The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-05-08
Ministerial Time Limit One of
the Difficult Questions to
Be Settled.
SENTIMENT FAR FROM UNITED.
Nebraska Conference Asks That
Bishops Be Elected for
Twelve-Year Term Instead
of For Life.

Los Angeles. Cal, May THE end of the
first week Of the thirty-irst general com
ference Of the Methodist Church saw
much preliminary matter and details dis
posed OF. and the great gathering nearly
ready to take up the more important WORK
before It.
An OF the standing committees have
been organized and many of them have
appointed their subcommittee and
mapped out the work assigned to their
special attention.
II the initial session of the leading
committees one question above all others
has been brought prominently to the fore.
1t IL the question OF whether the present
conference shall restore the ministerial
time limit Of three or five years. or permit
the present plan of unlimited tenure. which
was adopted at the general conferences
four years ago. to continue.
BISHOPS RETICENr.
h Bishops in their annual address
touched upon this question. but refrained
from expressing any opinion that could be
construed by the conference one way or
another. and as yet there has been NO
authoritative statement on the subject
from anyone in the conference.
n Committee on Itineracy has this
matter in charge and the members, as
shown by the first meeting when the
question was preached. indicate that all
would not be harmonious in the disposal
of this problem. Many Of the annual
conferences have memoralized the general
conference to take action on the matter
n restore either the three or i've year
limit. Ten memorials were read by the
secetary Of the Committee on Itineracy at
the first meeting and many times this
number are expected to be filed with the
subcommittee. which a the matter in
hand before final action h taken on the
subject in committee next Friday.
SENTIMENT SHIFTING.
There seems to be a growing sentiment
in the membership OF the church accord
ing to many of the delegates. that the
system of an itinerant minister is
in danger of being destroyed by a un-
limited pastoral service. and It has had
its effect on many OF the delegates. In
q considerable number of min
listers. who are located in the less-desir-
able fields, and IN army of laymen. who
find themselves in possession Of the less
popular pastors. are clamoring for a time
limit that will give them the benefit Of q
change.
On the other hand, strong. conservative
like Doctors Buckley. Upham.
King, Day, Little. and the younger pas
tors. like Doctors Eckman. Downey, An
and Hughes. who are now serving
beyond 'he old five-year limit in their IA
vorite parishes, will endeavor to hold the
church to four years further trial Of the
unlimited service.
MANY MEMORIALS.
There are now before the conference a
sunicient numbe of memorials. resolu-
tons and petitions on various subjects to
occupy q session lasting twice as long as
that planned. A favorite theme is the
amusement paragraph. most OF the me-
MORALS on this subject being against any
change.
One memorial Is submitted from Nebras- |
asking that the term for which Bish- |
ops are elected be changed from life to
twelve years. This question has been dis |
cussed before. but it Is unlikely that the |
will receive serious consideration.
The memorials call for more rigid discip-
Of personal conduct. while others d.
supervision. The South Carolina Confer
S~ oc bACSNhhco u lhEkc IuCulOTldt ASK l
for the election OF a Bishop of African |
The conference OF the State of Illinois
appears to be supporting Bishop McCabe
IN his desire to open the American Univer- |
sity and has asked for the removal of the |
100000 restriction claus against thai in
TRIBUTE TO MCKINLEY.
The conference paid eloquent tribute to
he memory Of the late President william
Mckinley. A resolution presented by the
aevecendJ. W. e Bowen. negro candidate
Tor Bishop. Of Chattanooga. Tenn. struck |
responsive chord. and the conference |
adopted II BY q standing vote, and re- |
erred. 1t to the Committee on Episcopacy |
Win Instructions to prepare q memorial
% the Government giving appropriate ex-
OF honor n respect. |
The resolution dvells upon the loyalty |
y President Mckinley to the Methodist ]
Episcopal Church. biz cherished memory |
h a citizen and his great services to his |
country as a patriot and statesman.
William Mckinley set a standard OK |
devotion which never has been ex- |
,eIled." says the resolution, and this SEN |
iment vas received with applause by the
delegates. /
The conference adjourned at noon. to
meet Monday morning at 8 o'clock
All the Protestant churches In Los An /
relies and adjacent cities and towns viii
" occupied tomorrow by ministerial dele
'ates to the General Conference. There
Will be mass meetings at the conference /
All tomorrow afternoon and evening.