The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1908-02-01
GENERAL
CONFERENCE

On May 6 next, the General Con-
ference OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church will meet at the Lyric in Balti-
more. Among its 500 delegates will
be representatives from nearly every
country on the face oil the globe.
Among them will be noted authors,
orators and professional men. Men oil
eminencc in other denominations of
this and other countries will appear as
iraiernal delegates.
The General Conference is the SUI
prcme law-making body OF the Meth
odist Episcopal Church There are
more than 100000 Mcthodists OF all
descriptions in the world There are
about 100000 Methodist Episcopal
ians in the United States The Church
has more than 1900 ministers and
more than 1900 church propert es.
Many important questions OF Church
policy will come up during the forth
coming session Foremost of these in
the popular mind is the amusement
question. Under, the rules oi the Me
thodist Church. its members are pro-
hibited from attend M the theatre,
dancing. playing cards. going To- the
circus and iudulgug in similar smuse-
mcntS.
As a matter 81 fact. in some OF the
churches. particularly in the large cit
cs, the law is dead letter It is CON
Stanty violated aud rarely. il ever, Is
anyone brought to book fnr the viola
ton. This fact had led to an agita-
ton IN recent years Tor a repeal ui the
law and the enactment ~ its place at 4
general rule cundcmnatory of friyol-
ouS amuScmcutS. but not prohibiting
dane Iig- c1rd-playine or theatre going
specifically The idea j. t. throw the
burden ui this matter uu the con-
science 81 the individual member
Discussion ni this question said
DR. Carroll, occupied much ct the
time oi the General Conference iour
wears ago. but the statute was not re.
pcalcd 1t " II doubtless be brough;
up again TIN, time. and the movement
In change the law may be successful
Another question that will be acted
upon is that with reference to the mem
hcrSh'p Ui the General Conference it.
self, Under the Law each \unual Con
ference at .hr church is entitled 10 =
representative in the General Confer
cncc Tor each IS ~ it, members. Each
Nmnual Conference sends number oi
lay delegate. equal a. the number at
clerical delegate, Ihrrc has been lay
representation iu ,Nc General Confer
cucc Tor more t'l.u third ~ cen
fury. but uri m'l eight ycsr, ago
were the lallg given equal representa-
ton with the clerical delegates.
lhi, act uu resulted in large in
crease IN the number ui members. The
big growth OF the Church also tends
ever to- increase Nh. Sic Oi the Gen
cral Conference The result is that.
in the opinion of ,umc, the governing
body has become uuwciidy. and the
proposition To- reduce the membership
has been made
Any con.,jiut "na' change 1T the
Methodist Episcopal Church must be
approved hy both the \nu1al Confer
cnccS and the General Conference be-
lore becoming effective The confer
cuccs have been voting ON this de
creased representation proposition. hut
q Sulticicu, number have not acted tn
determine whether of not the move
mcnt VIII hc successful
The ANNUAL Conferences have been
voting on another cunstitut onal pro-
position tina, viii be brought before the
General Conference. aud that is the
question 81 appointing bishops oi dii.
icrcnt race, and languages To- preside
over conferences 81 those races and
languages The Methodist Episcopal
Church ha, q large number ~ negro
members. and some al them have asked
for a bishop ~ their own color
The vote in the \unual Confer