The Indianapolis journal., 1884-05-16
THE CHURCH CONVENTIONS.
A Day of Great Interest in the Metho-
dist Conference at Philadelphia.
Messrs. Ninde. Walden, Mallalieu and Fowler
Chosen Bishops - Opening of the
Presbyterian General Assembly.

PHILADELPHIA, May 15-At the conference of
GIethodists, as the order of the day for 10 o'clock
was the election of bishops, there an unusually
large attendance. A motion to clear the aisles
of visitors was withdrawn, as great opposition
was expressed.
Rev j. Spence offered a resolution that the
action of the General Conference of 1876, in Civ
ing the utmost freedom as to the union of white
and colored work, remain undIsturbed Referred
to the committee the state of the church.
Rev. DIR. Hatfield of Rock River, offered a
resolution, which was adopted, that the secretary
of the tellers conducting the election of bishops
be instructed not to indicate to any one the re
suit of the ballot before the same is made known
10 the conference.
P. G. Gillett of Illinois, moved that only one
name be placed on a ballot, instead of four.
Tabled.
Bishop Harris announced that tellers would
conduct the election of bishops. The teers sta
toned themselves in the aisle, and the names of
conferences were called, as well as of delegates.
There was applause in the gallery when Gov
ernor Pattison deposited his vote The tellers
retired to count the vote
A resolution was adopted that the committee
on church extension consider the expediency of
the election by the conference of two secretaries
of the Board of Church Extension, and that the
committee report tomorrow.
The secretary was instructed to convey the
fraternal greetings Of the conference to the diff
ferent evangelical bodies now in session.
When Bishop Simpson appeared on the plat
form of the Methodist General Conference he
A. 1o1 10
any remarks, his health not permitting
Revs Newton, Young and Sylvester White
head, of Wesleyan Conference, England, made
a few parting remarks
Rev. Willard F. MallaIieu, elected bishop
by. the NJ. E. Conference, is the pre-
New England Conference, and Rev
C. Fl. Fowler, also elected bishop,
is a member of Rock River Conference and mis-
sonary secretary of the General Missionary So
cety. He will have his Office in New York.
Rev. DR.. Leonard of Cincinnati Conference,
said if the General Conference took the action
proposed it would indicate that they were get
ting little shady. 1t will not settle, but en-
large doubts.
The motion to refer to the committee on
epscopaey was defeated and the resolution
adopted
George W. Parker, Of St Louis Conference,
offered resolution that the government be
requested to take steps toward preventing the
practice of polygamy in the Territories. Referred
to the committee on state of the church.
The tellers appointed to conduct the election
for bishop, reported as the result of the first
ballot. no choice; whole number of votes cast,
407; necessary to a choice, 2O4; Rev. w. X.
Ninde, d. D.. received 1877; Rev. j. NJ. Walden
D. D., 167.
On the second ballot these two gentlemen
were chosen, the former receiving 272 votes.
Rev DR.. W, x. Ninde is OF the Detroit Con-
ference; and president of the Garrett Biblical
Institution Rev. DR.. j. M. Walden, is of the
Western Book Concern. Cincinnati
The third ballot resulted in the choice of Rev
Willard F. NIallalieu D. D.
fourth ballot was then taken for the fourth
bishop Whole number of votes cast, 1885, neces
sary to a choice, 200 Rev. G. H. Fowler, ID. D,
received 194; Rev J. H. Vincent, d. D., ia;
Rev H, A. Butts. ,, D. p.
There being no election, another ballot was
taken. Rev. DR.. Trimble in few moments
came into the hail and stated that by some mis-
take the ballots had become mixed with others.
A large number of delegates had left the hall,
but those present insisted on another vote being
taken, which was done, and the conference took
a recess.
The General Conference met in the evening to
welcome the fraterpa delegates from the South
and the church in Canada Bishop Harris pre-
sided Addresses were made by Rev. DIR. Z,
w. Cater, fraternal delegate from the church
South, and Senator 5, II. Colquitt, of Georgia,
who was introduced by Ex-Governor Evans, OF
Colorado. The address TO the General Confer
enee by the Methodists of Canada was read and
an address made by Rev. DR. s. s. Eelis, dele
gate from the Methodist ChuPeh of Canada.
The Bishop announced the result of the fifth
ballot for fourth bishop as follows: Whole mum
ber of votes cast 366; necessary to choice, 1874;
Rev c. H. Fowler, d. D., 212;' Rev. J. Fl. Vim
cent, D. D., 135 DR., Fowler was therefore
elected. This completes the number of new
bishops.
Rev. George W. Norris, of New Hampshire
Conference, offered resolution, which re-
ferred, that it is the sense of the General Con
ference that no good man should publish himself,
work on, or in any way patronize Sunday news
papers.
Senator Colquitt of Georgia, and a delegate
from the NJ. e. Church South, was introduced
Rev. T. b. Neely, of Philadelphia Conference,
offered resolution that the conference reaftirn
the doctrine of the fathers of the church, that
the bishoprie is not order, but an office for
orders, and bishop is merely presbyterian
elder. Mr.. Neely said there were certain ten
denotes against which they ought to guard and
asserting "Once bishop always a bishop" was
new teaching, which apostolic Methodism did
not believe in.
Rev. w. j. Paxson, of Philadelphia, moved a
reference of the resolution to the committee on
episcopaey.
Rev. DR., Lanahan, of Baltimore, said the con
ference might as well reaffirm the doctrine OF
the fathers that the Methodist Episcopal Church
is still the Methodist Episcopal Church.