Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-05-06
srETHoDIsTs IN CONFERENCE
Thousands OF Members and Clergy.
men Are in Baltimore.

the moment all other interests have
been subordinated to the proper re-
ception and entertainment OF the
thousands OF members OF the militant
denomination, bishops, clergy and
laity, who are fiocking from all over
the land into the metropolis on the
Chesapeake. People of all sects and
OF none have Joined in welcoming
the Methodist hosts and the spirit OF
Maryland hospitality is everywhere in
evidence. Nearly all of the 500 dele
gates are now here, and, as most of
them have brought their wives and
children, the task of providing ade-
quate accommodations has not been
a small one. In addition to the regu-
larry accredited delegates, thousands
OF other visitors are in the city and
more are constantly arriving. II is
believed that 20, 900 will be here dur
ing the month.
Baltimore will have to go deep into
It's money bags today to pay for the
glory Of entertaining the quadrennial
session OF the general conference.
The delegates are expected to pay
nothing. AS they travel In good style
and stay at good hotels, the cost of
the entertainment will be no small
sum. There has been no great COM
petition among the Baltimore hotels
for the Methodist patronage, owing to
the fact that the delegates are abste-
minous In their tastes, and at the hos
telries where the delegates are stop
ping the bars are gloomy and de-
serted.
This morning was largely occupied
with the registration OF the delegates
and the transaction of the prelimi-
nary business Of the conference. 1t
will likely be several days before the
wheels of the conference, which is
the supreme body OF the Methodist
Episcopal church, will be working
smoothly. All OF the sessions will be
held at the Lyric, the largest of Bal
timore's theaters. The selection of a
playhouse as the place of meeting is
looked upon as significant, in view OF
the fight that will be made in the
conference to remove the ban on the
ater-going, as well as card playing
dancing and other amusements now
prohibited by the Methodist disci
pllne.
The present conference gains In
Significance because IL marks the cen
i tennial anniversary of the organiza
ton OF the general conference. spe
eial services to commemorate thii
event win be held.
Besides the business that will com,
before the body from its regular agen
cies, there Is a clause which permits
any member OF the denomination I,
present a subject of business by me
mortal. There will probably be hun
dreds OF these memorials.
Eight bishops will be elected
Among these who, it is understood
will be elevated to the episcopaey 1
tho Rev. Dr. William Alfred Quayle
OF Chicago. Or. Quayle is one OF tn
most prominent ministers Of tn
church, and he will likely receive tn
. support OF a large majority of tn
delegates on the first ballot. He l
now pastor of ST. James church
Chicago, and is regarded as one OF tn
most eloquent and most foreefu
preachers In the denomination.
There are four constitutions
amendments to come before the ger
eral conference, to be decided accord
ing to the instructions of the dele
! gates to the annual conference. tn
= vote on changing the ratio of repre-
sentatiyes OF the Iowa conferenC
from 25 TO 90 has been 2476 for an
6969 against. On the question &
: changing the ratio OF the Wisconsi
, conference from to 60 the vote hs
! been 2246 for and 5765 against, Tn
, vote on the change OF the ratio of tn
Illinois conference from 25 to as Ia
been 1894 for and 5776 against
The great Hght Of the session is Q,
pected to be over the amendments Il
the election of race bishops, Man
of the most prominent Methodist
both lay and clerical. have announce
themselves as opposed TO the amen,
ment.
Reports presented on the state I
the church show that It has mao
great strides since the last meeting
: In 1904. The growth has been pa
ticularly great since 1900. For thI
year there were s.s2S.SS3 member
&, and for 1907. S,SOs.ssl. a gain
3T4.S3S for eight years. From tsC
TO 1907 the gain was eS.6s7. The
/