The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-05-03
GREAT SUBJECTS
TO Be DISCUSSED
BY GENERAL CONFERENCE or
METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH THIS WEEK.
ELECTINC RACE BISHOPS
Likely to Be Subject OF Bitter Con.
troversy--Restoring Time Limit
in Pastoral Appointments
is Looked For.

is Looked For.
Baltimore. NJ. d.. May 2.-The adj
vance guard OF delegates and visitor RS
TO the general conference Of tn,
Methodist Episcopal church whlel
"opens In this city next "Wednesday,
has already arrived. From rem t.
parts Of the world. India. China. Al.
riea, Japan and,.eves'y spot IN X q
globe where the Methodist chureb
has foothold. delegates. ministrriai
and lay. are fastening hitner. Fw
countries where civilization has pc g.
trated will lack representation VII u
the opening session .s called tp of.
der,
The general cnnfrenee conven "
once In everv ftuf years, II Is the
goyernir~ bcdy OF the church aid
ec"-' 'es the legislative. executive
ANA judicial powers Of the organi7a.
ton. The gathering this year will
consist of about 1000 delegates The
general conference has Deen dele
gated body only since 1912, Before
that year every minister OF the Meth,
odist church was entitled 10 a seat
and voice In the deliberations OF
the body.
Several important subjects are to
come up for discussion and action at
the general conference this year.
Legislation will be framed and adopt.
ed for the colleges and universtH =
and officers appointed for the vari us
benevolent organizations. missions,
church extension, Sunday schools.
tract society. freedmen's aid ellica
tlens etc. Secretaries will be ap.
ppIiiteN Tor thepvarious church ent r-
i'r'sAs and editors chosen for the four
'pea OF more periodicals OF the
church.
The great fight OF the session IL riG-
pected 10 be over the amendment ffr
the election OF race bishops. The m
dications are that the amendment Il
doomed to defeat. Those opposed 20
the amendment declare that the ne
groes have expressed no great desire
for 1t. while the white people. partieu-
larly In the south. are bitterly oppose
to it. ii is further pointed cut that
while the scheme would probably oper-
ate to the advantage OF the Methcdi
missions and churches as wei in r
eign lands ii would so greatly de-
crease the scope or the present hoard
of bishops as to make the change Ut
present undesirable. 1t also would
neeessitate an enlargement Of the
present house of bishops, Il Is assert
ed. beyond the requirements OF pres-
ent conditions. and that the ends at
tanned are not sufficiently urgeat to
warrant the change,
To Restore Time Limit.
A question on which it is expected
very positive opinions will be ex-
pressed Is a proposal to restore the
time limit in pastoral appointments.
Tight years ago the time limit was
removed. The change has been
cause for dissatisfaction among am
bilious ministers, who believe the
best congregations are not open to
them because the congregations elect
| to keep a pastor as long as he suits
them. Memorials expressive OF dis
favor toward continuance OF the
present policy of the church in this
respect are said to have been adopt d
| by nearly two-thirds OF the annual
conferences throughout the country
during the past year and IL is con-
hdently believed by those, who favor
the time limit that this year will
mark return to the former method.
Presiding Elders Elective.
The question of making the presid-
ing eldershlp an elective Office is not
generally looked upon as a disturbing
factor and il is not thought that any
| immediate change In this Darticlar
Will result from the conference men-
bers' deliberations. The proposal 10
abolish or modify the amusement re
strictions in the church discipline X
believed to stand a good chance OF
being adopted this year. II Is ad-
mitted that many eMthodists do not
generally recognize the ban placed BY
the church upon card playing. theatre
going and dancing and this VIII BE-
used as one of the arguments against
the policy Of the church In trying 10
regulate these matters
/ To Elect New Bishops.
] OF course. the election OF new
bishops will be among the greatest
matters to be considered and decided
Inv the conference. Eight bishops WI l
he elected. Since the last general
conference the deaths ef six hishoT 5
lhave been recorded. Thes va an les
win be filled, an additional member
lof the house Of bishors probably vi |
Ibe elected because O. the growth OF
ithe church and another chosen II
Mace OF Bishop Warren. who IS slated
for retirement because OF his sreat
r,fskFstr Z