New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-16
DEBATE OVER "ELDER"
Warm Discussion on Proposed
Change of Name.
LBy Telegraph TO The Tribune.


Baltimore, May 15-The report of the committee
on revision against the change of the title
of presiding elder that of district superin-
tendent" caused the rveest debate that has yet
taken place at the General Conference Of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church The committees report
was rejected by large majority leaving the oues-
ton in such shape that it may UP again at
any time
The Rev. ]. P Robertson, chairman Of the
vision committee, in offering the report said the
committee did not consider it important to make
the change and had voted against It by large
majority
Then began the debate. which continued for more
than an hour, with many Interruptions on points
of order and questions of privilege that one dele
gate finally made the point of order that there
extreme disorder
The consensus Of opinion among those opposing
the adoption Of the report that the title pre-
siding elder was a misnomer; that II gave the
Impression that his duties of sacramento
character whereas they really administrative,
and that the district superintendent
ried more weight and indicative Of the
true importance of the place. Delegates opposed
TO the change in urging the adoption of the report
took the ground that the change would not In the
least affect the office: term universally
known among Methodists, whom Office
better known, not even that Of bishop. Eventually
the report was rejected and Bishop Mallalieu read
a report OF the commission aggressive evan
gelisnl.
Bishop Malalieu told of the organization Of the
open air services. Routine business resumed
at the conclusion of the Bishops report.
favorable report from the committee
vision on the proposition to drop fasting as one
of the requirements of the candidates for ordna-
ton 10 the ministry defeated by $40 votes
TO $50
To the committee temperance sent with
out discussion resolution calling every mem
Der of the Methodist Episcopal communion to give
financial and moral support the Anti-Saloon
League in its warfare against the liquor traffic in
this country.
memorial relating to the revision of the
Psalter and index TO the hymnal rejected by
the conference on the recommendation of the COM
mittee on revision that no change be attempted at
the present time.
Justice E. Findlay Johnson. of the Supreme
Court Of the Philippine Islands, was introduced to
the conference to-day and invited to the
platform.
Determined opposition developed to-day to the
proposed change in discipline relating TO auuse-
ments. The Epworth League chapters OF India
sent petition, 1T5 feet long. in twelve different
languages. containing 6.416 names 1t signed
by nearly every Christian in India. because in India
theatres considered immoral and few persons
dance except English army officers and other Euro
peans.
Pittsburg. Mag 15.-The twentieth quadrennial
session OF the General Conference of the Methodist
Protestant Church convened here to-day and will
remain In session for about two weeks. During
lHdt illS lItllE important questions Will Oe wi
sidered, among them that Of the union Of the
Methodist Protestant churches with the United
Brethren and Congresatlcnalists. committee
selected by the General Conference OF the Meth
odst Episcopal Church at Baltimore recently will
also appear before this conference for the purpose
of discussing consolidation. William J. Bryan is
listed for address Saturday evening although
II is not certain whether he come
The session to-day opened with special
music followed by the report OF the president the
d TagE o baltimore
four years of work since the last conference and
outlining the present policy