The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-05-04
METHODIST
CONFERENCE.
Thousands Of Delegates in
Attendance.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SENDS GREETING
The Colored Delegates Will Insist on
the Election of One CoIored
Bishop.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SENDS GREETING

ards pavilion was crowded to the doors
when the general conference Of the
vened and numbers were unable to OBJ
tain admission.
The pavilion presented a gala ap-
pearance, being tastefully decorated
throughout. There was an early rush
for seats and all were filled long before
the conference was called to order.
The session was opened with devo-
tional exercises, the venerable Bishop
Merrill presiding. After the assignment
of seats and the election of delegate
secretaries, the bishops address was
read by Bishop Foss, of Philadelphia.
Seven hundred and eighty -four mem
bers, representing 100000 members of
the church, are enrolled. Delegates who
have not arrived sent credentials ahead
of them and a full conference is as
sured until the important questions be-
fore the church are disposed of
Four bishoprics are vacant. Bishop
Merrill is expected to ask for his re-
tirement. and the superannuation of
another bishop is predicted. These two
additional vacancies will make a total
of six bishOprics to be filled.
The candidates having the strongest
support are the Reverends Thomas
NeeIy, j. W. Bashford. William Nc
DoWen. of New York City; H. A. Buch-
tel. Denver; r. j. Cooke, Athens, Tenn;
J. W. +. Bowen, COlOred. Atlanta, Ga;
George +. Bovard. Los Angeles; Henry
Speilmeyer, Newark, n. J.; Joseph
Berry, Chicago; Homer Stuntz, presid-
ing elder Philippine district. and J. E.
Robinson, presiding elder Calcutta dis
trict
Legislation will be had in the pro-
posed consolidation Of the benevolent
societies; the unification of the mis-
sionary societies and the formation Of
one society out of the several educa-
tional and aid societies. An effort is
being made to amalgamate the differ
ent societies into three associations
Failure is predicted ,ecause of the
large vested interests Of the several So
cieties. A consolidation would require
a redivision OF real estate and this, it
is thought, would cause dissension.
Reports Of the publishing agents OF
the church will show that while the
physical assets are worth at least
s3,O00,O0o, the properties OF the church,
including its periodicals and papers.
are valued at fully s1O,OOO,OOO Edi-
tors and publishers whose salaries
range from $3.50 to $4,000 will be elected
and a consolidation of the publishing
houses is to be proposed.
Advisability of increasing the salar-
les of bishops from $4,000 and travelling
expenses to $4,000 will be discussed.
Two days will be occupied with organ
ization. after which will be heard re-
ports of committee memorials from
conference.
Ten or fifteen days are to be devoted
to consideration of the report. The an
nOunced intention OF several infiuen-
tial members to attempt to repeal par
agraph 24S Of the church code has
reused the orthodox delegates and
clash is expected. The paragraph re-
fers to dancing, attending theatres, cir
cuses and horse races, renting property
for saloon purposes and playing games
OF chance 'as impudent and unchristian
and grave enough to justify expulsion
on a third offense." The repeal is
sought by members who had relatives
and friends in the Iroquois theatre dis
aster.
The work Of the conference proper
will be detailed to IA committees, to
meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday
of each week.
One of the interesting features Of the
conference will be a great missionary
exhibit occupying all of the large hall
formerly used by the chamber of COM
merce. This will contain material from