The Portland daily press., 1888-05-18
BISHOP TAYLoR's WORK.
His Methods and the Ecclesiastical
Position of His Mission.

New YORK, May 16.-The subcommittee
of the Methodist Missions Committee met
last evening at the Grand Central Hotel, on
Broadway, to continue their investigations
in regard to the methods pursued by Bishop
Taylor of Africa in his foreign work, and the
ecclesiastical position of his missionaries in
the church. The meeting was called to or
der about $50, and DIR. j. A. B. Wilson of
Delaware presided. DR.. j. M. Thoburn of
the Bengal Conference, who is chairman of
the General Committee on Foreign Missions,
was present as an invited guest. After the
meeting was opened paper was read by
DIR. Ashbury Lowrie on the relation of Bish-
op Taylor to the missionary society and to
the church, and the general drift of it tend
ed to ask that the General Conference might
recognize Bishop Taylors claim to standing
as a general superintendent and give FORM
al sanction to his policy. This paper was
discussed at some length by the committee,
but no action was taken, as full committee
was not present, and it was considered de-
sirable to have full meeting before formal
ballot was taken.
After the discussion had ended, c. A. Da-
venport, retired missionery from Bishop
Taylor's field in Africa, and a native of IL
linois, appeared for second time before this
subcommittee and submitted some addition
al papers. Mr.. Davenport was then closely
questioned by several, OF the committees
members 1t was finally decided to consid-
er all testimony offered in the committee at
the second stage of its proceedings as
strictly confidential. Mr.. Davenport, how
ever, makes all statements without reserve
outside of the committee, and hence it is
well known that he pr0nounces against
Bishop Taylor's system of self-supp0rt. At
a meeting, last evening, an attempt was
made to sketch an outline of the three
points that this committee is consid-
namely his authority, his methods, and the
ecclesiastical position of his missionaries in
the church, with view to embodying the
sketch in final report TO the committee, but
the attempt was not carried out.
Bishop Taylor was not present at the meet
ing, though it had been hoped by the com
mittee that he would be. In regard to the
matter, DIR. Thoburn said the committee
would probably hit upon plan to put Bish-
op Tayl0r's missionaries in proper rela-
ti0n with the church, and that he thought
the facts in the matter when made public
would not prove of sensational character
DIR. Thoburn also said that good deal could
be said explanatory. of Bishop Taylor's
methods, as he was by nature exceptional,
and that, though his methods often strucF
men as strange at first, when examined they
proved less SO than was thought. As toBishop
Taylor's ecclesiastical position, DR.. Ihoburn
said that that would have to be decided by
the episcopacy committee.
Proceedings of the Conference.
Bishop Foss presided at the conference to-
day. Rev. j. o. Peck, of the New York
East Conference, conducted devotional ex-
ercises. The minority report on the judiciary
stated that the members dissented from the
views of the majority on the limit of the
bishops office. They believed that the re-
strictive rule guards the Office of the episco-
pacy, but does not touch its limit and it is
competent for conferences to fix such lin
it to the official term of the bishops. The
report was laid on the table
The majority report on the judiciary was
presented. 1t is a very important paper,
stating that the election of presiding elders
by the annual conference cannot be per-
mitted as such assumption of authority Is
violation of the third restrictive rule, and
also that the presiding elder could mot have
coordinate authority with the bishops in fix
ing appointments of preachers unless they
were first submitted to the annual confer
ences for their discussion. The report was
tabled.
Rev. A. C. Achand, from the conference
of Frankfort on the Main, Germany, Of
fered a resolution agalnstt he appointment
of resident or missionary bishops in Eu-
rope. Referred.
The reports of the committee on episco-
pacy states that the work Of general superin-
tendency requires that five new bishops be
elected by the general conference.
A long debate ensued on the number of
wanted six or seven and the non progressive
element thought four enough. The report
was adopted making the number five, and
the conference adjourned.