The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-04
METHOD|sTs FACE
MANY PROBLEMS
Important Matters Will Be Dis
cussed at 1910 Conference in
Asheville.
TO CHOOSE SIX BISHOPS
DIR. r. q. Waterhouse Of Emory
and Henry College Mentioned
for Honors.

ASf1E Y llI>E4y S.-Le,s rep, Bt--AS
the sixteenth Quadrennlal General
Conference of the Methodist Eptsco-
pal Church. South. draws near, GER
tain new issues, or new forms Of old
issues, seem to have superseded the
proposition for a reinstatement of the
faith which was the core of discuss
sion, the emotional center. of the
Birmingham conference in 1906. The
conference win convene here May
next
The General Conference is the SUI
preme legislative body of church
organization that numbers between
100. 600 and 100000 members in
the Southern States; some 10000
chur1 hes, and about $500 travelling
preachers and 5000 local preachers
The bishops preside in the order OF
their seniority, and have no voice In
the action of the assembly and nc
part in it's deliberations.
If one may Judge by advance dis
cussion the four overshadowing is
sues will be the modification of the
episcopacy, the modification of the
presiding eldership, the frightening
or the abolition OF the pastorate time
| limit, and perhaps most prominent
of all, the question of denominations
schools
-VarIaus restrictions upon the bish,
ops to prevent the exercise of AR
btrary power" have been proposed
The enactment of the recall Is one
Of them 4 limited instead of a life
incumbency has been considered. Tho
advice and consent of the cabinet In
pastoral appointments is another pro-
posal
There are proposals to abolish alto
gethcr the presiding elders office and
others to make 1t elective. 4 demand
is voiced for more democratic form
OF church government
What may be called a compromise
plan in reference to the presiding ell
dership is to enlarge the districts ane
cali the elders. elected by conference
Junior bishops. This would involve
| "a senior episcopacy, and the junior
| episcopacy would be diocesan in char
acter.
The question of denominations
control of colleges has been under
| discussion in various conferences, an'
especially In Virginia. The Virgtni'
conference sends up an important
| memorial on the subject.
| Women Are Active
/ The women of the church are ask
/ ing fos representation in Official bo
! tSes. They are sending literature
I plemorinls, etc. To the members %
fhe conference, and conducting
( strong campaign The success of thes
efforts would give them membership
1 in the board of stewards, ana quar-
I terry conference and, logically, IN
| district, annual aud general confer
ences. also. logically entitie then
10 the office of Sunday-school super
inteadent-
/ Those who contended in the Bir
mingham conference for a re-state
ment Of theSfatth pointed out, amonl
other things, that the articles OF fait'
Z contain no specific declaration Of TN
duty aud responsibility OF the churel
to eyangeiize the world, while som
of their declarations relate TO tenn
4 poral conditions that have passed
The matter Was referred to a commit
tee, of which Dr. w, II. Tiliett, Q
Nashville. liz chairman, to report a
/ this conference. . Ii Is possible tina
intersst in the Waiter has somewha
abateA: neither the Northern churc
nor the Wesleyan has given II an
particular attention.
The session OF the conference last
"a. daNa and an. s4tsenhause, Of. %
to 1000 or more. at various stages Q
the proceedings. ~ probable,
There viii certainly be six neS
[ Bishops chosen. SO many bishop
have never been chosen at any SEES
sias, and the elections will assum
large piack In the attention OF IN
delegates, tA the comparative exclu
sion OF matt<rs Of legislation.