ministerial and lay delegates to be chosen
hereinafter provided
4 lay conference shah be instituted q,iadrtnni.
ally, or Whenever duly called by tho general con-
terence, and for the purpose OF voting on consti.
tutional changes. II shall he composed q. lay
members. from each pastoral charge within
!ts bounds, chosen by the lay members of the
charge over twenty.onc years oi age in such 4
manner the general conference may determine.
Those who have been duly returned shall l.c
ecoSnizod as members, their certificates oi clec.
ion being evidence OF their right TO membership,
oro,i ided, however, that in the OF challenge
of any person thus enrolled, such challenge being
signed by AT least six delegates, representing
toany different annual conferences. three lay dele.
gates and three ministerial.
Heretofore the bishops have consti-
tuted the highest court Of appeal on
seating delegates. Under the new rules
the delegates bring their own credcn-
tials.
Two-thirds Necessary.
The concurrent recommendation Of
two-thirdS of the members of the sew
eral annual conferences are necessary
stitution. Heretofore three fourths was
the requirement, No change can alter
the standard OF doctrines or faith.
Delegates 10 the lay conference are
elected by the church society, instead
of the quarterly conferences.
The following is the ext of the uues-
ton on which the confidence voted:
fhe general conference of 4. u. 1900, by a vote
OF j42 to gi, proposed and recommended a rv.
vsod Constitution OF the Methodist Episcopal
church, and ordered it to be submitted to the
annual conferences OF 1901 Tor their action there.
m; and the said general conference also author.
Hed the bishop, il the Ial conferences should
concur in said recommendations by a vote Of
three',ourthS ol all the members present and vot
ing, 10 thoreupon declare said constitution to be
duly adopted and in force ls the constitution Of
the Methodist Episcopal church.
Said revised constitution is printed in the Dis.
ciplinc for 1900 beginning with the preamble, on
page $50, and continuing through page 363 and
is thus printed is the constitution submitted 10 |
the annual conferences tor tbcr vote thereon.
The bishop put the question and on
motion of Dr. Griffin no debate was |
of5ersd. The vote was against aIlopt
ing the new measures by q majority
of 96 against IS. The bishop stated in |
cidentally. 1T looks as if it might he |
carried by the majority of the confer |
ences: as for myself | have taken !
precauton to give no indication Of |
which way I stand Tor ! don't know |
myself"
Wyoming District.
DR.. Griffin then gave. the report q!
the Wyoming district, which appears |
below.
will read brie, report. | cannot give with |
any degree OF accuracy in detail the work done |
in hity'one pastoral charges by the workers in the
Wyoming district. lew facts only, and these |
simply stated without extended rhetorical em.
i,ellishment. This district is regarded by not 4 |
few as the Eldorado OF the conference. But even |
here much taith great sacrice and hard work |
are the conditions of success. Our work lies in |
the storm center OF the conference.
For months this year we seemed TO be in the |
crater Of a volcano. The labor troubles tor a !
rime completely paralyled business and has seI- |
ogsly intcrferei with the work OF the churches. |
Ministerial support has suffered somewhat and the
hcneyolcnce more. II has been with great diff. |
Guilty and in some instances an utter impossi. |
iiity 10 hold our churches M 10 their former |
record in gcr,.a hcnclolcnccs, and especially IN |
the cause Of missions. The miners strike in the /
faa, from the effects OF which We have not vet |
'.ly recovered. and tie more recent strike OF the