The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-05-05
METHODIST HOST
| IS GATHERING
DELEGATES REACH LOS ANGELES
FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE.
WOMEN ARE TO HAVE A VOICE
Many Important Problems Are to Be
Solved - New Bishops to Be
Elected-Sessions Begins
Wednesday.

| Los Angeles, Cal, May 3-As the day
for the assembling of the delegates to
the thirty-tlrst general conference of
the Methodist Episcopal church ap-
proaches general interest in the gath
ering of representative churchmen
from all parts of the civilized world
becomes greater, and when Bishop
Steven Merrill calls to order the first
session at nine O'Clock next Wednesday
morning 74S out of total of $50 accred-
tied delegates will be in their seats ready
to proceed with the legislative tasks
confronting them.
The delegates will, during the daily
sessions lasting throughout the month
Of May, be called upon to solve many
problems of importance to the growth
sud future welfare of the Methodist
Episcopal church.
In the opinion of many high in The
councils of Methodism the quadrennial
session will prove the most important
of any in the history Of the church.
Questions to Be Consi iercd
Among the most important subjects
are the following:
What can the church do on the liquor
question? What action can the church
take to solve the race question? snail
worldly pleasure. cuCn as dancing, the
ater-going ana card-playing, be con-
doned by the church? With which com
Blatant in tae war in the orient are our
sympathios? What can be done by the
church 20 prevent, in the good namo
of the country, the crime of lynching?
Shall the itineraries of Methodist minis
ters be restored? How many bishops
shall be elected and how mary be re-
tired'
Other Problems.
A proposal to consolidate the three
publishing houses of the church in New
York, Cincinnati and Chicago Will
doubtless cause spirited discussion.
The subject of the American uni
versitv, In course of construction in
WASHINGTON, is one of the big questions
that the education department will have
to decide The institution. as originally
projected, was to have an endowment or
S. 600 900 and an agreement was reached
at former general conference that
the university should not be opened I'M
til this sum should be in hand. About
S2.50000O has been collected, land has
been secured and several large buildings
erected. There Is a strong party in the
conference that opposes the Idea OF let
ting this property stand idle for an In
definite period, and urges that the school
be opened also.
The educational department will also
have to decide the question of hcrcsy
In certain theological schools whore the
majority of the Methodist ministers re-
ceive their training.
For the first time in the history of the
Methodist general conferences women
delegates will have seats in the confer
ence and voice In the direction of
church affairs.
To Elect New Bishops.
The election of bishops, which will
take place about May l6. Is one of the
chief duties of the present conference.
1t appears to be certain that no fewer
than four new bishops or no moro than
ten will be elected There are numerous
candidates. Aiming them are: Rev DR.
James NJ, Buckley, New York; Rev. DR.
George F. Boyard, Los Angeles Chan
cellor Day, of the University of SYRIA
cusp; Rev Or. w + Mcdowell, of the
Educational society; President Little, of
III, President Bachford, of Ohio Wes-
leyan university; Rev. r. r. jennings,
Cincinnati, and Rev DR.. Henry Spell
meyer, Newark, N ].
Tho colorod delegates, of whom there
are Is or more, will make a strong effort
to have ono of their race elected bishop.