Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-03
At LOS ANGELES.
Methodist General Conference Will
Open, Next Wednesday.

Los Angeles. Cal, May 2.-As the cay
for the assembling of the deiesates ~
the 3lst general conference or the Meth
odist Episcopal church approaches. gen
eral interest in the gathering OF represen,
tative churchmen from all parts OF tlie
civilized world becomes greater. anu VIII a,
Bishop Merrill calls to order the MS MS.
session at 8 o'clock. next Wednesday
morning. 73s out of a total or 40 accred-
tied delegates will be in their seats ready
10 proceed with the legislative tasks con-
ferred upon them: .,,.,.
sions lasting throughout the month OF
Nav be called upon to solve many prop,
lens of Importance to the CROWN ana
future welfare Of the Methodist Eplsco-
pa In et the opinion Of many high in the
councils of Methodism the quadriennial
session will prove the most important oil
any in the history of the church.
Among the important subjects are the
What Can the Church Do On the Lii
What Action Can the Church Take to
Solve the Race Question?
Shall Worldly Pleasures Such as Dane
ing. Theatre-Going and Card Piaylne' BE
CondOned by the Church!
With Which Combatant in the war IN
the Orient Are Our Sympathies!
What Can Be Done by the Church to
Prevent. in the Good Name OF the Coui-
try, the Crime of Lynching!
Shall the Itineraries of Methodist Min
listers Be Restored?
How Many Bishops Shall Be Elected
and How Many Be Retired? ,,,,
A proposal to consolidate the three pub
fishing houses of the church IN New
York. Cincinnati and Chicago Will doubt
legs cause spirited discussion in the con-
ference.
The subject of the American univer-
sitv in coi,rse of construction at Wash
ington is one of the big questions that
the educational department VIII nave to
tt,fin
iected was to have an endowment of So
nm 600 and an agreement was reached at
tho former general conference that the
university should not be opened until this
sum should be in hand.
About s., 800 900 have been collected. land
has been secured and several large build
ings erected
There is 4 strong party in the confer
encc that opposes the idea of letting this
property stand idle for an indefinite pc
Rod that the school he opened also.
The educational department will also
have to decide the question of heresy in
certain theological schools where the ma :
iority of the Methodist ministers receive
their training.
For the first time in the history of
MethOdiSm general conferences, women
delegates will have seats in the confer
cnce and a voice in the direction OF
church affairs.
The election of bishops, which VIII take
place about May 1G. is one Of the chief
duties of the present conference. There
are three vacancies at this time and it
is probable that several. possibly three
or four of the older bishops who have
reached the age which incapacitates them
for active duty will be retired.
There are numerous candidates. Among
them are:
Or. Jas. B. Buckley. New York; Rev
DR. Geo. F. Bovard. Los Angeles. Cal.
Chancellor Day of the University of Sy-
racuse; Rev DIR. w. r. Mcdowell of the
Educational Society; Pres. Little Of the
Garrett Biblical Institute. Evanston;
Pres Bashford of Ohio Wesleyan tniver-
sity; Rev T. X. Jennings. Cincinnati. and
Rev Dr. Henry Spellmcyer of Newark.
The colored delegates. of which there
are Is or more. will make n strong cffoT.
to have one of their race elected.