New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-27
METH0DISTS IOFF TO-DAY.
SIR SpcciaI Trains 10 Take Them to
General Conference.

Tho delegates 20 .he General Conference Of
tha Methodist Episcopal Church ~ Los An
Celes together with a large number OF visiting
friends. leave Jersey City on the personally con
Quoted excursion arranged by the Pennsylvania
Railroad on six Nestibuled trains at 10 o'clock
this morning. Every provision has been made for
the comfort Of The passengers crossing the con-
finezt. II is the largest excursion ever planned
by one company for The trip TO California, and
VIII be complete in its entire outfit. with stenog-
raphers and all necessary attendants. The party
VIII spend next Sunday at Grand Canyon, Col.
leaving there On Monday and arriving az Los An
gelcs on May ,. At the close Of the General Con
ference. which wsl probably adjourn on May %.
the ezcuTsi0nists viii return by different routes.
Some VIII cau at san Francisco, going north to
Oregon and on 20 the Yellowstone Park Others
viii lake the UniOn Pacific to Salt Lake City.
Pixies Peak Denver. st. Louis and Niagara
Falls. Business men wiIl shorten the trip and
come home the quickest way possible. having
been absent from FIVE 20 six weeks.
The General Conference win convene in Ha-
yards. Pavilion. Los Angeles. at o'clock on
Wednesday, Nay : and wiz he called TO order
by Bishop Merrill: then. after the seating OF the
delogates-nlinisters and laymen from al parts
OF The world about seven hundred IN number
the various committees VIII be appointed and
the time % their first meeting determined
he read by Bishop Cyrus d. Foss. OF Philadel-
phis- This address includes report OF the
episcopal superintendence OF the work through
out the denomination for the last four years.
With suggestions concerning any change de-
sirable In the policy OF the Church. or the neces-
ssry retention OF present forms Of government,
which are subjects OF widespread citation.
They win express themselves on the subject
OF amuHements TIE time limit OF pastorates,
Hr
ments and the consolidation Of benevolences.
The eiection OF missionary bishops viii have
their attention. as well the necessity Tor in
creased zeal in worldwide evangelization The
episcopal address generally determines impor-
TAM legislation by the conference and is studied
with great care 10y the BODY ana the Church al
large.
Much time is devoted % elections 10 the epis-
copacy the Office Of editors. secretaries and
agents Of the Book Concern. The most impor-
taut election is that Of bishops the number OF
which is determined by the necessities Of the
Church and is suggested by the committee on
episcopacy. i is rumored that several OF the
effective bishops VIII be retired on account Of age
or inaIm health. and that from six 10 ten new
bishops VIII be elected These VIII be chosen
from the following named persons in the East:
Or. Henry Spellmeyer. pastor OF Centenary
Church, Newark \. J.: Dr. T B. Neeley. CORE
EA'olAlAB rcCLttdl9 OF lL4e ol4lAdJ 0tcol a l-OA
and Tract Society: DR.. J. r. Day. chancellor OF
Syracuse University; Or. George f. Reed, presi-
dent OF Dickinson College; d.. William +. Nc
DOweIl, corresponding secretary Of the Board OF
Education; Dr. David g. DowEey. pastor OF ST.
johns Church BROOKLYN: Dr. George p. Eek
man, pastor OF ST. PauTs Church. Manhattan.
n the West-Dr. Joseph T. Berry. Editor OF
The EpwoTth Herald" Chicago; Or. J. ". Bash
ford, president Of Ohio Wesleyan University; ID.
J. r. Cook, OF Athens. Tenn; DT. J. II. Jennings,
OF Cincinnati; DR.. c. B. Mitchell. pastor Of the
First Church, &C Cleveland, Ohio; DIT. E r. Ollie,
pastor OF the First Church oakland. Cal: Dr
George 4. BOvard president OF the University %
Southern California and others.
In the event OF Dr. McDoweIl's election 20 the
episcopacy, the most prominently mentioned as
his successor is DR.. William r. Anderson, pastor
OF Highland Avenue Church. Ossining y. y.
The recent agitation FOR the consolidation OF
publishing houses wiu probably result in the
appointment Of a commission. TO whom the entire
subject shall be committed. 50 that the present
agents OF the New-York Book Concern, Eaton
& Mains. wiz be reelected.
Much has been said and written about the con-
sOidaiion % beneVolences, but little chal8e IS
anticipated in these organizations. Those who
have been agitatug return 10 the time limit
OF psstOratss are likely TO be disappointed, at
least for th7 coming QuaorenniUrn-
In the West a large number Of the annual con
farerces have voted for the retention OF the 24Sth
paragraph IN the Discipline. which enJoins alb
stineDce from certain forms Of amusement
dancing patronizing dancing schools, playing
cards for gambling, attending theatres etc.
other conferences are divided IN tnelr oeslres'
some requesting no change, others that the pro-
visions be changed from q mandatory 10 al au-
Ntsory relation IN the Discipline.
In the last Quadrennium Joint commission
spDointed by the General Conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist
Episcopal Church South to prepare uniform
Observance Cor public worship and a new hymn
nal have been engaged in their respective duties
and VIII report at the next General Conference.
This Conference promises 10 become the most
important in history making since The General
Conference Of 1914 held I'm the Greene Street
Methodist Church. New-NOrk City. when the
Denomination divided on the question Of slavery,
leading 10 the organization II the Methodist