Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1900 — METHODISTSAT WORK [ARTICLE]

METHODISTSAT WORK

QUADRENNIAL CONFERENCE IS BEING HELD IN CHICAGO. A Large and Notable Assemblage of Christian Workers—Mnch Important Business to Be Transacted—Measures Which May Mark Innovations. One of the largest and most notable gatherings of Christian workers ever held assembled in Chicago Wednesday, when the twenty-third delegated general confereifte of the Methodist Episcopal Church began its session, which will continue throughout the month. About 650 dele gates are In attendance, and there Is a large representation of lawmen. Delegates have come from all parts of ths world, including four from Germany, two from Italy, two from Norway, two from Sweden, two from Switzerland, two from Liberia, six from India, four from China, two from Japan, two from Mexico, and two from South America, and the list of laymen embraces many Methodist leaders of distinction and eminence. The general conference, which Is the highest legislative and administrative body of the church, acts on behalf of a constituency of nearly 3,000,000 and an organization embracing nearly 18,000 ministers and 14,000 local preachers. The delegates at the conference naturally include the most able and experienced of church workers, and they came from widely remote regions—from all parts of this country and Canada, from Germany," from Europe and even from the orient. The work which this body must perform Is arduous, and includes, besides the consideration of questions affecting the general policy of the church, the election of bishops and the administration of the immense business involved in the conduct of church finances and the various enterprises in which the church is engaged. This year, moreover, several questions of vital importance and unusual interest will come up for settlement. Some of these contemplate measures which would mark an innovation upon the accepted policy of the church. A new constitution will be considered; the question of "lay equality” has been brought forward; mnch time and attention probably will be given to the subject of the time limit now placed upon the pastoral term. And among other things the conference Is expected to witness a warm debate between the conservative and the liberal elements upon the question of amusements and the advisability of abolishing certain restrictions regarding card playing, dancing and other similar pastimes. Both on account of the character of the work to be performed and the eminence Of the representatives assembled, the sessions of the conference will be of wide general interest by no means confined to the church constituency. The business to be done is as formidably complicated in variety and detail as that transacted in an ordinary session of Congress. Bishop Merrill Presides. Bishop Thomas Bowman called the conference to order in the great Auditorium and presided over the half-hour religious service. Then he laid down the gavel and Bishop Merrill, the senior effective bishop, took his place and announced the opening of the business session. David S. Monroe, who has been secretary of four conferences, then called the roll of districts and delegates in alphabetical order. -'The provisional delegates were admitted without a contest. There were 157 provisional delegates elected to fill up the disparity In their pfdportional representation. Only eighty-five, however, responded to the roll call following their admission. The limited lay representation gave the pews 215 votes. Four ministerial delegates were absent. As the roll was made up on the opening day there are 865 preachers and 236 laymen on the regular list. Without a dissenting vote the conference at its first session ratified the action of the annual conference In extending equal representation to the laity. The pulpit and the pew share equally In the highest governmental body of the Methodist Church. The ministers were more enthusiastic over the loss of their authority than the laymen over their additional powers. The victory was celebrated by singing the doxology. The “Old Hundred” is the battle hymn of the Methodists. It announces the conversion of the penitent at the revival. It is the pean of rejoicing when a church debt has been raised. It is the safety valve of pent-up enthusiasm. It rang through the vaulted chamber of the Chicago Auditorium in a roar that drowned the roll of the organ. The step taken makes the Methodist Church a democratic body; the rule of the preacher passes with the century. The episcopacy in the church long since has been restricted to a superintendence without any authority beyond the placing of ministers and suggestions to the general and annual conferences.

The bishop’s address was read to the conference Thursday. It deals with the state of the church and the progress of the past four years. The committees were announced and organised. All the proposed revisions of the book of discipline, especially those relating to amusements and dress and creation of bishops with llaiited powers, were initiated Thursday by resolutions that were referred to committees.