Evening journal., 1908-05-04
METHODISTS TO
DISCUSS LAWS
Important Questions TO be
Decided by Coming Gen.
eraI Conference
TO ELECT EIGHT BISHOPS

Special historical Importance will at
tach to the General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, which will
open its sessions in Baltimore on We'd
nesday. While the Methodist EpiscO-
pal Church was organized in 1884 at
what is termed in its annals as the
christmas Conference" in Lovely
Lane Meeting House. the General Con-
ference. the law-maSing body Of the
church. was formally organized in the
Light Street Parsonage" 100 years
ago, the coming session thus marking
the centennial Of the body.
More than 500 delegates, coming from
all parts of the world. will compose
the conference. which will meet in
Lyric Hall As many 81 the delegates
will bring their wives and families the
Entertainment Committee has made
provision for 1000 persons, while it is
expected that folly 10000 visitors will
attend during tho sessions, which will
continue one month.
Although great questions are TO coeae
before the General Conference, making
Il one of the most notable in the his
tory of the denomination, nothing will
exceed in interest and importance the
election of bishops. eight of whom are
to be chosen. Since the last quadren-
nial four effective bishops and two on
the retired lis. have died and the
growth of the church will require at
least two additional members of the
episcopal Office.
In electing a bishop no nominations
are made and a two-thirds vote is re-
oured for a choice.
It is not probable that a bishop for
traces and languages" will be elected.
Much opposition has been shown to
such a proposal by tho annual confer
ences. of which there are 131. while the
negro conferences associated with the
Methodist Episcopal Church have been
foremost in opposing race bishops.
There is not likely to be any change
| in the editorial chairs of the church
! publications. as general satisfaction is
EXPRESSED with the conduct of the
church periodicals and work shown In
the literature.
! For Union Of Churches.
Further efforts will be made for the
union of the church North and South.
| One of the first steps was the adoption
of a common hymnal. the joint product
of committees Of bishops, but it is be-
| lieved that union will be impossible as
| long as the Methodist Episcopal
Church has negro conferences with
their negro delegates. Of whom there
are more than 100. sitting upon the
General Conference ficcr.
Upon no question IS there likely to
be a more interesting and animated de-
bate than upon the legislation that pro-
poses to make the presiding elders elec-
tive by the annual conferences. These
district superintendents are now ap-
pointed by the presiding bishop, who,
however usually confers with leading
ministers before making his choice.
Sentiment has been cregted in some
quarters for a diocesan episcopacy, but
none of the conferences has indorsed
this plan. which would mean a radical
departure from the custom of the
church since its organization.
Amendments to Church Laws.
Four constitutional amendments. upon
which all of the annual conferences
have passed. will come hefore the Gem
eral Conference. These relate to the
change Of ratio OF representation and
all come from the West. Each is in
tended to reduce the size Of the General
] Conference. which has now grown tC
such an extent that it is declared to
be unwiedly: but the vote by 'Heferen-
dunn has been overwhelmingly against
the change. All OF the large confer
ences have voted adversely upon these