New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-06

a
allowed to poke little fun at these good men for
using such desperately wicked place their council
chamber An especial privilege to be saucy accrues
to since It under the staid and sober influence
Of the Methodist Discipline that my young life was
nurtured have the book almost by heart Accord
ing to its precepts l washed in the morning,
spanked at intervals during the day and put to bed
at night. Its cody counsels measured the number OF
buckwheat cakes that was allowed to
eat at breakfast for It was said Be
thou not DESTROYS overmuch Of dalntles." From
It learned my letters and regulated my amusementA
I couldn't play marbles fer keeps.D match PEN
MES, swap knives "sghton-seen.' for such
things were an abomnation. they were vanites and
vexatons. The theatre and the opera was taught
to look upon and pitfalls, and my dissipa-
lions were confined sundav-schoo Dicnlcs and en-
tertanments under the auspices Of the Y. NJ. G. Al
II under those auspices that first notions
formed of how repeat o. that this too. too solid
flesh would meltD and often have wondered why 1t
didn't So potent was the SWAY Of the Discipline
over my boyhood DAYS. that classed saloons and
theatres In tho same category. and always crossed
over the other side Of the street TO avoid passing
such foul dens OF iniauity. Never did think to SEQ
the day when the statutes that that awesome
book would be enacted within the wicked walls Of an
opera house.
There is thing about II. though. II Il doesn't
hurt the Discipline. It won't hurt the opera house.
forth from thousand manly throats will not deract
from the glory Of Wagner 1t is really superb music
that those Methodist preachers make. To hear their
strong sonorous chorus ringing out the long metro
doxoogy. is to hear music that stirs ones heart.
They know how to sing not in the IRE loo rc-loo
STYLE with accompanying grImaces. the very sight
Of which tires ones Jaws, not with lovesick smirks
and bombastc gestures such of tho stage would be
accounted prma facie evidence OF a mind totally
wrecked. or of a body given 10 epilepsy. but
with rich. mellow voices. full Of sweetness and sem
timent with faces upon which the bright light of
sincerity shines full and clear. Their harmony Is
that OF the long rolling surf as 1t tells In solemn
otone the power OF the sea-
None of the present bishops has bcen In office longer
than sixteen years. With Bishop Simpson the last
Of that earlier board passed away OF these, Bishops
Scott James, Ames and Simpson, the last was by far
the greatest. Such is not often found.
suppose that Bishop Foster occupies tho relation
toward the Church which most closely resembles
that held so long by Simpson, and It is thought that
Bishop Fowler the junior Of them all, has much Of
the dead mans breadth and strength OF intellect,
much OF his copious Information, and some OF his
importance as a National figure. There IS something
appealing in the face OF Bishop Foster You feel
yourself in the presence Of man who would not
think Of doing what he believed 10 be wrong, and to
whom nothing would have the force Of a considera-
ton In drawing him into error. leave to every
in this getthere' world.
In the face Of Bishop Andrews there two I'M
mIstakable qualities indicating gracousncss and sweet
ness Of temperament and what we call culture BY
that term I mean the effect produced by refined
tastes polite associations, travel and learning Flo
can tell you more than the encyclopedias Of almost
everything not too technical. He speaks brightly
but not boldly. He is entertaining and instructive,
but not deep Bishop Neral, who looks good
deal like Secretary Bayard, though man OF heavier
figure and much stronger face, is celebrated as
parllamentarian and master OF great deuberative
bodies. Since the death Of the somewhat frascible
but olear-headed Bishop Harris. Merrall has
ranked as the safest hand at the
helm when tempcsts sweep over the Conference. Ho
seems TO love a and to feel most content when
the whole house is in passion, when everybody Is
crying for the floor at once whom motions rain on him
like halstones tin roof, when tsunt retort, chal-
lenge and tilt follow each other in quick and hot suo-
cesson AT such times he is cool, tranquil and good
humored, and the movements by which he rides above
the storm and keeps the oontending elements In check
arc delightful witness when things get too warm,
he shuts down the Conference effectraly the
lid shuts out the flame OF alcohol lamp. lie never
uses the gsvel except TO play with IT, in which respect
his methods remind Of a contrast drawn a month
so ago between Sheriff Grant and John Kelly by prom
inent Tammany Hall politician. The Tammany man
was lamentng the days Of the great Kelly. "why"
Hugh Grant is no man to preside over Tammany Hall.
Hes too arbitrary He's always rapplng and banging
away with his gavol and shouting 'orIierp do hate
such arbitrary fellows. Mr.. Kelly, now, he was Just
as different be. Why, he never touched the
gaveL When a man talked too long said anything
he didn't like, Mr. Kelly would Just simply look hin.
and he'd drop In his seat as II he shot But that
arbitrary fellow, GRANT"
/ didn't walt TO hear the rest. The gentle sweet
tempered, unarbitrary way Mr. Kelly had OF looking
man into HIS seat is Characteristic to an extent OF
Bishop Merran. Bishop bowman, the only other sur.
vivor OF tho class of 1872 looks like United States
Senator not like Senator particular but as If he
ought to be Senator himself The pictures of James
Madison resemble Bishop Bowman.
The Bishops of 1880 are the next In seniority They
all modern men In appearance dress and
They do not the clerical costumc-uniform, had
almost called 1t. Bishop warren's face suggests the
successful man OF affairs rather than the clergyman Of
exceptional talent and position. His heavy oye-
brows, long, angular nose, his wide mouth and snug
beard indicate sagaciy and strength rather than those
tendencies that draw men into lives of sefsacr ce
Bishop Toss and Bishop Hurst, his colleagues were
best known as educators before their elevation n the
episcopacy Bishop Foss the head Of Wesleyan
University, and sadly indeed has he been missed
Bishop Hurst was one Of tho great lights nj Drew
Theological Seminary. He extraordinary in appear
anco, having one Of those big lofty heads that
veal scholarly qualities from whatever angle It may
be examined, while his sharp nose, his heavy Jaws
and his firmly set lips give his faoo that practical
look which is the assurance Of judgment and knowi
edge beyond the books. Tho Bishops Of 1884 COM
plete tho present Board. Bishop Ninde whose work
has always been In the West one OF the most agres
able looking men, handsome, gentle and amiabe.
Bishop Mallalleu quilted New-England to go to New
Orleans and he felt when he got there II he had
1ourneyed into foreign land where Baal was god.
bishop Walden and Bishop Fowler complete tho list.
Tho Bishops have great power In the Church. They