The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-18
SIX vACANC|ES
IN EP|sC 0P ACy
They Will Be Filled at Coming
General Conference in
Ashcville.
DIVERGENCE OF OPINION
On Several Subjects There Prob
ably Will Be Sharp
Contests.
Especial to The Ttmes-plspatch.I

Especial to The Ttmes-Dispatch.l
Charlotte, n. c., April 11.-Through-
out the bounds of the M. II. Church.
South, 1t is predicted that the General
Conference. which is to be held this
will be one of the most interesting and
one of the most important meetings
Of that body in its history. Judging
from the number and variety of the
communications that have been pub
lished within the past few months in
the general organ of the church and
in the conference organs there will be
an unusually large number of mpor-
tant subjects to come before the Gem
eral Conference for consideration and
action. These subjects have been dis
| cussed with freedom in the church pa
pers, and there is a variety of opinion
concerning them. Among the subjects
receiving most consideration in the
papers are the episcopacy, the presid-
ing eldership, the time limit of the
passionate, the rights Of the laity for
the women of the church, and the order
of worship as now observed in many
of the churches.
Regarding the episcopacy there is a
diversity of opinion in the church.
Some believe the bishops should con-
tinue to be elected for life; others
favor time limit to the episcopacy-.
others favor more representative form
of church government, and therefore
|. believe, the power OF the episcopacy
| should be limited. while still others
hold 10 the Belief that the time has
come when there Is no longer any real
for no ha
Church, South 1t is probable that this
| subject Is receiving even more before
conference consideration than II would
| otherwise receive on account OF the
| fact that at the present time there
are only seven bishops in active SER
vice. five having died since the last
General Conference. II the episcopacy
is continued as at present, II is prob
able that six additional bishops will
be elected, and naturally a great deal
of interest Is felt in every section of
| the church as to who Will receive this
thonor OF the church
AS to the presiding eldership. there is
a growing tendency in the church tina,
favors the election of the presiding
elders BY the annual conferences. in
stead OF their being appointed by the
| bishops. as is the custom now. Some
recommend also that presiding elders
be appointed to pastoral charges, and
without additional salary. superintend
the work OF the districts
II is believed BY many preachers and
| lay-aen in the church that the time
limit of the pastorate will be abol-
ished at this session of the General
| Conference. This will not affect the
holding OF the annual conferences as
they are now held and the appoint.
ment OF the preachers from year tc
/ year. but If the time limit should be
removed, pastors can then be appointed
for nth year and for more.
memorial Will be presented to the
1 General Conference from the Woman'f
Board of Home Missions requesting tina,
the women of the church be granted
the same rights as the laity thus Civ.
ing them the privilege of being elected
members OF district, annual and genera
j conferences and giving them voice
! in these bodies. This memorial viii
be considered first in the committee
room, and it may not come on the con.
| ference floor for discussion. but should
1t be brought there II is probable thai
/ the discussion will be animated ant
somewhat lengthy. as there is de
cided division of sentiment on thi:
subject also.
The order of worship now used ii
\ many OIL Inc ChuTCNSS III oputueii
Methodism Is not universally popular
and number of suggestions have beer
made in tina church papers recommend
ing changes in this form of service
The original order of worship in thi:
church was very simple, and 1t is hello
by some that the present order is too
much in the nature of ritual.
II There Will be numerous other ques
tons before the General Conference
that will claim its close attention
/ This will be the largest denominations
i gathering to be held in the South thi:
year, and the fact that this conference
holds its sessions quadrennially onl!
adds to its interest. The membership
Of the conference is composed of al
equal number of ministers and laymen
the number being regulated upon tn,
Z basis of one clerical and one lay del
egate for every forty-eight preacher!
in each annual conference. there beiuf
/ forty three annual conferences in TIL
church. There will be sos delegates II
J the General Conference this year. ane
in addition to the delegates, all of TIN
i correctional officers OF the church
Il will be present, and a large number o
4 visitors as we'll. This is the first tim
the meeting place of the General Con
ference has been chosen in North Car
DINA. and it is expected that the at
tendance of visitors from adJacen
States, will be especially large.