Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-05-06
MErHoDIsrs OF THE WORLD MEET.
General Conference Of Methodist Episcopal
Church Meets In Baltimore This Week


Baltimore this week. Delegates are
present from India, China. Africa,
Japan and every spot on the globe |
where the Methodist church has a
foothold Few countries where civ
ilization has penetrated lack repre-
sentation.
The general conference convenes
once in every four years. 1t is the
government body of the church and
combines the legislative. executive
and judicial powers of the organiza
ton. The gathering this year will
consist of about 1000 delegates. The
general conference has been delegate
body only since 1912. Before that
year every minister of the Methodist
church was entitled to a seat and a
voice in the deliberations of the body.
Several important subjects are to
come up for discussion and action at
the general conference this year.
Legislation will be framed and adopt
ed for the colleges and universities
and officers appointed for the various
benevolent organizations, missions,
church extension, Sunday schools.
tract society, freedmen's aid. educa-
ton, etc. Secretaries will be appoint
ed for the various church enterprises
and editors chosen for the fourteen or
more periodicals of the church.
The great fight of the session is ex-
pected to be over the amendment for
the election of race bishops. The in
dications are that the amendment is
doomed to defeat. Those opposed to
the amendment declare that the ne
groes have expressed no great desire
for it, while the white people. partic-
ularly in the south are bitterly OF.
posed to it.
| A question on which it is expected
very positive opinions will be ex-
pressed is a proposal to restore the
time limit in pastoral appointments.
Eight years ago the time limit was
removed. The change has been a
cause for dissatisfaction among am
bilious ministers, who believe the best
pulpits are not open to them because
the congregations elect to keep a
pastor as long as he suits them.
Memorials expressive Of disfavor
toward a continuance of the present
policy of the church in this respect
are said to have been adopted by near
ly two-thirds of the annual confer
ences throughout the country during
the past year. and it is confidently be-
lieved by those who favor the time
limit that this year will mark a re-
turn to the former method.
The question of making the presid-
ing eldership an elective Office is not
generally looked upon as disturbing
factor, and it is not thought that any
immediate change in this particular
will result from the conference mem.
bers' deliberations. The proposal to
abolish or modify the amusement re-
strictions in the church discipline is
believed to stand good chance of be-
ing adopted this year. 1t is admitted
that many Methodists do not generally
recognize the ban placed by the
church upon card playing, theatre GO
ing and dancing, and this will be used
as one of the arguments against the
policy of the church in trying to reg
ulate these matters.
| Of course, the election of new bish-
ops will be among the greatest matters
to be considered and decided by the
conference. Eight bishops will be
elected. Since the last general con.
ference the deaths of six bishops have
been recorded. These vacancies will
be filed, an additional member Of the
house of bishops probably will be
elected because of the growth of the
church, and another chosen in place
of Bishop Warren, who is slated fol
retirement because of his great age.
| n bCOIc VI lnOlO VI PAOmihOhe OiC- BY
men are mentioned as candidates fol
the bishoprics. Among the number
are Rev. DR.. II. q. Jennings of Gin.
cinnati, Rev. DR.. William Alfred
Quayle of Chicago. DR.. w. p. Thir.
kield, president of Howard univer.
sity; Chancellor Day of Syracuse un.
iversity; w. F. Anderson, secretary
of the church board of education; w.
III. Crawford. president of Allegheny
college; E. H. Hughes. president OF
De Paw university; w. S. Lewis,
president of Morningside college
Rev. DR.. Robert Mcintyre, pastor Of
the First Methodist church of Los An.
geles; Rev. DR.. Richard j. Cooke.
book editor of the Methodist Epis.
copal church; Rev. DIR. David G..
Downey. assistant editor of the
Methodist Sunday school publications
Rev. DIR. Daniel Dorchester, pastor OF
Christ church, Pittsburg; Rev. DR..
M. Y. Bovard. editor of the Christian
Advocate. and Rev. Dr.. Matt.Hughes,