The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-26
THE METHODIST EPISCOPACY.

THE METHODIST EPlSCOPACY.
Sketch of It's Origin and Members
Wherein It Differs from Other EpiscO-
pal Observation-Disclosures, Responsibilities,
Salaries, &C., OF tho Bishops-Present
| Status.
| The election and conservation Of eight Methodist
| Bishops few days ago has called public attention
to the Methodist system OF episcopacy. 1t is
like that of the Catholic or of the Protestant Epsco
pal Churches that sketch OF 1t may not be unin-
teresting.
The great distance between the American Method
ist Church and the English Wesleyans and the
| impossibilIty OF Wesley exercising proper super
vision both led to his conservation, in 1854 OF
one OF the most eminent and worthy OF
! his preachers superintendent of
the American Church-Dr. Thomas Coke.
DR.. Coke was subsequently lost at sea
while voyagng to India as missionary. He was
thirysix years Of age at the time of his ordination
DR.. Coke subsequently consecrated Francis Asbury,
who lived, labored and died here; and the venera-
BILE Father Boehm, who was his travelling COM
panion for some years In his early ministry and de-
lights to talk about the devotion of Asbury, Is now
in his ninety-seventh year. in almost daily attend
ance in the Conference Asbury was thirty-eight
years old when he was ordained. The General Con-
ference which met in Baltimore received and recog
nzed Coke and Asbury as Bishops Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and thenceafter those men and
their successors consecrated to that high office such
men as the General Conference elected.
In 1900 Richard Whatcoat, at the age of sixty-fve
! years, was ordained Bishop Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Eight years later William Nc
Kendree, at the age of fifty, added to the
| episcopal list. In 1916 Enoch George, aged forty
eight and Robert E. Roberts, aged thirty-seven,
were ordained, and in 1924 Joshua Soue, aged
forty-two, and Elijah Holding, aged forty-four,
were added. In 1882 James 0. Andrew, aged
forty-two, and John Emory, forty-three, were
ordained. In 1896 Beverly Waugh, aged forty-six,
and Thomas A. Norris aged fory-twO still living,
were added, and in 1874 Leonidas L. Hamline aged
forty-seven, and Edmund s. James, aged thirty
seven, chosen to this office. In 1852 Levi
Scott, aged fifty; Matthew Simpson, forty; Osmon
G. Baker, thirty-eight, and Edward r. Ames,
forty-six, were elevated to the epsco-
pacy. In 1864 Davis w. Clarke and Cal
vim Kings KingsIey aged Respectively fftytwo,
man. at nifty three; Harris at fifty Haven at
forty-six and Peck, at siXty-one, were elected and
ordained. Besides these two missionary Bishops
| (colored) were ordained for Libera-Francis Burns
| in 1858, and John w. Roberts, in 1885, These high
officials In this country have always been elected by
Inc EoereHses eXGept those oruahea anu sent OUT
ages of the Methodist Bishops. There are and have
been tmrtyone OF them altogether, including those
recently elected.
The duties of those bishops "a defined by the dis
cpline, consist in presiding at the annual confer
ences; to form presiding elders districts and to ap.
point the preachers to their charges and missona-
res to neglected portions of our cities and to our
cOlored people and to foreign stations; chaplans to
reformatories, sanitary and charitable Institutions
to prisons and in the army and navy; also those
preachers who may be appointed to labor for the
special benefit of seamen and for the American
Bible Society, or for any State Bible Society aux
ary thereto; the presidents principals or teachers
Af anime rinSn law infy inh 1Aa
under Annual or General Conference superntend-
ence, or the preacher to the Five Points Mission in
New York and the American chapel In Paris, and Also
when requested by an Annual Conference, to appoint
a preacher for longer time than three years to
any seminary OF learning not Under conference
point travelling tract agent, temperance agent
or agents for the literary and benevolent nstitu-
lions and for the German publishing fund. They
may also, in the intervals OF Conferences receive,
change and suspend preachers as necessity may
require. They have general supervision OF the
Church at large, and are to travel the entire
field aud oversee the temporal as well rs the spir-
itual interests OF the Church. They are to conse.
crate bishops and ortlan elders and deacons; to
decide all questions Of law in Annual Conferences
and to prescribe the studies in English literature
and science for those applying for admission to
Conferences.
These are the disciplinary duties of the bishops,
besides which they are called upon to assist at the
cornerstone laying and dedication OF churches OF
which the Methodists average about two per diem
throughout the year. They are expected and are
called upon also to attend and deliver addresses on
all correctional interests and on undenoninati0nal
topics and IN "a thousand ways their presence and
influence are sought. They have concurrent or
q controlling voice in every measure that comes
before the Church In the interim OF the General Con-
ference, and this has given rise to discussion in
the Church papers and in the present General COME
\ renee as to the propriety of saddng them with SO
much episcopal work. But very much of this
labor will be taken OIL their shoulders by this
General Conference; and with the reinforcement OF
| eight more bishops to the episcopal board, the
duties and burdens OF the Office will be measuraby
| lessened.
Hitherto the Methodist bishops have had no par.
ticular districts dioceses to attend to; but on
Friday last the Conference fixed the local habita.
tions or the newly elected, and in a few days viii
ticular supervision. But this dstrctng viii not
and cannot interfere with the disciplinary require
ment that they shall travel over the entire cOnncc
tlon Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the
ference visitation for themselves. And inasmuch as
they change this plan every year, all the bishops In
turn have an opportunity of going over the entire
field as well as having special oversight OF par
ticular district Last year the reduced numbers OF
the Board increased the abors OF the four effective
bishops, who, between Them travelled over fifty
thousand miles, Bishop James taking nearly one
half OF this extent OF travel.
The salaries Of the bishops are fixed by the Book
Committee and average about $4,000 per annum.
This together with their travelling expenses comes
out OF the profits OF the Book Concern In New York.
The present General Conference has however, taken
this burden OF salaries off the Concern and placed Ii
upon the whole Church, but permitting the Bishops
to draw upon the Concern for the next four years
for any deficiency that may occur In salaries IL Is
believed that by 1875 the Church will have become
so used to giving for this object that there will not
be deficiency after that date.
| The old bishops have been allowed a years leave
OF Absence with salaries and expenses paid so that
they can travel where they please. The new men
will have little more work to do In consequence.
The friends of the bishops have sometimes pre-
| amt lad hoe nmCiu Ia with apta