Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-22
A BlSHOPRIC IN AFRICA.
WILLIAM TAYLOR CHOSEN To
FILL THE POSITION.

The Methodist Episcopal Conferences
Thrown into Turmoil when the NOIhi-
nations were MakiDg-A Savannahian
Mentioned for the Place-Women
Given Equal Rights with Men in tic
Church by the African Conferences.
PHILADELPHIA, May 21.-UpOn reas-
sembling this morning the Methodist
Episcopal Conference heard the announce
ment that yesterdays ballot had elected
Rev. c. W. Smith to be editor Of the Pitts
burg Christian Adoocdte. The order Of
the day, being the question OF sending
missionary Bishop to Africa, was
then taken up. After some discus
sion it was agreed to send a
Bishop to Africa, and nominations
for the place were then declared IN
order. The greatest confusion prevailed
Everybody wanted to speak All wanted
to speak at the same time. To add to the
confusion each nomination was seconded
about a score of times, and, finally, when
the time allowed for naming candidates
expired, the Secretary announced the fol-
lowing 10 be voted Tor; Rev. Joshua +.
Wilson, Of South Carolina, Rev. L. NJ. Ver-
non, Rev. G. o. Fisher, of Savannah, Ga.
Rev. u. w. 5. Peck, of Washington. Rev.
Williame Taylor, of India, Rev. Mar
shall w. Taylor, of Lexington. The lat
ter withdrew his name, as did also Rev.
Mr.. Peck, and the conference adjourned
until afternoon. Upon the reassembiing
of the Conference Rev, Joshua II. Wilson
announced his withdrawal from the cam
didacy for the African bshOpric. A bal
lot was then taken, which resulted in the
election of Missionary William Taylor. OF
the South India Conference. Dr. b. f.
CraTy was elected editor of the California
Christian Adc0cdte, and the Conferences
adjourned.
Mr.. Taylor, the new African Bishop, or.
as he is more popular known in the
church, 'Father Taylor" is one of the
conspicuous members of American
Meth0dism. lie is in. his 64th
year, having been born in
Rockbridge county, Virginia, May ,,
1921. He united himself with the Balti-
more Conference in March. 1913. Two
years later he was ordained deacon. and
in 1917 was ordained an elder of the
church. Before and after his ordination
he labOred seven years in the Baltimore
Conference, and in 1859 was sent as a
missionary to California. He continued
his missionary work for seven years on
the Pacific coast and subsequently, did
evangelical work in the United States
and Canada. He also labOred assiduously
in South America, and during the last
twelve years has founded self-suppcrting
missions in Burmah, India, and South
America.
At a meeting this afternoon of the Com
mittee on the State of the Church the
question of the future policy OF the church
toward the social prejudice in the South,
which iii some cases excludes cOlOred pe0.
pie from church membership and school
attendance with the whites, was discuss
ed at length. At subcommittee, TO which
the matter had been referred, presented
two reports. The majority report declared
that no person should be excluded from
worship in any church or from attendance
upon any school on account of race. color
or previous condition Of servitude. The
minority report declared that color is not
bar to any right or privilege Of member
ship or Office in the church, but 'recog-
niZed the propriety Of such an admins
tratiOn as Will secure the largest cOnces-
sion to personal preferences involving
merely social relations" and concluded
that therefore there was no need for ac-
tion upon this subject. After a long
discussion the previous question was or
deTed. The standing vote showed a tie
upon the adoption OF the minority report,
% to %. Gov. Pattison, who presided,
thereupOn cast his vote amid applause,
against the minority report. by the
same vote the majority report was
adOnfpd