Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-05
THE METHODlSTS,
Thirty first GeneraI Conference at Los
Angeles.


| Angeles.
! Los Angeles, Calf, May 4.-The alb
sehce of many delegates at the openins
| session of the 31st annual conference ot
the Methodist Episcopal church due tt
belated trains, disturbed to some ex.
tent the program that he'd been ar.
ranged and the first days work ended
this evening with nothing accomplish.
ed except the selection of a conference
secretary. This honor fell to Rev. James
b. Hingely of the Minnesota confer
ence.
Tonight the reception Of the general
conference by the citizens and church
men of Los Angeles was held at the
pavilion with address of welcome by
representatives of the state, city and
church in Southern California and re-
sponsees by prominent leaders of Meth
odism.
Bishop Edward G. Andrews presided
at the afternoon session. and after the
secretary of the general conference
Mr. d. |. Munro had called the roll of
delegates he asked to be excused from
further service as secretary. The re-
quest was granted and DR.. James NJ.
Buckley of New York presented Il set
or resolutions commencing the work
performed by Or. MunrOe during his
term of office which were adopted.
Los Angeles, Cal. May 4.-The gen.
eral conference of the NJ. E. church
opened at Hazards pavilion in this
nit Itch
Stephen Merrill walked to the front of
the stage and raped for order he saw
one of the most notable gatherings Of
churchmen in the history Of Protestant
ism in America.
Upon the stage were the governor of
California, the mayor of Los Angeles,
citizens of Southern California and
leaders of Methodism ready to extend
Il welcome on behalf of the state, the
city and the church.
In the galleries We're expectant crowds
of visitors and citizens. The great
building was n bower of beauty. fra
grant with the bloom of California
flowers. Fifteen thousand Gala lilies
formed a hedge across the front of the
stage and beneath these Il freiZe work
Of smilax and ferns reached the floor.
Around the galleries with flags and
bunting for background the same
scheme of decoration had been Carried
out. the whole forming a perfect bow
er beneath which the delegation sat.
The ceiling had been draped with flags
from the center of the galleries. In the
rear of the stage an immense silk flag
fell from the ceiling to the floor.
Dt..l1
to order in a formal manner and OPEN
"a the lay with Il brief address. Rev.
d. Monroe, secretary of the conference
called the roll of delegates. The session
was given up to the assignment of
seats to various delegations.
1t was impossible to transact any
business during the first two or three
hours because of the confusion that
prevailed. Owing to the same cause
the speeches of welcome by the COVER
nor, the mayor and representatives of
California Methodists We're postponed
until evening. There was no afternoon
session OF the convention.
Belated special trains from the East
tie annoyance and delay experienced in
colored delegation. Two of the promi-
nent hotels refused to admit them and
at another hotclry they We're assigned
to q separate dining room. AL however
eventually comfortably housed.
Among the delegates were % women.
73 colored and two native Chinese. the
latter being Lo Chi Ming, and Ding
Miang Ing. The former OF these two
Orientals is the first delegate ever sent
to the conference from North China.
The following bishops have arrived.
Stephen NJ. Merrill, Edward G. An
drews; Henry w. Warren, Cyrus d.
Foss. John NJ. Walden. Willard F. NAL
lalieu, Charles II. Fowler. John II. Vim
cent, Earl CranstOn, John w. Hamil-
ton. Jos. c. Hartzell, Frank w. Warne,
Daniel A. GCodsell.
Bishop Moore is on his way here from
San Francisco.