St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-05-19
METHODIST CONFERENC CE.
Politics = The Time
Limit Debate.
The Laymen and Clergy Differ in opinio
Especial Correspondence Daily Globe. /


PHILADELPHIA, Pa, May ID, 1Ss4.-The Col
lonade hotel is just the street from the AS
sociation hall where the session of the general
conference is held 1t is difficult to say whether
the aforesaid hotel or the seat of the conference
witnesses the most important transactions The
The corridors are full of busy groups at all hours
when the conference is OF sitting. The New York
members all have rooms here, and number Of
prominent men from different parts of the church.
Several parlors are denominated g headquarters,
and members are invited in to enjoy social visits
with the additional purpose of influencing
votes for men or measures Z. nj. Hatefe Id, the
antagonist of DIR. Thomas of Chicago startled
the body the other day with most infammatory
speech denouncing the ''log rolling and ''wire
pulling when he alleged were going forward.
He said: ''Why it is impossible for man to be
at peace here. Hardly has his feet struck the
pavement of Philadelphia, before he is button
holed by anxious and oficious bretheren who
hope to control his vote. I denounce this
whole business as utterly corrupt. The con-
ference was thrown into the utmost confusion.
A dozen men were on their feet yelling s'Mr.
President and points of order were thick as
mosquitoes at Minnetonka. Finally DR.. Iona
han of Baltimore, got the floor, and insisted that
whom should vote, 'There are delegates here -
he said, ''from various parts of the church,
many Of whom strangers TO one another.
They must become acquainted, and bring for
ward their men and express their opinions. This
is not only legitimate but necessary to prudent
aotion''
This speech poured oil on the troubled waters,
and the regular order was taken up, and bust
ness proceeded.
The lobbies have been especially lively the last
day or two as the clergy have been pouring in
from all parts of the country, and there are
probably not less than thousand ministers in
the city who are not delegates to the body.
Some of those members of the 'sThrd house,
are not less influential than the members them
selves.
The interest thus far has centered
in the election Of Bishops.
Because this is life office, and is clothed with
far more power than any other ecclesiastical posi-
ion in any other denomination III this country,
the friends of rival candidates aIe very earnest
and active. Already the news of the elections
will have reached you, and it is somewhat haz-
ardous to write of things to come to be read by
those who will examine the prophecy in the light
of accomplished history. But here goes:
The leading candidate is DIR. j. H. Vincent, the
Sunday school secretary, whe is well known in
st. Paul A medium sized uncerical looking
man, with an alert eye and quick step, and no.
ticeable without his hat for a bald head
He is known the nation over as the
s'Chatuqua man. ON account of his con
nection with the great Sunday school assem-
bly,. He is man of remarkable capacity,
for work, and his fine executive ability. He is
man OF fine literary gifts, and is a gifted plat
form speaker.
DIR. C. H. Fowler, the missionary secretary, is
also likely to be elected. DIR. Fowler has been
candidate for bishop for twelve years past
This fact is against him in the minds of some
He is brilliant and audacious man, and one o1
the ablest preachers in America. In 1872 he de-
featod the venerable Daniel Curry for the editor
ship of the New York AdUocate, as the candidate
Of the episcopal party. He would have beer
made bishop in 1880, but for the violent oppo-
sition of DR.. Hatfield.
DIR. j. M. Walden, book agent at Cincinnati is
a solid man built towards the ground, with large
head, much of it behind the ears indicating large
social qualities. He is a fine business mar
but is neither scholar nor preacher He has
very affable manners and is very popular witt
rural delegates. He was even in the lobbies, the
other day, affectionately pressing the palms O.
two or three colored delegates. An elegant aris
tocrat near by shrugged his shoulders and re
marked to o friend: 'sYes, that is sll right Wal
den is not exactly niger he is only poo
white This has been current anti-Walde1
joke, but just the same the big hearted anG
shrewd commoner knows how to get there
DR.. j. M. King is specialized, yellow bearded
pastor in New York city. He has active constit
| uency and runs we'll
Dr Y Mo11i ofp
kered yankee is backed by combination of New
England and southern votes. He is urged or
| the ground of his pastoral record aud his New
| England ''Ideas." But good many western
delegates think New England is a good way.
| from home.
DR.. W. x. Ninde is president of the Garrett
Biblical institute at Evanston He is what i
known as symmetrical man, scholar, goot
| preacher, and modest man, he is chiefly urged
on the grounds of personal piety.
DR.. H. A Bitz, of Drew Theological seminary
| has written some treatises on new testamen
| Greek and is an able preacher. He is pushed b,
| several Wall street millionaires.
DR.. G. II. Payne, of Ohio, is polished speake
and has had the advantage of living in New Eng
| land, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Ohio Wesleva
university, of which he is president is urgin
his claims.
Well, think I will go out of the biograph
business, for as we are to have but four bishop
L
look at Fridays telegraphic dispatches
The most interesting debate of the session thu
far occurred on the following resolution by Dl
Smith, of your city:
Resot0ed, That the committee on itinerancy b
instructed to inquire what legislation if any, i
| needed to make uniform throughout the churc
the application of the time limit which works S
| advantageously with reference to the People'
| church in Boston.
You know that, according to the rules of tn
church, ministers are permitted to renal
in one church but three years, You
readers may not be aware that there is claus
of the law which makes an exception of ssmis
sions in neglected portions of large cities.
When DR.. Hamilton was appointed pastor @
the Peoples church. eight years ago, he found
small aggregation and an old church He starte
on the enterprise of erecting a new church
Under this mission clause, recited above, he ha
been re-appointed for eight years. But las
spring he dedicated church worth $3.50, 900, an
! has membership of over 500. Moreover tn
church stands on Columbus avenue, In the yer
heart of the best part of Boston. DIR. Smith sal
the denomination would like to kno,
if church that did uot receive a dola
of missionary money could be called a mission
and if to be in the heart Of the best part of Bos
ton was NEGLECTED territory 1t was elaine
that there was no other Methodist church within
a mile. ''Well,'' said he, ''if it can be under
stood that every church at least mile from an
other may be exempt from the application of tn
three years rule it will be great gain
In conclusion he paid tribute to the success
of DR.. Hamilton, but he wanted all parts of tn
church to have the same chance.
The speech was frequently applauded, and tn
bishops rose from their places and came forward
and stood at the front of the platform during it
delivery.
from New York city, rose t
the defense of this case, as comm
under the missionary clause, but admitted in
conversation afterward that he was wrong Dl
Hamilton made exceedingly graceful speech
in which he spoke of his exceedingly arduou
work and the small salaries of his first years
closing with the rather irreverent but apt quota
ton. ssH any man will come after me let hi1