The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-17

THE MINISTERIAL TIME LIMIT
Advocates Of Change Hopelcssly
Especial 10 The Times-Disnatch.)

Especial 10 The Times Dispatch.)
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. May 1s-Thc
consideration of the matter Of the aboli-
ton Of the ministerial time limit, which
had been discussed In the church papers
for several months before the meeting If
the General Conference, and which prom
Used to be one OF the lvest issues be-
fore the body, took place at to- days
session, and, as had been predicted,
proved to be the fuse for the setting of
of an exhibition Of oratorcal pyrotech-
MICS.
But the advocates Of the measure,
when polled fell hopelessly in the MI
nority. The lay delegates voted almost
solldly against the measure. and several
of the most brilliant speeches against It
wero BY laymen.
The intinerant ,'gira re' or 'high steeple
preac her,"&as he is called, the man who
transfers from conference to conference
when the choice places become scarce IN
the BOUNDS Of his home conference came
IN for his share of criticism, and 1t was
alleged that the movement had Its origin
in q desire to care for this class, who
could then have good places with less Tess
Inconvenience to themselves.
A large majority Of the clergy, much
to the surprise Of the advocates Of the
change, was also lifted UP against the
change, and when the vote was 11naily
taken the four-year limit was stu m
tact. The recommendation of the majority
Of tho committee for an extension OF the
linn. to six years was likewise defeated.
Election Of Bishops.
The election Of bishops, the feature of
tho conference, which has ever since the
body first assembled claimed the closest
attention of delegates and the interest
of bjp ~ no OH through.
out the South, is scheduled for to-mor-
row morning at 10 o'clock. Tonight
speculation as to who will be chosen is
rife, and rumors Of various natures arc
in the air.
To say who will be elected is moro than
any man in attendance upon the sessions
could do. The hotel corridors are filled
with delegates and the predominating
topic Of converse ton Is the probabilities
and possibilities. Almost every man
seems to have a different idea as to
the result, and it is impossible to make
slate with any degree of accuracy.
Nevertheless. those most prominently
spoken OF are Dr. James J. Tigert DR..
Collins Denny, DR.. ]. c. kilgo, DR.. ". F.
Tille,t, Dr. James Atkins, DR.. Seth
Ward and DR.. W. F. Murray.
Report Adopted.
The principal discussion of the after
noon session was on the report Of the
Committee on Publishing Interests, which
recommended that the number OF official
organs Of the church be reduced and that
conferences contiguous to each other
unite In the support Of one paper when
ever practicable. This report was Wig
orously opposed by Mr.. Charles NJ. Arm
strong, OF the Baltimore Conference, and
more vigorously advocated by Rev DR..
James Cannon. Jr,, Of the Virginia Con-
ference The report was overwhelmingly
adopted. This Is in line with the memo
rial sent up from the Virginia Confer
cncc.
Another important memorial from the
Virginia Conference has been reported ia
vorahly by the Committee on ltinernncy
giving the conference mission boards the
right to employ suitable men to do evan
gelistic work. If adopted by the confer
cnce. which seems likely. this viii greatly
stimulate the home mission work OF the
church. The Virginia delegation consider
this TO be one of the most important
measures before the General Conference.
1t looks to- might as II the Virginia
Conference would have a representative
on the Committee of Entertainment,
which will decide the place Of holding
the next session OF the General Confer
cnce. +E$ f3 Is 8Gefsfr Eh
Help Pacific Advocate.
Bishop Chas. 3. Galloway presided at
to.day's session. The itlneracy commit
ice reported concurrence In a memorial
from the Japan mission conference. ask
ing that the same exceptions IN regard TO
the time limit be extended to the Japan
ESQ preachers as those now made IN the
case of missionaries Of other foreign sta-
tons. I'd Is
A report from the publishing committee,
provides that the book committee snh' y
have authority to extend assistance 70 tl'e
editor Of tho Christian Advocate ana 10
the book editor, Wv a.,
The same committee recommended nm
"as prices Of material and labor hhd ~,
yanced In san Francisco as a result W
the earthquake. that SO, 900 be apProprlnt-
cd to the pacific Methodist Advocate 70 DO
expended by this organ IN the next iou,
wears" The same committee repor'''
concurrence In the recommendation ''''''
Tho conference authorize further e8p'h'
dIture far an enlarged building ~
Shanghai, China. The church extension,
committee recommended the reduction o'
the board OF Insurance from u TO z
Observance of Sabbath.
The committee on American Bible 80,
ciety recommended non-conGurrencc III
memorials seeking 10 dIssnade the So
cety from publishing the American
standard revised version of the l'ible,
The special committee on sabbath op-
servancc presented a report aainoflisn'ns