The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-19
METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE.

Discussion on the Number Of Superin-
tendcnts - The Maximum Fixed at
Eight = Welcome to Bishop James
Memorial Services for the Deceased
Bishops.
The Rev. Mr.. Shumate performed the duties Of
chaplain to the Conference yesterday After the
journal had been read and approved reports Of
committees were called for, when the Committee
on Episcopacy presented reports Nos 2, and 4, in
which they report in regard to the election of a
colored Bishop that they deeply impressed
with the Christian spirit manifested by those who
have memorialized the General Conference on this
subect that the rapid progress the cOlored people
are making In all that elevates mankind Is most
cOmmendable, and the committee have no doubt
there is future OF great promise before them The
committee declare further that there is nothing In
race color former condition that should be bar to
an election to the epscopacy, the true course being
for the Conference to elect only such persons
by their pre-eminent piety endOwments, culture,
general fitness and acceptability best qualified to
fill the office. These reports were adopted without
debate. The committee also reported reaffrming
the Judgment OF Bishop Scott in the case of an APP
peal of preacher of the North Indiana Conference
in regard to the
JURISDICTION OF A QUARTERLY CONFERENCE
member OF an Annual Conference. The decision of
the Bishop and of the committee is that unless
preacher Is charged with crime the Quarterly Con-
ference has no Jurisdiction under the Circumstan-
ces The bishops are also requested to arrange
their work so as to give the present incumbents one
years respite. The committee further reported
recommending the election of eight more bishops.
This recommendation brought the venerable DR..
Scer to his feet, in opposition to the number pro-
posed. He said the vote in the committee was al
most in favor of and against this recommen-
dalton, while one-thrd of the committee were alb
sent. The facilities of travel now are such that two
men can do the work Of four twenty-five years ago.
He thought the Conference should take this report
in homeopathic Doses and he therefore moved to
substitute six for eight.
1t was then moved to lay the Doctors substitute
on the table, and on this the vote was taken by
yeas and nays with the result of 16S in its favor and
49, against it, A substitute of seven for eight was
next offered, but this was laid on the table by
vote of lS9 to 154
Drs hitchcock, Woodruff Leslie, Hester, Jacoby,
Curry, Coblegh and others debated the original mo-
ton and the substitute. Mr.. Leslie thought that
less number than eight would not serve the inter
ests and meet the demands Of the Church. spread
abroad it is throughout the world. 1t is proposed
to have less number under the plea that with the
larger number proposed three months labor is all
that shall be required OF the bishops. This might
be true if they had nothing else to do than preside
at annual conferences and were the sessions of
those conferences held all about the same time.
DR.; JAcoBY OF Germany opposed the smaller
number proposed, and read resolution of his Con-
ference asking for the residence of a bishop in
Europe for at least year to make himself familiar
much needed there as in any part Of the field
ELEcrING BISHOPS IN GROUPS OPPOSED.
DR.. CURRY, of New York East, favored six, be-
cause among other reasons this method Of electing
bishops in groups left intervals of eight twelve and
sixteen years without an election and kept out of
the episcopal office young men who are now grow
ing up and whom the Church will need by-and-by,
but cannot get because the episcopal board will be
full. He wanted more frequent elections and fewer
of the elect.
DIR. CoBLEIGH demanded one, if not two, Bishops
to reside in the South and to work in that field.
There must be at least one superintendent for that
section. If only six are elected they will be doubled
up in this region. He therefore wanted not less
than eight more Bishops elected
DR.. HITCHCOCK differed with DR.. Curry. He
thought that they ought to elect eight Those who
go in for the largest number don't begin to come
up to their neighbOrs, the Protestant Episcopal
Church, which has one Bishop for every ffty-three
ministers.
Bishop AMEs remarked that the Episcopal address
recommended the election of five or eight, he him
self being in favor of the smaller number But cir
cumstances have occurred since that address was
presented which convinced himself and his
ciates that the General Conference should not elect
less than eight.
The previous question was then called for and the
substitute six was rejected and the report of the
committee recommending eight was adopted
Bishop JAMES having entered and taken his seat
on the platform and he having been absent through
sickness since the first day of the Conference ses-
| sion, as mark OF respect to the Bishop and Of
gratitude for his partial recovery, motion OF Dr.
FOSTER the Conference rose to its feet TO welcome
| him.
1 EPISCOPAL MEMORIAL SERVICES
On motion OF DR.. MUNsELL the order Of the day
namely, the memorial services for the deceased
| bishops-was then taken up, and the services were
singing and prayer by Rev. DIR. Reid, Bishop Simp-
son read brief and very touching sketch of each
Of his deceased colleagues.
Osman c. Baker was born in NARROW, N. H.. July
80, 1872, and after graduating from Wilbraham
Academy and Wesleyan University in 1884, he ac-
copied a proessorshp in Newburg Seminary, and
while there laid the foundations OF the now sue
cessful Biblical Institute in Concord, N. H. OF which
he was subsequently President. But between
those events he lled several years very accepably
in the pastorate. In 1852 he was elected to the
! cpiscopate and during a Journey 10 meet one of
the Rocky Mountain conferences, In 1850, his lungs
and vocal organs became paralyzed, and he was
thenceafter until the day OF his death disabled
/ from performing any OF the active duties of his
office. He died December 20. 1871. lie was good
thinker and writer, sound theoogian and able
| beloved by all who knew him.
Davis W. Clark was born in Maine in 1912, and in
| 1886 graduated from the Wesleyan University, and
afterward became professor in Armenia Seminary
! He aiterward joined the New York Conference, and
was for some years editor of the Ladies Reposi-
| tory. In 1864 he elected Bishop, and 1t after
ward fell to his lot to organize many OF the south
ern Conferences In which he felt a deep interest
| He died May %, 1871. lie possessed
| GREAT FlRMNEss OF PURPOSE,
was careful in details, forcible as preacher and
writer, very pous and rejoiced in Christian song,
anu III us Closing hours exalted In the knowledge
/ that the Lord was his refuge and his strength
Edward Thompson was born at Portsea, England,
in $780, and in early life came with his father to this
! country. AT the age OF nineteen he graduated I'm
| the medical department OF the University OF Penn
| sylvania. His mind was then directed toward the
ministry and in 1922 he joined the Ohio Conference.
| lie was fourteen years President OF the Wesleyan
University, and four years editor OF the Christian
AdUocate and also held other responsible positions.
He was elected TO the episcopate i'm 1864. lie was
| tender and gentle as woman, but withal brave as
hero. He more than met the expectations OF the
Church. He died suddenly in West Virginia, March
81 1870.
Calvin Kingsley was born in Oneida
county, New York, in 1872. In 1871 he
graduated from Allegheny College, ana was
soon after admitted into the Erie Conference,
where he remained until 1850, when he was
chosen to edit the Christian Advocate, from which,
in 1864, he was called to the Bishopric. In 1869
and 1870 visited the Methodist Missions In China