Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-05
METHODlSTS co
TO BALTIMORE.
QUADRENNIAL MEETING OF
GENERAL CONFERENCE TO
SOON BEGIN
IOWA PROMINENT
IOWA
PROMINENT

Number of Bishoprics to be Filled Is
| Large President A. B.
| Storms Gives Views
on Subject.
Ames, May 4.-(Speciar 1.-The quad
rennial meeting of the general confcr-
ence of the Methodist Episcopal church
will be held during the present month
at Baltimore, Md 1t is doubtful If any
other conference in the entire history
of the church has been called upon to
! consider so many great problems in
| church administration Iowa Meth
! odism has always taken prominent
part in these great gatherings Of the
church, but the indications are that all
previous activity will be eclipsed at
Baltimore this year. In the first place
Iowa wants the next meeting of the
[ general conference and with becoming
modesty and diplomacy will endeavor
| to secure vote in the conference faV-
orable to holding the next session in
1912 at Des Moines. At the very
| general request of the laity, as we'll as
! the religious organizations in the capi-
tai city, DR.. Hagerman, pastor of the
First Methodist Episcopal church will
| invite the conference to meet at Des
|
have been chosen to perform so great
a task With truth it might well be
said, that if DR.. Hagerman cannot sue
| coed no one can. His efforts will be
supplemented by the entire delegation
from Iowa as others from the west and
the Mississippi Valley.
| No other conference has ever con-
vened with so many vacant chairs in
the bishopric. Since each general con-
| ference determines for itself the num-
| Der of new bishops to be chosen,
nothing definite regarding the number
can be known until action is taken at
| Baltimore.
Iowa has never had a bishop select
| ed from within her borders and there
are many who believe the time has
come when the church may with the
greatest propriety choose one of the
| half-dozen or more bishops to be
selected this year from among the
church's leaders within the state.
Among those mentioned in connection
with the general SUPPLEMENTARY of
the church are the following: DR..
Homer G. Stuntz. formerly Of Mount
Vernon; DR.. ]. T. Mcfarland, formerly
president of Iowa Wesleyan University
at Mt. Pleasant, now editor Of the
Sunday lesson leaflets of the church;
DR.. Lewis, president of Morningside
college at Sioux City; DR.. A. E: Craig,
|
church of Ottumwa, and DR.. e. A.
Schell. president elect Of Iowa Wes-
| leyan University. 1t is not to be un-
derstood that any Of the above named
persons are seeking the office. Their
names are used by their friends with
out their knowledge or consent
President Storms Talks.
President Albert B. Storms, whose
friends have frequently urged his
name in connection with the office OF
bishop, speaking of the selection of
bishops by the general conference at
Baltimore today said
| II believe our church never faced
so large an opportunity as she does to-
| day. 1t has sometimes seemed that
the general conference had in some Of
it's actions taken counsel of politicians
rather than of the Divine Sririt. I be-
| lieve in the soundness Of heart Of our
people, but, if there ever was time
for rebuking self-seekers or politicians,
| it is now
Personal ambition may not be
unworthy in any man, but the supreme
consideration ought to be the question
of his efficiency his breadth of out
look, soundness Of judgment, COM
handing personality. and absolute and
unquestioned devotion.
TN the selection of men for the gen
eral SUPPLEMENTARY to fill the many
vacancies caused by death, it seems to
me that one general consideration
ought to prevail; that men should be
| elected who have proven themselves
thoroughly well balanced and sane
administrators. they should above all
consideration be men who are vital in
their religious thinking and in their
spirit. Ultra-conservative leaders,
| who merely attempt to bark back to
traditional formulate and traditional
| aft nIS yt,jn of nd la
church to victory or to worthy con-
sfructive work. The bishops of our
church having unique opportunity of
| power in addressing the classes of
young men who are entering the
ministry and in helping to form their
ideals and to inspire them for efficient
service. Our bishops, of all men.
| should themselves have wrought their
way through mere ,traditionalism as
well as through the mazes of specu-
| lative uncertainties to the fundamental
verities of things that are really
essential. and should hold convictions
| that can produce convictions. They
must be men who can make other men
| --'0'N- -"a e'''f''t 70" sona bleness Of the
Christian religion and present such an
ideal in their own personality and
preaching and administration as shall
suggest the mighty opportunity before
the preacher in this our day. The pull
| pit will call to itself the best brain
and heart Of the age If it's call can be
heard: and there is 1T seems to me no
one means for MAKING the call effec-
tive. superior or equal to that present
ed in the general SUPPLEMENTARY of
| the church
Personal Preference Stuntz.
Concerning particular men, he
said Il have not sufficient knowledge
to speak. Personally I should like to
see Homer c. Stuntz elected mission
airy bishop. I have had no conference
with him about the matter He is GER
tainly man of proved efficiency, of
tremendous energy, wholesome and
sane md 4 mar Wan brings things to
pass"
That the amusement question will
receive great attention is unquestioned
by those who are at all conversant
with the situation. A number of an
nual conferences have adopted resolu-
tons petitionin~ the general confer
ence to eliminate from the discipline