The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-04

Bishop Keener, Of New Orleans, Will oc-
cupy the chair. From day to day the
other bishops, among them Bishops Viii
scn, CRANBERRY, Hargrove, Duncan, Gallo
| way, Hendrix. Key, Fitzgerald, Gambler
and Morrison, will preside. Bishop
I<eener is now eighty-four years Of age.
He has held the episcopal office for thir-
ty-two years and has been for twelve
years senior bishop.
The conference is the supreme govern
ing authority in the church. 1t is lcgis-
lative. judicial, and elective, makes laws,
levies taxes. appropriates money and
tranSactS various other matters OF I'M
rortancc. 1t meets every four years. in
spects the history Of the church during
the period since its preceding session
and reviews the decisions of the bishops.
At this meeting the boards Of the Con-
ferences may be changed if desired.
Two matters of interest which will come
up under the regular order of business
VIII be the question of establishing an
order of deaconesses and the question
OF making the length of the term of the
! pastorate indefinite. The order of
dt aconesses will doubtless be estab-
| lished, but the other proposition will in
| al probability be turned down. In adj
| dition to these two matters there will he,
as usual, 4 vast number of memorials
from different conferences. One of spec
! ial interest which will go from Virginia
Will ask that the ERIN OF presiding
| elders be limited to eight years There
is {. strong sentiment in favor Of this
change. but the presiding elders are all
against it and it is impossible to say
whether or not it is likely to BE- gotten
through.
PUBLISHING HOUSE CLAIM.
On all sides, however, it is recognized
that the great absorbing topic at the
Conference will be the question OF the
publishing house claim. a great variety
Of opinions exists in reference to this
matter and it will probably be exceed
ingly difficult to settle it in a manner
satisfactory to all.
The history OF the claim is known to
all Methodists. The publishing house re-
ceived from Congress S2sS, coo for damage
done by the Federal troops during the
civil war. No question was raised as to
the fact that the money was due, but
many Congressman objected when Mr..
Stahban, the attorney for the agents
% the publishing house. received as his
share $IG0o0G or more Of the money. The
Senate deprecated the diversion of so
large a portion of the money from the
church and declared that it had been de-
ceived.
Then began the trouble. A number
of ministers wanted and still want TO
have the money returned to the United
States; others think the book agents
should be censured, and the matter left
as it stands; still others believe that in
addition to censuring the agents, they
ought to be required to restore the $780,
600 paid Mr.. Stahlman, the amount to
be used il providing for superannuated
ministers This latter class does not
think any of the money should be re-
turned to Congress, believing that that
body would be perfectly satisfied if the
entire amount we're used by the church
1t is believed by several ministers here
that the upshot of the whole matter will
be that the present agents will be ousted
but no money returned to Congress. One
Of the agents, Or. Barbee, has already de-
ciined re-elec and the ether, Mr.
Smith. though. t candidate. has strong on
position. Among those mentioned as
successor to DR.. Barbee or Mr.. Smith is
the Rev. B. z. Lipscomb. of Petersburg.
who is said to be strongly in favor Of
having the money returned.
A memorial on the publishing house
question will go to the General Confer
ence from tho Virginia Conference It
is understood that this memorial asks
for the election of new agents and also
for the election of a new Book Commit
tee which ,ctMscos the agents. OF the
six ministers who will represent the Old
Dominion at the Conference four are in
favor of having the money sent back,
while two think that the matter, apart
from the censuring Of the agents. should
be left as it stands.
ELECTION OF BISHOPS.
The election Of two or more new bish-
ops will also be a matter of the greatest
interest at the Conference. It is gem
orally believed that Dr. e. e. Hoss, edi-
tor of the Nashville Christian Advocate,
will be one OF these bishops, and DR.. A.
Coke Smith. of Norfolk. the other. Both
DR.. Smith and DR.. Hoss are In the very
front rank in Methodist ministerial cir
cles. Other names mentioned in con-
nection with the bishops are those of
Dr. John J. Tigert editor of the Meth
odist Review; DR.. James Atkins, Sunday
school editor and DR.. w. r. Lambuth
missionary secretary. If DR.. Hoss is elect
ed he will probably be succeeded on the
Advocate by DR.. Gross Alexander. Of Van
derbilt University.
The General Assembly.
The General Assembly of the Southern
Presbyterian Church will meet May 18th
to 18th. in Jackson, Miss. The session,