Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-01
METHODISTS GAINED
5O6,92O IN A YEARS;
CONFERENCE BEGINS
Union of Churches in North and
South Will Be Principal
Subject for Delegates
Discussion
MANY WOMEN ATTEND
New Method of Appeal for Benevo-
lent Activities Among the Leg
islation Planned

SARATOGA n. Y. May 1.-The
general conference of the Methodist Epis
copal Church, which represents churches
in all parts of the world, convened here
| today. Sessions will continue for a month,
during which the question OF the union
of the churches in the North and South
will be the principal subject of discussion.
II was reported that German delegates
would not be present, owing to inability
to leave their country for fear of enemy
searchers on transatlantic liners,
Bishop Earl Cranston, of Washington.
d. c.. presided over the first session, which
was given over principally TO organization.
According to the Rev. John T. u. Smith
of the Board of Conference Claimants,
the converts to the Methodist faith I'm the
last four years have reached 5O6920.
"Only five denominations in this land
have each a total membership equal to
our increase during the quadrennium,"
said the Rev. MIR Smith. "Of our 4,O33,-
1873 members, 3.57S,190 are in Continental
United States. TheyNare housed in 2S.752
churches and the churches and parsonages
of the denomination are valued at S2i5-
100000. There are 4.497,464 enrolled in
our Sunday schools"
SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION
Some of the more important legislation
to be brought up as outlined by DIR. John
Thompson of Chicago, follows:
One Unihcation of the various
Methodist bodies.
Two A new method of appeal for
the great benevolent activities of the
church. Competition In this matter
must be destroyed. Let there be one
appeal under the direction OF over
head committee.
Three Reorganization of our
Board of Home Missions and Church
Extension. The work must be de-
partmentalized. We need specialists
on city and rural work who will
gather expert information for the
direction of the board
TwENTY-sIX WOMEN DELEGATES.
There are 90 women among the dele
gates This is a greater number than ever
before attended general conference.
They are:
Gen,t%l GsfGFnhE- i6Hshqa agu s@Ss W. Asher
t'oorHdo"Nrs. Mary u. Wilson.
Rfn Rinsh%n@sIiss MhSessIIirsj j. .r M' Martha % Lcbens
iiinois-Mrs. Ellen n. 9rrry,o,
1SEnfNro Indie RocE@Mrs AmfflSR iilda Ii NSS@yth
MfSSSniMs!ffti MMissSSriMsfiss PsFSa asad McMuyray.
Nebraska-Mrs. Emma J. Cox ~
NGFtseas N0Ftss MGn!5aNiss Kate T. Henthorn.
Mrs Mancy, j H. MieConnpsl' q Rutcher. Miss
Mabel McKHlEht., -.
Philippine isands-Srrs. blanche Palmer
sS HSsn1lH 4oEsa E@Ta A. p5s fG94'on Ander
SSTtR%ds SSTtRRSTn 'fS faSnc T. lynch
vEH%S6i VEST O6io&Airs, Ida ii, Go9de.
West Wisconsin-Mrs. Matilda T. Hutch
son.
EPISCOPACY CANDIDATES.
Among the names mentioned for the
lpiscopacy are Drs Thomas Nicholson,
Hughes | .
j. Hamilton. Washington. d. c.;
: b. Mitchell, Chicago; Ezra $. Triple
lew York; b. NJ Triple, Rome, Italy;
nshua Stansfeld, Indianapolis, Ind; Dean
3irney, Boston University; Marion 5. Rice.
Detroit: j. b. Hingeey, Northern Mime
ota Conference; President Herbert Welch.
,hlo Wesleyan University; William II.
'rawford president Allegheny College,
Pa; Benjamin Young, Cal
fornia Conference. and Edgar Blake. New
hampshire Conference. Mr.. Blake lives in
'hicagO.
The Board of Conference Claimants
III report that more than 900 has |
cen contributed for pensions for preach
rs and will ask suitable legislative meas
res to obtain a retiring competency for /
ne 2712 retired preachers and adequate
are for widows and 500 orphans Of min. H
iters.
In the opinion of leading members, this
difference, by the nature of many of the
uestiOns to be submitted for action. will H
G the most important since the first dele
ated Methodist assemblage was held in
ew York city in 1912. III
Although the number of those permit
ID to take part in the deliberations of II
lie conference is limited to the 900 dele
ites. the attendance is expected 10 reach II
veral thousand. II
Many of the delegates come from Ger /
any, Austria Hungary. Bulgaria. France =
I'd Russia. where Methodists are fighting
both sides in the European conflict. =
ther delegations will represent churches :
the neutral European countries-Nor-
ay, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland.
ne mission fields of the Far East. where
ltical changes of great Importance have
CURED since the last conference, will be
presented by bishops, missionaries and
tive workers.