The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-18

eral conference OF Inc MethOdlSC EplS-
copal church will open In Los An
geles May 4, and will extend over the
month, in all probability. This is the
great legislative body of the denoml-
nation, and the various ministerial
bodies and churches all over the coun-
try are giving much attention to the
important interests to be considered. !
DR.. G. H. Bridgman of Haml1ne, |
who left last week for California, was |
the advance guard of the Minnesota
delegates. In addition to DR.. Bridg- |
man; the Minnesota conference SENDS
as it's ministerial delegates DR.. II. Z.
Jennings of the Western Book con-
Germ, DR.. j. F. Stout Of st. Paul, and
Rev. F. B. Cowgirl Of Mankato; re-
serve delegates Rev. F. M. Rule of
Winona and Rev. J. M. Bull of Chat
field; lay delegates, w. H. Gold or
Redwood Falls, Burt I. Weld OF Stay
ton, DR.. J. w. Andrews of Mankato'
p. A. Knowlton of Rochester; alter
mates, H. E. Woods of Lake Crystal
northern Minnesota conference Will pc
represented by Rev. Robert OF the
board of church extension, DR.. 5. +.
Long of Duluth, DR.. j. b. Hlngeley,
presiding elder of the Richfield dis
trict, with DR.. William Fielder and
Rev. e. G.. Clemans OF Dulutn
as reserves The lay delegates Will be
F.. o. Gold, Renville; ]. S. Uland,
Fergus Falls, and w. S. Moore, Du-
Iuth.
There is much discussion all thru
the church Of the leading matters or
polity to come before the meeting.
The Minnesota conferences gave their
delegates no instructions and passed
no memorials, leaving the delegates
entirely to their own guidance. The
st. Paul Methodist Ministers associa-
ton followed a recent careful canvass
Of the situation of the church by two
important memorials covering the
views Of the members. These and
probably some others are scheduled
for consideration by the Minneapolis
association previous to the conference.
Questions to Come Up.
The questions likely to engage the
attention of the conference in a large
measure and generally regarded as OF
the greatest importance are the ep1s-
copal policy at home and abroad, the
consolidation of the publishing con-
Germs, the consolidation Of the beneV-
olences, the time limit, amusements
and the elections. Three or these were
treated in the st. Paul memorials
which favor the consolidation OF the
publishing departments Of the book
concerns, the consolidation OF the
benevolences and removal or the
amusement clause from the prohibi
chapter of Special Advices.' The
recommendation were PRACTICAL!
unanimous. Other points covered II
the st. Paul memorials are seVera
changes In the ritual of baptism ant
reception of members, the most i'm
portant Of which is the proposed
dropping of probationary membership
a proposal to cut down the basis o
representation in the general confer
ence from one in forty-f1ve to one Il
sixty, or a major fraction thereon
and another proposal to excuse tn
presiding elder from holding NOR
than two quarterly conferences in
charge during conference year, max
ing it possible to enlarge the presiding
elders districts. . g.....t Pc. --.. rs
~.' Would Keep Bishop Joyce.
1t is possible that an attempt ma
be made to take Bishop Joyce ava
from Minneapolis as his episcop;
residence. Foreseeing this possibilit
the lay members of the Minnesot
conference passed q resolution e.
pressing their opposition to ar
change. Should any serious atteml
be made to transfer the bishop, oth'
official protests will be forthcomin
Among the proposals in regard
the episcopacy is that the bishol
should be assigned to definite diocese
Something similar to that has prove
very valuable in the missionary feel
of India and Africa, which have bis
OBS appointed permanently. The OF
err missionary fields have been admi
istered thru the visits of the gener
superintendents, as the bishops of Il
church at home are called. The wo
in the mission fields has been ope
ing up so wonderfully that the. lab
of q considerable number of new a
illustrators will be needed, eth
I. t1l~ DtAYlt
large number of general superlnten
ents to permit several to be assign
to foreign fields for a quadrenniu
as Bishop Moore has been for the ps
four years to a territory, includi
China. Korea and Japan. 1t is su
gested that Bishop Moore's terrific
and the Philippines together Dug
TO have three men; and Latin Ameri
and southern Europe each need o.
in addition to providing for Africa a
India. A factor in the settlement
this question will be the well-kno
opposition of the workers in some
the foreign fields to missionary bi:
ops. These directors prefer to ne
the supervision remain in the hal
of the general superintendent
signed temporarily to a field ratl
than risk being saddled permaner
with an unwise choice.
Forecast of Legislation.
Before Dr. Bridgman left he '
asked by a Journal representative
forecast the probable trend of the g
eral conference legislation. On
question of the episcopacy he said:
II don't think there will be
change in the present method of SUP
vision at this time. altho there may
considerable discussion of propo
changes. 1 don't look for the e
ton of more than four to five l
bishops, altho, if few or no new n
sionary bishops are selected, 1t mi
he necessary to increase the mum
of general superintendents.\ The f
or five that I suggest would only k
the effective force about what 1T
been.
an regard to the publication no,
consolidation, that is largely a n
fer of the testimony Of the finan
experts of the church. The book c.
mittee. which is most familiar '
the situation. has recommended
change on the ground of econo
If the arguments OF the comm
and the friends of the plan carry
ficient weight, and it seems as If
might the plan will be adopted. {
against the financial saving will
balanced any possible loss Of pres
r ord influence, and the issue is by