Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-06
THE METH0DISTS
Holding Their General Con-
ference at Los Angeles.
Estimated Twenty Thousand Dele
gates and Visitors Are Present.
Openina of Missionary Exhibit lmpor-
tant Feature, Thursday.

Los Angeles. Cal. May 1.-The Sec
ond DAVIS session of the Methodist
General Conference did not convene
mill l15 o'clock. The committees on
episcupacy, itinerary, boundaries, re-
Nivals, temporal economy. state of the
church and temperance, convened with
few members absent. But little actual
work beyond simple organization WAS
accomplished by any OF the commit
tees at today's session. After the off,
GERS have been chosen and the work
apportiOned and outlined, much inter-
cGt will attach to these daily sessions,
IS many of the most important meas
dres coming before the conference for
consideration will he passed upon and
finally settled in the committee rooms.
Although stirring contests over many
questions are anticipated on the floor
of the convention it is expected that
in the main the conference will follow
from recommendations. Bishop Var
rem presided at tOday's session of the
general conference, at which the chief
feature was the reading of the eriscO-
pal address.
An important feature Of today's con-
the magnificent missionary exhibit i'm
the building formerly occupied by the
los Angeles Chamber of Comm ercn.
The exercises at the formal opening,
this forenoon, were conducted BY
Bishop Andrews Of New York. Bishop
Hartsell Of Africa and DR.. Leonard,
secretary of the Missionary Society.
delivered al lresses. At tn" conclusion
of the exercises the exhibit WAS de-
clared open to the public.
Frank Moss, eX-police commissioner
Of New York. ana lay member Of the
New York delegation, NhC was taken
suddenly i'll with an attack of nham-
matOry rheumatism on the trip West,
is in a serious conditions 1t the Dea-
coEess hospital.
The last of the special trains be ring
delegates arrived. TODAY. 1t is esti-
mated that there are 10000 delegates
and visitors here.
Tho reading, Of the episcopal address
by Bishop Cyrus D. FOss occupied the
morning session. The address, which
was concurred in by all of the bishops.
was Il volumnCus and comparative re-
sumo of church conditions for the past
luadrennial and contained recon-
mendations of actions by tie general
conference on matters affecting the
church militant and policy.
The Methodist general conference
held two sessions. today thes morning
session being devoted to the reading
of the quadrennial address of the
board of bi3hops of the Methodist
church to the general conference and
the afternoon to the receipt and refer
enCe OF memorials from the various an
.nual conferences. The morning session
was presided over by Bishop Warren
ana the afternoon by Bishop Walden.
DR.. George Elliott of Detroit, pre-
scented n memorial to the effect that
the committee on Episcopacy consider
the advisabilty of the selection of n
Colorcd bishop. He said that he be-
1icved that the Methodist church had
reached a crisis in it's relations with
the colored race.
Charles p. McClelland. of New York.
lay delegate. spoke in opposition to
Dr. Elliott's resolution. He believed
the race question had been brought be-
fore the conference entirely too much
and he hoped the conference would put
an end to this agitation. He was will
to Episcopal honors. regardless of
color. when that man should attain to
ouch work and distinction as would
warrant this high recognition.
The reading of the quadrennial address
of the bishops of the Methodist Episco-
pal church to the general conference was
the feature of the days session. Bishop
Cyrus D. Foss of Philadelphia. read the
~ tat
ords of the past four years. The present
membership of the church was reported
as 3O2I 9IS. an increase of l3S.O26 during
the four years. The Sunday schools in
cIIde an aggregate of 3.l2i.6H The world
wide scope of the work of the church
was indicated by the brief review of the
administration of bishops in foreign
lands Three features of the last quad
rennal were emphasized as standing out
promncntly-the Goth century thank offer
ing movement which brought $4,000 O0'
into the treasury of the church for tn
work of education, philanthropy ant
debt aging; the open door emergenc!
revival. which has inspired the church
with new generosity; and the biennia
ohscrvances which all over the English
speaking world commemmorated the 2oOtf
anniversary of John Wesley's birth.
Warnings were given against politica
corruption. the liquor traffic, the tyranny
of trades unionism the greed OF un
>s.crupulous employers, lynching, the ne
gro question. and Mormonism. A recon-
mendation was made that new chapte
of popular amusements be added to TIL
discipline admonishing Methodists t.
guard their spiritual life and TO avoi'
such amusements as have dangerous O
demoralizng tendency. The address mad
"A deep impression and was received at TIL
han annlaNSe