The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-06-10
Ballotting for Bishops Hundred
Years Ago.
'incinnati Enquirer.

tics, when Grandfather Lick shingle
remarked:
THE election 'of bishop by a
quadrennial general conference is
an excitin' event. / have been
either delegate at large or chair
man of the state central committee
at every general conference since
seventeen hundred an somethin'."
"Perhaps you have = reminls-
cence or twoY
"Since you speak of it, / believe
l have, though it would never have
occurred to me. My recollection
of "reminiscences is not what it
once was. Old age, with it's
stealth step. hath cleaved me bald
headed. But no matter. There
was the quadrennial that elected
the party of bishops of which l
was one"
Indeed, grandfather"
"Oh, yes, indeed, l got there.
Bet your life. But you can tell
your folks 1T was a tough tussle.
Seven bishops were to be elected,
and there was two hundred and
thlrty-seven candidates. Each can
didate was in the hands of his
friends.
mot particular about being cleo
ted"
"Not particular. They were
simply in the hands of their friends.
That was all. After the election
was over some of these candidates
looked as if they had been in the
hands of a patent mule FOUNDER.
/ don't go much ON such friends"
"And this conference was held"
ain Smike's Opera house. Sin
bad, the Sailor, had been with
drawn temporarily to give the
conference a chance. The opera
house was packed, till people hung
over the galleries, packed on the
back seats, an chung aronnd the
walls like bats. 1t was an inspirin'
sight to see the different delega-
tions come into the hall. First
was Brother HopefuPs delegation
of soldiers of the Lord. They car
ried banners, an was headed by a
brass band that played, There's a
light in the window for thee
But Brother Hopeful was a little
too sanguine in the matter of his
musical selection, Continued grand
father after a pause, during which
his face lighted up with n smile.
There was no light in the window
for Brother Hopeful. Not light
He got left. Brother Brulgrud-
derry had as fine looking delega-
tion as ever trod on conference
carpet. They had two snare drums
an a bagpipe IN their band, while
one of their ear-piercin' flies was
as long as a fishin' pole.
Brother Brayfogle's delegation
was a noteworthy one. Inscribed
on one Of his banners was this SEN
timent: Whatsoever thy hand
fndeth to do, do it with thy might;
vote for Brayfoble.'
after the delegates were seated
the chairman said it was necessary
that each one should remain as
still as possible. The audience
was so large that though all kept
very quiet there was yet noise
enough to make it almost impossi-
BILE to transact business. Fold
your Cincinnati EnquIrers, con
tinued the chair, and put chem in
your pockets The rattle of 5000
newspapers ia a ball makes a great
deal of noise. The papers were
put away.
"Tellers were appointed to re-
ceive the ballots ana secretaries 10
count them. When all was ready
delegate asked what was TO be
done with the ballot-boxes in case
the ballots were not all counted
when the conference adjourned Tor
dinner. The chair supposed the
secretaries and tellers would take
care of them.
"Oh, no you don't" replied the
delegate who had been TO confer
ences before.
"The chair continued:
"These secretaries and tellers
are gentlemen of deep an fervenL
piety, an 1 dare say will watch the
ballot-box with religious solici
tude.'
Il move you, sir continued the
suspicious delegate, Il move you,
sir, that in the event that these
secretaries, or their assistants, or
any member or members, of this
conference be left alone with the
ballot-b boxes that they be bucked
and gagged
THE motion is a stigma upon the
church conference said the chair,
with some asperity.
ga delegate offered a substitute,
which was adopted, that the sec
retaries and tellers and other mem
bers of the conference, il left alone
with the ballot boxes, be guarded
by a picked company of troops
armed with repeating rifles, and in
structed TO shoot on the spot any
one caught tampering with the re-
turns.
when this was settled a dele
gate from Ohio East said he had
positive information that tissue
ballots were being circulated on
the floor of the conference. He
had himself seen 'pasters,' double
headers and other varieties Of
tickets which should be known on
ly to the unclean in spirit. While
he could stand as much vexation OF
spirit as the next man this, he
thought, was crowdiu' the limit.
"A ballot was finally taken, and
the secretary announced that
Brother Brayfogle had received
tue number OF votes necessary TO a
choice, and was therefore the first
bishop elected.
brother Brayfogle, in response
to loud calls, appeared on the
stage and made few remarks. He
could only regard his election-to
secure which he had certainly
made no eforts-(here the man
who held the Brayfogle banner
| trg % 1ruvo and the RravfO " q