The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-01-13

SuCStkOHo Y" |
Aside from the regular business OF
the General Conference 20 De Trans
acted during this session, many ques-
lions of special interest VIII De pre-
sented in the form Of memorials from
annual conference. winch VIII ce
to the committee on memo
rails for consideration and actlon anu
which will then be acted upon py inc
General Conference as a "pole.
Among the memorials which are
most prominently before the cnuIch
a. this time are those regarding Inc
limitation Of the time of consecutive
service and the power of the preacn-
ers appointed presiding elders ID the
Annual Conferences, the granting OF
the rights Of the 1aity to the women
Of the church, the revision OF the fah-
guage of the Apostles Creed SO unat
the words the Church Of Cod viii
take the place of the Holy Catholic
Church n the revision of certain
Daragraphs in the BOOk Of Discipline
Of the church. It is probable that the
discussion of the touching
the presiding eldership will precipi-
tate one Of the greatest nights or
words that will take place on the
floor Of the General Conference dur
ing this session.
Among the strongest memorials
sent to the General Conference or
this subject are those OF the Virginia
conference. one OF which recommends
tina no preacher shall be appointed
presiding elder for q longer PERIOD
than four years, 'eX-
cept by consent Of the conference OF
which he is a member, and the other
recommends that in the making OF
the appointments the preachers and
charges, as far as possible. shall De
consulted, instead OF leaving this
matter entirely in the hands or the
presiding bishop and the presiding
elders. as is the case at present.
Growth Of the Democratic Spirit.
The Erowth of the Democratic
spirit in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, is named as the basis
Of argument in favor Of the adoption
of more Democratic methods In the
| making of the appointments in the
conferences and it is not unlikely that
| his same argument in favor OF more
| democratic methods will be ably pre-
scented on the DOR of the General
Conference by representatives OF a
number of the annual conferences
The statement is heard often that
while the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, is regarded one OF
the most democratic churches III
spirit, in one feature, at least, Of its
VlA\ hoo ~
most autOcratic power that is known
probably to any Protestant church
that feature being the appointing
power. which is vested in the bishops
who preside over the Annual Con
ferences. While it is true that tn
presiding elders constitute the ad'
visOry council Of the bishop ant
while it is true that the law Of thu
church for the past four years Ia:
required that no bishop shall reat
, the appointments to the conferenc'
" which he is presiding until TIA
entire list has beer made known t
the presiding elders. the appointing
power still rests in the hands OF tn
bishop. AS a rule the bishops con
: gestions from the presiding elders i
> the making OF the appointments an
wen when this q been done tn
knowledge of the appointments as
: whole is withheld from all OF tn
Q members Of the conference except tn
. presiding elders, n the CROWN
democratic spirit in the church
urging a more general knowledge c
: this most important feature OF TIL
session Of the annua conference, j
order that the best interests OF bot
preachers and pastoral charges ma
: pc served.
Limiting Presiding E1derships.
-
A.. The argument in favor OF the linn
> tatiOn OF the term OF service Of pr
siding elders is based largely upC
e the claim that the routine work i
( the presiding eldership il follows
for many years in succession units
preacher for the work OF the regu2,
passionate. Also, the appointment
presiding elder is often regarded
t. an honor conferred upon prehche
K SO appointed and the growing dem
he tcratic spirit OF the church favors ii
distribution OF honor rather than CO
a filming the same to a few members
the conferences.
I'd The subject of the election
e. bishops is not so prominently beio
IN the church al this time as has be
the case during the months Just pr
al cedinG he past Ceyeral sessions Of, t
o. General Conference. No bishop
p the active work Of the Office has d.
is during the present quadrennium a;
the opinion seems to prevail that I
all bishops Will be elected 1t the sessi
he of the General Conference OF 80
r. unless several Of the bishops now 8