New-York tribune., 1908-04-20
GENERAL CONFERENCE
METHODISTS TO GATHER.
Quadrennial Session to Settle I'm
portant Questions at Baltimore.

torical Importance. because il Will mark the cen
tennia Of the organization OF the General Confer
at Light Street Parsonage" and VIII recall
that the Methodist Episcopal Church was organ
zed in Baltimore at the Lovely Lane Meeting
House In 1854 There viii be more than eight hun
dred delegates. who will bring their wives and
calculating the coming NJ about two thousand
from all parts OF the world In addition. twenty
thousand Methodist visitors expected Several
thousand will be here from New York AT times
during the months sessions. and as many more
expected from Philadelphia and points in Penn
sylvanla .he Western and New England states
will also be largely represented.
In order no. to have unwieIdy body the basis
of representation will be one ministerial delegate
for every for y-hve preachers OF the annual con
ference. and lay delegate for each ministerial
delegate. II is possible that the future meetings
will be on a still smaller basis although the con
ferences so far that have voted making the
basis in sixty, one in seventy-hve and one in
ninety have stood up for the present basis.
The gathering Involves tremendous outlay OF
money. Baltimore Methodists will have to go deep
down into their pockets to pay for the glory Of
having the meeting here. The delegate has moth
ing pay He is expected 10 travel in good sly yle
stay goou hotels wherever he may stop on his
journey, and to find place at the conference CITY
that will no more than g day.
The questions that will come before the notable
body will BE- the most important Il has ever had
to consider Discussions at the annual confer
ences. at special gatherings and in denominatlonal
pa pers have not had the effect of bringing into
crystaIIized form the opinions Of the leaders on
these questions Tons Of publications have been
devoted to them, and the opinions of the leading
men of the denomination have been expressed. but
there have been others who have been thinking
hard and saying little who viii have their say
here Great debates promised.
There are fourteen standing committees. IN whose
hands most OF the great problems have been
placed Comprising member from each Of the
annual conferences, OF which there are 1874, these
committees have been holding annual meetings
since the last conference These meetings. almost
approaching the importance Of the General Con-
ference have not smoothel out the kinks re
Iuced to A cut-and-dried form the action fer the
general body to take. There seven commits
sions each engaged in some particular work as
we'll as SIX boards. which form permanent exscu-
tive bodies
Besides the business that viii before the
body from it's regular agencies. there is clause
which permits any member OF the denomination 10
present subject Of business by memorial There
will probably be hundreds of these memorials
Eight bishops will be elected Among those who.
understood, will be elevated 10 the episcopaCy
is the Rev. D.. William Alfred QuayIe. Of Chicago
Dr. Quayle is one Of the most prominent ministers
OF the Church, and he will likely receive the sup
port Of a large majority Of the delegates on the
first ballot He is pastor of St Jdmess
Church. Chicago. and is regarded the
eloquent and most forceful preachers in the
denomination.
There are four constitutional amendments 70
come before the General Conference. TO be decided
according to the instructions OF the delegates TO
the annual conference. The vote on changing the
ratio of representatives Of the Iowa Conference
from . 90 has been 2.46 for and $3.50 against.
on the question of changing the ratio of the Wis
Consin Conference from to 60 the vote has been
2246 for and 5.765 against. The the change
OF the ratio Of the Illinois Conference from . TO
20 has been 1884 and 5.776 against.
The great fight of the session is expected 70 be
the amendment for the election of race bish-
ops. Many Of the prominent MethodstS both
lay and clerical, have announced themselves
opposed the amendment II will be remembered
that by the action Of the General Conference Of
1904 the annual conferences of the Methodist Epis-
copaI Church required time
during 1891 1906 prior to May l. on the consti-
tutiona question relating to the election Of 'bish
ops for work among particular races and Ian
guages-miting their episcopal jurisdiction TO the
same, respectively The proposed amendment
adopted by the late General Conference by Z more
than tWo-thrds majority, but this action taken
on Saturday night. May 2S. in the closing session
As now regarded, this was a most unfortunate
time for the consideration OF such important
transaction for there was no time for careful and
thoughtful discussion, and, besides, much business
OF various sorts had to be crowded into that last
session, which continued until nearly midnight
Bishop John W. Hamilton. OF San Francisco. has
recently taken strong stand against the amenI-
ment. Speaking of the,nesroes he points out that
the amendment is desired by them. thar IL did
originate with them. and that it will be d step
backward from the position taken by die General
Conference in 1872 which said that there was moth
ing in race color former condition of servitude
that would bar election to the episcopate. would
add third to the two existing orders of bishops
one Of which originated in the controversy con-
cerning rank
Reports TO be presented the state of the church
will show that it has made great strides since the
last meeting. in 1904 The growth has been par
ticuary great since 1850. For that year there were
1928 members. and for I9U7 33jS2eI q gain OF
374S3S for eight years. From 1870 10 Iso7 the gain
6S.697 There has been d increase Of e293 in
churches. and net increase, allowing for deaths
of 1850 in ministers.
The sessions of Lie conference viii De- heId AT the
Lyric. the largest theatre in the city There VIII
be series of lectures durin2 the conferences and
committee to arrange for tho lectures has an
uounced the following schedule Of speakers and
presiding officers at the let lures.
May S-Bishop Charles b. ti4HoVsy of the Meth
odist t-plsc9pai nuIch south; on l. = e., t-tlnar.
james NJ, L.uci1iey. Of N>w York.
May L The Rev. Or William Alfred GuayIe. on
Alsy I5-Tne Rev Ur Robert McIutyrs. Of Los
AnEefs n;;e5 ss4es on F2p "duced by
MAY 70 William Jenrirsf - Van, The Prince
Of PNac"'': introduced ~ Govern frank Hlnl.y
MAY 5a-The rendition Of. the or,ror-o The Me-
Boxes. which the purchasers can use AZ All ses
sons of the conference sold Al auction thirty
bringing a otalof ss.'s5. and the choice going
to DR. David n. carroll for $40 Thee New York
ers bought boxes The Rev. Or. g. Z. Locke tbroe
boxes. AT s165. another at H-5 and the third
$50 the Rev. Or Buckley one SD and john
s Huyer, az s275
USE FLExNER SERUM WITH SUCCESS.