The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-05-03

Los ANGELES, Cal, May g.
Nearly all of the delegates have ar
rived for the general conference of
the Methodist Episcopal church.
which is to begin it's quadrennial ses-
sion in THIS city tomorrow. The dele
gates number about $50 and represent
the 100000 members OF the church
scattered throughout the world. For
the first time in the 1870 years his
tory of the church women will hold
seats in the body as delegates. This
revolution is the result of action
taken at the session OF the general
conference held in Chicago four years
ago. In addition to the delegates the
conference has attracted thousands of
visitors from all parts of the United
States who are interested in the pro-
ceedings.
Several subjects that are to come
up for discussion and action will rem
der the general conference this year
of far more than ordinary Importance.
Among these are the proposed unfit
cation of the publishing houses and
consolidation of the benevolences.
The subcommittee appointed four
years ago to take into consideration
the proposal to unity the publishing
interests has prepared a report in
which ii proposes that the publish
ing interests of the church shall he
consolidated into one corporation,
which shall consist of one publishing
house and three branch houses and
five repositories. The publishing
house and principal place OF business
shall be located in some central place
convenient for production and distri-
button. The branch houses shall be
at New York, Cincinnati and Chicago,
and the repositories at Pittsburs, San
Francisco. Boston, Detroit and Kan
sas City.
The scheme for the consolidation of
the benevolences includes the doing
away with the one missionary society.
which now administers missions at
home and abroad. and the orsanza-
ton of separate home and foreign
mission boards. and third organiza-
ton to have charge of education
These proposed consultations involve
a tremendous revolution, the outcome
OF which gives the church serious
anxiety. Many believe them to be
supremely wise and that they will re-
suit In greater efficiency and larger
collections; others fear the reverse
adjustment of some kind, however
is deemed necessary and Inevitable
n nd To- Tot,
to sec important changes in this di-
rection.
Among the other important mat
ters that will In all probability come
before the conference is the adoption
of some plan by which better pro-
vision can be made for aged ministers
and the widows and orphans of de-
ceased ministers, and a change In
what is known as paragraph 2iS, re-
lating to amusements and prohibiting
members of the church from engaging
in such amusements az dancing, card
playing. theaterRoing, etc. The rule
has long been largely a dead letter
and many believe that II should be re-
moved from it's present position and
plaCcu unueT tne neuu OF uONlceS. y
few declare themselves In favor OF
striking II out altogether. On the
other hand, there are many who are
opposed to any change In the para
graph.
Discussion OF these various ques-
toms will be followed with close ana
interested attention not only on the
part of the delegates. but on the part
of the church ut large. or stili more
interest to the general public, how
ever, will be the election OF new blsh-
ops. Two active bishops have died
since the last general conference and
several others may he superannuat ted.
The number of missionary bishops
that will be chosen is problemntical.
The election of three new bishops for
southern Asia has been recommended,
and in addition. Bishop Moore, who
has been In charge of the missions
in eastern Asia during the last four
years, advises that three missionAr-
| bishops be elected for that ~
L