The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-04-28
GENERAL CONFERENCE
OF N. {. CHURCH
CONVENES MAY 1ST
over $50 Delegates to Assemble at
Des Moinss For Important
Session.

The General Conference. Of the
Methodist Episcopal church which
meets in Dcs Moines, May LIST, is one
OF the largest delegated bodies in the
world. over $50 delegates have been
elected for the lnI Annual Conferences
in the United States and the twenty
seven Conferences in foreign lands.
The General Conference meets every
four years. and the session Will last
probably throughout the entire month
Of May. 1t is the legislative body Tor
the whole Methodist Episcopal church
composed Of 4,l75,5O: members and
over 10000 preachers.
This session of the General Confer
cnce Is not only the largest ever held
hut unusual also in the number OF i'm
portant issues which will be decided.
The most important matter that Will
como ur is the question Of the uniHl Of
the North and South branches OF Meth
odism \ Joint commission Of nifty
representing the Methodist Episcopal
Church and the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, has been at work dur.
ing the last four years. \ plan OF
union has been agreed upon which will
be submitted to the General Conference
at Des MONIES. Very great interest
/ ccnters in the action of the Conference
on this plan. The Methodist Episcopal
church divided into two sections--North
and South-ovcr the slavery issue In
1914.
Another question which will occasion
discussion is the relation Of the Inter-
church World Movement to the Metho-
dist Episcopal church. Following the
success of the Centenary Campaign
other churches have launched into sim
the Interchurch world Movement.
Methodist leaders are at the head of
the Interchurch World Movement and
the question OF the relation OF the din
erent Boards of the Church to this
! Movement will I've an important one.
The uni6cation Of all the various
benevolent Boards. such as the Board
Of Education. Home Missions. Sunday
schools Foreign Missions. ct cetera.
will be earnestly urged and advocated.
Many are insisting that the dineront
Boards should be united In che Inter
ests OF economy and efficiency. while
others arc as strenuously opposed.
The proposition will doubtless give rise
TO animated debates
The whole question Of Episcopal
Areas to which the bishops are assign
ed will be before the General Confer
, ence for revision and adjustment. At
present the country Is divided into
twenty areas. each under the admins
tration of a bishop. There IL n desire
on the part OF many that certain States
should be made Episcopal Areas, In
Mace Of the present areas which do not
follow State lines. Should the Gener-
al Conference adopt such plan. II Will
mean n large increase in the number OF
bishops. 1t il probable that some new
areas will be created and bishops
assigned to them but it Is not likely
that every State will be made into an
aren.
An Amendment TO the Consutution
Of the Church which provides for repre-
sentation of laymen at the Annual Con-
ferences was sent down by the General
!, Conference Of 191 to the various An
nual Conferences to be voted upon.
That amendment. has been defeated by
small majority. 1t is expected how.
ever. that the question will be reopen
ed in some form at the SESSION at Des
Moines. New bishops will he elected
and also editors OF all the church
papers, secretaries of the different
Boards and other general officers OF the
church,