Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-07
METHODISTS IN
CONFERENCE
EVERY QUARTER OG GLOBE REP
RESENTED IN 800 DELE
GATES AT BALTIMORE.

Baltimore, Md, May 6.-The SUI
preme lawmaking body of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church throughout the
world, the quadrennial general con-
ference, assembled in Baltimore today.
Every quarter of the globe will be
represented by the 800 lay and CLERICAL
delegates to be present and the
weight1est affairs of the church will be
at stake.
This conference is the twenty-f1fth
dredth anniversary Of the adoption of
the constitution of the Methodist Epis-
copal church, an event which took
place in Baltimore in 1903. An elabor-
ate centennial celebration has been
planned as one feature of the session.
Nearly 100000 church members
are represented in the conference and
the eyes OF t,,2 entire Methodist de-
nomination will be watching with in
terest the transactions of the Balti-
more gathering.
From popular point of view it is
probably the legislative work in Balti-
more which will arouse the greatest
interest. OF course, in theory the con.
ference, as the supreme legislative
authority, can alter the fundamental
law of the church as it wills. AS
matter of fact however, there are only
two amendments to the Book of Dis
ciplfne which are likely to receive
much consideration. One is the quest
ton Of amusements and the other is
the proposition of return to the old
itinerant system of pastorates.
Expect Fight Over Dancing.
The discussion on the omission of
paragraph 24S Of the Book of Disci-
pine, which prohibits dancing, ETC.,
may be lively and spectacular one.
The effort to obtain restoration of
the itinerant partorate is likely to lead
to an acrimonious session The New
York conference recorded itself in
favor of restoration by narrow mar
gin and number O fother conferences
have voted similarly. In general the
great pastors of the church are op-
posed to itinerancy and the younger
element is in favor of it. Under the
present system there Is no time limit
whatever to pastorates, but the bishop
Of each diocese reviews the situation
annually and his power to make such
transfers as he deems necessary
Aside from these spectacular doings
Of the conference, by far the most i'm
portant action of the gathering will be
the election Of new bishops. In fact
for the clergymen present this labor
will be the most engrossing and in
teresting Of the session. The most
powerful of all the committees, the
committee on the Episcopacy, has the
general control Of the Episcopacy and
preponderant influence in the dec
ision of all questions relating thereto
Eight Bishops to be Chosen.
The post of bishop Is the great prize
which the Methodist church holds be-
fore it's clergy. The honor is proper
tionate to the great responsibility and
heavy duties involved. AS result the
election Of bishops by the general con-
ference is always closely contested.
This year at least eight and prob
ably more bishops are to be chosen.
In the four years since the last con-
ference Bishops Merrill, Joyce, Nc
Cabe, Fitzgerald, Andrews aud Fowler
have died.
The number OF Now bishops is al
| ways recommended into the confer
ence by the committee of the Episco-
pacy. 1t is considered probable that in
view of the growth of the church the
election Of more than eight bishops
| will be determined upon. The election
| Of bishops will be taken up in the sec
| ond week Of the session.
The first week of the conference
| will be chiefly devoted to routine
work and in that period the various
committees will meet and take action.
| The honor of the public servlcs can
best be figured after the servant is
i dead a