Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-21
DELEGATES TO WORLD CON-
FERENCE WILL BEGIN As.
sEMBLiNo SATURDAY..
OPENS MAY I. WILL
CONTINUE MONTH
Spectators TO Be Admitted at Daily
Sessions Up to 5000, Half Of Whom
Must Pay Adnisslon-Money Thus
Secured Used TO Help Dsfray Ex-
psnsss-Prominsnt Speakers.

Des Moines. April 22.-For the
first time in the history Of Iowa the
great general conference of the
Methodist Episcopal church which
convenes only once IN four years is
about to assemble within Its borders.
Almost q year ago the announce
msnt came that the conference would
meet this year in Des Moines. From
that time forward local and general
committees have been at work for
the big meeting and all arrangements
are now well in hand.
The conference will convene here
on May !, promptly at 10 o'clock and
will probably be in session turnout
the month of May. Inasmuch as it is
At this general conference, which
meets only once in four years, that
all OF the business Of the great reli-
Sious denomination Is transacted and
it's work mapped out for the next
four years. the sessions are largely
II not altogether business sessions.
However with the brilliant array of
speakers who are in attendance
many opportunities will be afforded
to hear these eloquent divines in
special addresses or sermons. Some
5000 seats for spectators will be
available at the Coliseum where the
conference meets. Half OF these will
he free and half reserved 1t is the
custom in every convention city
where the quadrennial meets to
~ he 70
help defray the expenses,
The delegate body to this big con-
ference Is composed Of an equal
number Of ministers and laymen.
There will be S37 delegates from
every quarter OF the globe In addi-
ton there will be thousands of dele
gates.
First Delegates Due Saturday.
Much OF the business of the con-
ference will be done thru committees
just as ID the case in all legislative
bodies. In addition to using the Coli
scum the conference will also have
the use OF the auditorium, the city
library ana Of practically all of the
down town churches. The churches
vii b ussA Axgsly for the commit
tee esssionA
The general officers Of tho confer
snos are due to arrive in the city
Saturday OF this week and by Mon
day Of next week it Is expected there
viii b from 400 to 600 Of them in
Guiding secretaries and stenograph-
erS. The bishops are also due to ar
rive early next week and will at once
convsos 10 arrange all preliminary
matters and have everything in
readiness for prompt start on May
Arst o8 the oouferanea.
Ths conference has sixteen stand
in6 committees thru whom much Of
the business Of the body Is conduct
81 They are az follows. Episco-
Dany, 3sdicisr7, ttinancy. bound
area fsyie!en, temporal economy.
sta$> - The church, book concern,
forsia missions, home missions
and church extension. sdu-
cation. freedom. Sunday schools,
IpwoTtA league, dsaconsss work.
tsmpsranos prohibition and public
morals.
There are q number Of interesting
matters which will come before the
conference already moro or less dis
ousssd thru district conferences. OF
especial interest to Iowa Ia the pos
stbility that Iowa may be made a
separate episcopal area with . hest
dent bishop. At present Iowa and
Nebraska together form an episcopal
area with Bishop Homer q Stuntz
Of Omaha. as tho bishop. II Iowa Is
made . separate area It will mean
the election Of q additional bishop.
The question Of the union Of the
north and south divisions Of the
ohvroh which split during the civil
war viii como up and the stage is
al set for the union Of the two
divisions.
The question Of lifting the ban
against dancing, one Of the rules Of
the church, will again be thrashed
out. This has come UP at previous
sessions Of the general conference
but has always been retained as one
Of the church rules.
There are many other similar
questions in which there IL general
public interest which will come up
before the conference TOR settlement.
a ".