Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-05-06
THE METHODISTS.
A BREEZY TIME IN THE UosvENrIos
ur. iiatneId ExCites tho Delegates by Brosd
Bints of Unworthy methods In the
Election OF pIsnppE.

ur. uatneld ExOites tho Delegates by Brosd
Hints of Unworthy methods In the
Election OF bishops.
The first session of the second weeks |
of the Methodist Episcopal |
conference was characterized by two i'm
poTtant matters and a side debate upon
the question OF time for eleoting the new
bishops. The memorials from the several
annual conferences were presented and
appropriately referred to the standing
committees. BY the action Of the confer
ence last week large number Of papers
are sent direct to these committees with
out debate. By the adoption OF this plan
the conference has saved itself some five
days of work, which the delegates aver
can DO devoted to the consideration of
matters of more general interest TO the
public, aud Of greater Importance to the
church All papers considered Of any
Importance can find their way to tho
standing committees, but 1t is only such
as tho committees, which number nearly
hundred members each, may consider
vital that find their way before the general
| conference for final action.
Another important matter placed on
| record was the quadrennial address of the
board Of bishops, presented through their
secretary, Bishop Harris. The report,
which was very full and complete, was q
presentation Of the work performed during
the past four years. The present status
| of the church, rs per the report Bishops,
| II presiding elders, Az ministers filling
pulpits, IL, 62S members, 1,7S6,090, an
increase during the past quadreunium of
| ijS,7 ,7S7. Tho number of churches reported
was lS,7il, and places of worship are being
erected at the rate Of two day.
| An allusion TO the church taking more
decided stand upon the question of pro-
hibitiou was greeted with applause. An-
other very important matter was the
indirect recommendation that candidates
for the ministry DO placed upon longer
probation than that now existing. The
| present length Of time 10 two years.
4 better plan than the old one now in
use, for the retiring of aged and disabled
ministers, was recommended, and the
unofficial negotiations Of ministers and
people about appointments was regarded
rs ono Of the perils to be avoided by the
church. The report closed with q recon-.
mendation to enlarge the board of bishops.
The fact that 5000 copies of the address
were ordered printed was evidence Of its
importance and influence upon the con.
vontiOn.
An ExcItinE Time.
At the opening of the session it looked
as though the delegates were taking q
holiday or observing Blue Monday" as
it is termed by the divines. Most of them
were slow in gathering, not more than
half the number being present at the
opening religious service. BY 10 o'clock,
however, the seats were well filed, and it
| only needed spark to set the convention
all ablaze. This was furnished by Rev.
DR.. Hatfield, formerly of Broad aud Arch
street church, Philadelphia, who upon a
motion to proceed to the election OF
bishops on Wednesday, which had been
urgei by Chaplain McCabe, to stop the
NlectionCering and canyassiug for this
sacred Office said :
Next to the reputation of my wife and
family, thore is nothing in the world thai
concerns me 80 closely as the reputation o
the Methodist church. ! was born in tn
, church and my affection for it is mperish
able. | am deeply impressed, therefore
! when think how seriously the reputation
of the church is threatened by what ha
been said and done in this matter of tn
election of bishops. There was tim
when delegates would spend hours o
their knees and then rise to cast q vote f.
2 bishops. That timo seems to have give
way TO period of caucusing, log rolin
and wire pulling [Cries of 'Order."
The eyes of hundreds of thousands {
Methodists in the United States are turne
, to this body and watching this yer
matter. Let us proceed to it in n way tha
J will not shock and shame all those VIII
love the church. Lot us take up the elec
tion at an carly day, so that there shall b
no opportunity to prolong these outrage
4 ous-'
l. ~.
HatiiCld's voice. 81 will not be interrup
ted" he said; at is an outrage that
man can hardly got out OF q car boloT
some one comes to him, and"
"Osder order" rang in all parts of IL
hall, while score Of delegares shOute
for recognition. Amid tho confusion ID
Baldwin, of Baltimore, succeeded in raj
q ing tho point that DR.. Hatfield was out
order The chair ruled that no was no
h but that he still had the floor DR.. Ha
!. field resumed, though amid continue
n interruption, and succeeded in saying
{ declare that it is an unscomly and uub
coming thing that membcrs OF this boz
u can hardly set foot in Pennsylv b
S fore they are button holed by delegate
Q who suggest all kinds of combinations.
q Il object 10 that reflection upC
Pennsylvania, cried Rev. Mr.. Boyle,
IlttsOurR.
a That remark" said Dr.. HATFIELD
soornfully, turning 10 the direction of NJ
y Boyle, was evidently intended to
y witty, but IL lacks force. There was 4
o ehection made upon Pennsylvania"
n A delegate in the rear of the hall oil
. jected that DR.. Hattield's remarks VOL
- reflections upon members of the boo
q without partiCulariziug.
?, /" ! did not refer to that brother nor h
r. conference" said DR. Hatfield /" But v
l. cannot afford that our garments shOu
= even smell of fire. Our reputation shou
q be that of Cmsar's wife. Tho less there
= of the mutually tickling method, the bel
/. tor lOr the conference and tho church "
"a Some Boattered applause, mingled wit
a universal murmur, followed this speeoi
Dr.. DIN, OF the Wyoming conference, Il
, Prohibition member OF the New YoI
Legislature, resumed tue floor and said
u "This is tho seventh general conference
II have attended, but 1t ia the first time
n ever heard of such things as Brother Ha
% field speaks of. | should b. 10th to o.
y knowledge myself a member of body
y corrupt as these remarks would intimat
II | protest against such words as Il
" rolling | am not ready to proceed wit
, the election, because want to have mo
knowledge than | have now. / want
u hayo conversations on this subject, an
will have conversation so loud tn
II every mothers son of you shall hear ther
Ia No WiTe.puller shall manage u.s. ~