New-York tribune., 1908-05-06
BIG NJ. E. MEETING TODAY
GENERAL CONFERENCE ON
Election of Bishops an Interesting
Subject to 800 Delegates.

The Methodist Episcopal General Conferences VIII
begin its twenty-ffth Quadrennial session at 10;0
o'clock this morning. Bishop Henry " Warren
presiding. in Lyric Hall Baltimore After devO-
tionaI exercises the conference roll viii be called
by the secretary. Dr. Joseph B. Hingeiey. and the
business Of the conference viii proceed without de-
lay. II viii be the largest Methodist delegated
body ever assembled, there being about eight hun
dred delegates.
These delegates with an equal representation OF
ministers and Iayrnen. come from different parts
OF the world There viii be special representation
Of the work OF the Church in foreign lands. which
has been under the superintendent OF the several
bishops Bishop J. ". Bashford will report for
China Bishop Thomas & Neeley for South Amer
lea. Bishop William Burt for Europe. Bishop 2 "
Warner. Bishop J. E Robinson and Bishop w ?
Oldham for India; Bishop J. c. HartzeH ard
Bishop : B Scott for Africa. and Bishop " C.
Harris for Japau and Corea- For United States
territory acquired IN recent years, Bishop D n
Moore Will represent the Hawaiian Islands and
Alaska and Bishop Wilson Porto Rico These re-
ports will require much time but each account g
anticipated with peculiar interest Bishop J. c
HartzeH will present a plan to be adopted b the
conference for the celebration OF the ssnl-center-
NAL Of thesestabIshment OF missions in Africa for
the purpose Of securing a fund OF s3l000o for az
gressive missionary work in Africa and assign
ing OF some minister TO take charge OF the move
ment.
Next in Importance 10 the reports Of bishops
concerning the status the Church is the election
Conference
secretaries. There are numerous candidates for
these varied places and inquiry and investigation
viii occupy considerable tir1e- II IS probable that
from the following persons named eight men viii
be elected TO the episcopacy- Dr. r J. Cooke BOOK
editor OF Methodist Episcopal church Dr.
William 2 Anderson. corresponding secretary OF
the Board OF Education; Dr. F D. BOvard. editor OF
The California Christian Advocate; Dr- D G
Downey assistant editor OF The Sunday Scnooi
Union; Dr. u. H Crawford. president OF Ale
CoIIa Ti~ SeCTe-
tarv Of the Board OF Foreign Missions, Dr., VIII
lam A QuayIe. pastor Of St James's Church. mi
cazo. Dr. Daniel Dorchester, pastor OF Christ
Church Pittsburg: Dr. George z Reed. president
Of Dickinson College. DR.. Charles B. Mitchell pas
-or Of First Church Cleveland Dr. H G.. Jennings.
book agent. Cincinnati Dr- Claudius 3 Spencer
editor Central Christian Advocate" Kansas city;
Dr. Edwin II Hughes president De Pauw Uni
versity: Dr. F. NJ North. corresponding secretary
OF the New York City Church Extension and Mis-
sionary Society Dr. W 5 Lewis. president OF
Mornfngside College. Dr.. Joseph 3 Hingeley- Cen
eral Conference secretary, and DR. Levi Gilbert
editor Western Christian Advocate
The interest in retired ministers. known as con-
ference claimants Is increasing. and some better
provision for their support il anticipated At pres
eut the annual conferences have local endow-
rents aggregating $2,35.s09. which does not In
clude the Methodist Book Concern, adding more
than 10000 nor the aggregated conferences col
Ic+o7s OF last year amounting &35I 6s5. SJrenu
ous efforts will be made To crystalline the variOus
recommendations coming from annual conferences
for consideration and some workable plan VII
doubtless be adopted
The General Conference commission OF aggres-
s,va evangelism OF which Bishop ". r. Mali@lisI
is p-esident: Bishop Henry Speumeyer. vice-prssi-
dent; the Rev. ! F BrUshi1ghanl, secretary and
treasurer and the Rev. Theodore 8 Henderson.
general field secretary plans simultaneous evan
zeIistic services TO be held in different sections
Of Baltimore during the month 0f May under ths
5f-ac+o- Of the general field secretary. which VIII
ir no wise interfere with the regular business ot
the conference.