The Washington times., 1916-04-29
METHODIST CHURCH
CONFERENCE MAY /.
Twenty-seventh ouadrennlal N.
E. Gathering at Saratoga
Springs.

The twenty-seventh delegated quad
renninl session OF the General Confer
ence OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
win convene in Saratoga Springs. N. r..
Monday, May'1. to continue In session
'untfl May 81. There will be 800 min
listers and laymen in equal numbers
present to review the work of the
church and revise and add to its lesis-
lation.
The general conference is made up Of
delegates from 133 annual conferencef.
the latter being the working unit OF
Mcthcdism.
The delegates are elected on basis Of
one ministerial delegate for every forty
OF forty-hve) ministerial members In
any given annual conference. The num-
Der OF lay delegates In always the
same. for each conference. as It's min
isterini delegates.
general conference In 1872. In 1900 wom-
en- were acknowledged as lay members.
Chosen BY Local Churches.
Lay delegates are elected by repre-
sentatives Of the local churches in each
annual conference territory.
The FIRST general conference Of Amsri-
can Methodism was held In Baltimore,
In 17o2, at which members Of annual
confer tnces were eligible.
The first delegated general conference
was belle In New York city. May 1, 1872
At this conference the first Episcopal
address. an utterance which has become
OF increasing Importance. was delivered.
ohicil declaration OF the church on i'm.
portant theological. administrative and
social problems.
At the general conference in New
York in 1874, agitation over slave
holding became so acute as to result
In plans for separation between sections
~ the church In the North and in the
South
The Methodist Episcopal Church
South. was organized In Louisville May
!. 1Sth.
Methodism began in America with the
arrttal Of Philip Embury and Barbara
Heck. Irish immigrants. who were en-
thusiastic In the propaganda OF their
faith. John Wesley. founder OF Metho-
dlsm IN England. remained at the head
OF American Methodism until the Rev
olutionary war severed relationship be-
| tween England and the United States.
All the preachers. with the exception
OF Francis Asbury. returned across the
SEA. Whereupon, September /. 1884
John Wesley ordained DR.. Thomas Coke
superintendent OF bishops OF Methodist
| societies in the United states.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was
| organized in Baltimore at the so-called
Christmas conference. December a. 1854
AZ that time there were 16i preachers
| and 1900 communicates. There are nov
more than 1900 preachers and 4.oe3. III
| members.
To Discuss Union.
Among important matters that vii
como before the general conference a,
Saratoga Springs In organic union with
the Methodist Episcopal Church South
which has been under discussion fol-
some time. The question whether tn,
church shall elect bishops for race,
and languages will also he considered.
/ Bishops to take the places of thos,
who oied during the last four years
and OF those who will retire from serv
Ice automatically Cthis session bein,
neareS. their seventy-third birthday
| will be chosen.
| Editors for the church press. which
includes the Methodist Review. week.,
Christian Advocates. Epworth Herald
and Sunday school publications. will b,
elected. Election of corresponding sec
retaries for the boards OF foreign mis-
sions. home missions. and church ex
tension. Freedmen's Aid Society. educa
ton and Sunday schools will take place
Publishing agents for the Methods
Book Concern will be chosen.