Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-14
METHODIST DOINGS.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE GENERAL CON.
FERENCE ON YESTERDAY.
Report Suggesting the Election Of
-Four New Bishops
Adopted.

Adopted,
Conference met at 9 o'clock-Bshop
Keener in the chair.
Mr.. Prichstt, of Missouri, con iuctcd
the opening religious exercises.
After the reading Of the journal
Bishop Keener resigned the chair to
Bishop Wilson.
NEW BISHOPS.
The Committee on Episcopacy pre-
sented their report on that part OF the
address Of the bishops which recon-
mended the election of three new bish-
ops. The report Of the committee re-
commended to the Conference the cleo
tion Of four more bishops.
DR.. Morton, of Tennessee, moved to
amend the report by striking out four
and inserting five.
DR.. Winfield, of Arkansas, moved to
substitute three. DR.. Winfield con-
tended that there was no necessity for
an increase Of the episcopate. The
present number has been sufficient to
the demand of the Church during the
past season for holding the Annual
Conferences.
Mr.. Black, Of West Virginia, fol-
lowed in favor Of the substitute by DR..
Winfield. lie held that an increase in
the number Of bishops would have the
effect to decrease the Importance and
the influence Of the presiding elders.
Ex-senator Hereford, of West Vir-
ginia, made telling speech in favor of
the highest number. He contended
that the growth Of the country and the
growth Of the work in the great West
made it almost Imperative TO enlarge
the Episcopal College if it is intended and
expected to meet the demands Of the
country and the Church. lie was in
favor Of at least five new bishops.
DR.. A. S. Andrews, Of Alabama,
wanted eight bishops. lie thought they
would be sufficient to meet the require
ments Of the work. He said that the
Church only needed bishops enough to
take the general oversight. With these
and an efficient presiding elder over
each district the work will prosper.
Rev. j. W. Boswell, Of Arkansas,
was in favor Of the largest number pro-
posed. lie held that thousands of peo-
pie had never looked into the face Of a
bishop that many parts Of the work
have never been visited by bishop, not
because the chief pastors were not dis
posed to 90 to all'parts Of the vast field
covered by our work and to all people
reached by the Church, but because the
number Of bishops has not been sufli-
cient for the demands Of the work.
The work in foreign mission fields has
suffered for lack of episcopal supervi-
sion and visitation. The Church needs
at least ten bishops to do the work re-
quired and expected of them.
DR.. McFerrin said that the times do
not demand five additional bishops.
D" You don't need them. Conferences
are not increasing; on the contrary
they are decreasing by combining and
consolidating" What do you want
with them? Want them to lead your
class-meetings? Want them to teach
your Sunday-school classes? In these
railroad times, why cur bishops can get
around rapidly and we don't need ex.
ira ones. The hue and cry has come
to us for episcopal supervision from
Texas, when during the past quadren-
mum Texas has been more frequently
visited than any place this side Of the
Rocky mountains.
DR.. Mitchell, of Alabama, moved that
the question now be put.
The motion was sustained and the
previous question ordered.
The Chair recognized DR.. Haygood,
chairman of the committee, who, under
the rules, had the right to close the de-
bate, and consequently to speak after
the previous question has been ordered.
DR.. Hay good deprecated the light and
ilippant manner of some members on
the floor in the discussion Of this ques-
ton. lie was surprised that a man Of
DR.. McFerrin's respect for the Episco-
pal College should assert that they re-
commended three, but his opinion was
that, if they had spoken their separate
and individual judgments, they would
have said twO."
Here DR.. McFerrin interrupted the
speaker to repeat what he did say,
which was in substance as quoted by
the speaker. DR.. Haygood, referring
to Mr. Black, who had said that fu-
nerals were preached in the committee
yesterday" said his friend from West
Virginia was imaginative; no funerals
were preached in the committee.
AS the speaker proceeded to reply
more specifically TO the remarks of Mr..
Black, the latter. interrupting, said !:
"Just word"
The speaker paused and the Chair,
bringing down his gavel, said /: " Not a
word, the chairman Of the committee is
the only man whom it is now in order
TO hear"
The speaker then proceeded to show
by strong and forcible reasoning that
the report of the committee does not re-
commend the election of more bishops
than are needed to do the work and
meet the demands of the Church.
A vote was taken and the Conference
agreed to elect five new bishops-ayes,
lO3-no majority.
A point of order was here raised that
it was not according to parliamentary
practice to take the vote on one side OF
a question without the other. A good
deal of wranglipg followed, resulting in
the Chair being reversed.
A vote was again taken on the origi-
nal proposition-fiSe bishops--which
resulted ayes l0l, noes l45.
A vote was next taken on three bish-
ops-ayes, SO noes, l5G.
The report of the committee was
then adopted-four bishops.
Mr.. NJ. S. Andrews, Of Andrews,
moved that the election of bishops be
proceeded with this afternoon at 4
o'clock. Lost.
MADE SPECIAL ORDER FOR