The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-24
A Discriminating Review of the Selections
Made for Bishops and for Editors
Of the Church Newspapers
Conservative Character of the Legisla-
ton of the Methodist Church.
Work Of the Presbyterian General Assembly
at Saratoga Continuation of the
Baptist Anniversaries at Detroit.
NJ. e. GENERAL CONFERENCE.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
PHILADELPHIA. May, 23.-'rhe work of the
conference is drawing to focus: adjournment
will probably be reached by Thursday of next
week The elections are over. Some are sadly
disappointed while others rejoice with their
friends in good fortune Not all could be pleased
or even satisfied, but Methodsts believe in an
over ruling Providence, and i'll four years from
now it may be seen that no more mistakes have
been made than usual.
The election of J. H. Bayliss, D. D., formerly
of Indianapolis, to the editorship of the Western
Christian Advocate presents an exceptional
phenomenon 1t is very seldom that any one
who is not delegate is elected to an Office filed
by the action of the General Conference, unless
he is to be reelected. DR.. Bayliss, on account
of his brief connection with the Cincinnati
Annual Conference wasnot chosen as a delegate,
yet ON the third ballot he was selected by a ma
jority of twenty, steadily gaining frem the first.
Rev. DR.. Hoyt, the present incumbent, was q can
didate for election. He has been a safe editor
for twelve years, and the paper has improved
under his administration; but the demand for
change finally crystallized on Bayliss, and we
may look for Il vigorous, fearless and able advo-
cate in his hands, He has many friends on the
conference floor from every quarter Of the
church, and to this fact he owes his election
The election of Marshall w. Taylor, ID, of
the Lexington Conference to the editorship of
the Southwestern Christian Advocate, removes
one of the most scholarly of the colored preach
ers from the field in Ohio, Indiana and Ken
lucky. He was called on to take part in the
opening devotional exercises on the first day
and he displayed as much more ability and
culture than many of the white preachers. He
has been frequent contributor to the Western
Advocate, at Cincinnati. The Southwestern at
New Orleans, will now compare well with the
Others in the field of literature. The church
has various publications, also in the German
and Scandinavian languages. On all the COM
nlittees great care has been taken to give a rep
resentation to every language and color More
than dozen nationalities are here One of the
best of the secretarial force is w H. Crogman,
a colored man, of the Savannah Conference.
Rev. j. H. Vincent, D. D., whom everyone
said would be chosen bishop on the first ballot,
did not command the requisite votes for several
reasons. His ability and affability were un-
questioned, but he was the candidate of out.
siders rather than of the delegates who did the
voting, and rather jealous of interference ina
matter of this kind. The Doctor had a short
time since expressed himself rather freely in
reference to some men and methods in the
church whose work is held in high esteem by
many, and while perhaps not more catholic in
spirit than many others he had not been as dis
tinctively denominational as would be required
of a chief executive Besides, he has been the
inspiration of the Sunday work in the
church, and while hosts of friends and admirers
would rejoice in his promotion, they believed
him to be almost necessary to his present po
sition as secretary of the Sunday school depart
ment He still has fair prospect four years
hence for this chief distinction of Methodism
The four bishops elected represent the various
phases of Methodist life Mallalieu comes from
New England, and can defend and describe Yam
kee notions Fowler has been eight years at
No. sO5 Broadway, New York where the busi
ness and concentrated power of the church have
been located. Walden understands better than
any other the needs and sympathies of the Mis-
sissippi valley, while Ninde is in hearty accord
with the pulse beat of the farreaching and fast
growing Northwest.
OF course the friends Of c.. n Sims. D D..
formerly of Indiana, surprised and asap-
pointed when he was not elected. There were
those who believed that he ought still to remain
in the presidency of Syracuse University His
urbanity and business tact have Won him many
friends, aud he will be heard from again DR.
Martin. of DePauw University, received some
votes for the episcopacy and large. number for
book agent at Cincinnati. Greencaste is to
be congratulated that the church has not called
him away from the great educational work there.
Indiana delegates were too much engaged in
making and giving complimentary nominations
and votes to secure direct representation in
the Offices ]. J. Hight D. D., it is understood,
will remain as assistant editor of the Western.
1t was easily apparent that Rev b. St J. Fry
would be returned as editor of the Central Advo-
cate of ST. Louis. Rev w r. Goodwin formerly
of Brookvlle. Ind, would have been stronger had
not the incumbent been so strong. DR. Arthur
Edwards received all but nine votes for editor of
the Northwestern. at Chicago. The irrepressible
Buckley, of course, would be retained for the
great official paper at New York, and, of
course, man with such positive convictions
and such fearlessness in asserting them, would
bring ont more votes of petty opposition than
any other
After the first few days. wh2a reports on the
episcopacy were the occasion Of the greatest in
tereat. the work OF the committee Un missions
has commanded the most attention The i'm
preston hold that the foreign missions have
been so prosperous that it is matter of but a
short time Wien these will set up an ndepend-
ent footing become an autonony3 the tayorite
expression The expense of bringing ropreseuta