Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-05-15
DOWN ON THE COMBINE
An EXCITING SESSION OF THE METHODIST
CONFERENCE
The Regular Routine Of Business Interrupted by an
Exciting Debate On the Method Of Selscnrg
Bishops Serious Charges and Counter
Charges Made

NEW YORK, May 1i-Bishop Merrill
presided at tO-day'5 session Of the Metho
dist Conference and Rev. DR.. Leroy A.
Belt, of Central Illinois, conducted the re.
ligiOus services. There was not rs large
an audience present as on previous days.
The Committee on Episcopacy was asked
to report Tuesday, upon the resolution 10
elect the Bishop for term OF eight years
At present the Bishops hold Office for life
as n matter of usage There is nothing i'll
the discipline which provides how long
they shall hold cllice. The question of
the election Of Bishops on Thursday was
called up. One Of the delegates sad that
no one was prepared for it, and he thought
that it ought 10 he postponed.
A resolution was offered to the effect
that the Conference express an opinion
that the Blair Educational Bill was a good
measure.
The resolution was referred 10 the Com
mitteC on the State Of the Church. Rev
John Niley, of the Drew Theological
Seminary, read his report as fratcrnal de-
legate to the Methodist Church South, and
the Rev Isaac w. Joyce, OF Cincinnati,
read the report as fraternal delegate TO the
General Conference of the Methodist
Church in Canada. A resolution Was in
trOiuced asking the Committee on Epis-
copacy to provide for the balioting for
Bishops, so that one candidate shall be
balloted for at a time.
Rev. DR.. Hunter, of Central Illinois,
made a speech on the resolution. lie said
that the question was of great concern. 1t
was not to he taken in hand hastily, hut
that it should be thOughttnliy prepared.
1t was dishonorable for any man to trade
upon anything but his own capital.
Delegates should sit down on the com
binen 10 have man from the east, west
or south And when candidate tOuEd
that he could not secure the IiliCc he iorm-
ed u combine with one that was stronger
than he.
Rev. Dr. J. NJ. Buckley offered a substi-
tuts to the effect that the vote be taken by
orders That the lay delegates and minis
terial delegates vote separately. This
caused general discussion. 1t was said
that there wgs lobbying going on for = car
didate, aud it was denied.
There was a general desire TO get the
floor and the members were greatly work
ed mp. pr. Leonard, Of Cincinnati, in
c0usincraDle excitement repndilted the
idea that there were combines being madc.
Rev. De-. Wheeler, OF West Wisconsin,
suid that he had never entered into any
combine. There was suspicion in the
minds of the people that combines did 80
exist and he COuld make statements that
some members would not like 20 hear.
This aroused the house and cries came
from all quarters, make then" "mak"
them" mo, no" Dr. Wheeler grew
excited and exclaimed, "Iou want them.
| will not be blull~d out Of making them It
they are asked lor,
The cries increased and Doctor Wheeler
continued. He said he knew that com
bin5s did exist aud that it was Disgrace.
Before the speaker could 20 on any further
his time expired and he took his seat.
Ex-Governor Cqmhack, Of Indiana, said
that il was evident that if the discussion
continued it world only reflect on The
Conference and he moved the previous
question. A number of amendments were
offered. When tie vote was taken every
thing was voted down and the discussion
was closed