The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-19
CHURCH IHGISLAYORS.
Gossip About the Methodist
General Conference.
REVIEW OF THE PAST WEEK
And a Forecast of Future Sessions
The Coming Election of Bishops
Exciting Intcrest-Tivalry
of Sections, Etc.


NEW York, May 17.-Having yester
day, in formal but deeply impressive
memorial service, dropped its tears owe
the dead bishops, the conference will b'
ready shortly to drop its ballots for the
election of the new ones. The three
who have gone were each distinguished
for some special trait. Simpson was the
peerless preacher. Wiley was the great
missionary, and most appropriately
therefore, has his burial place in China
while Harris was the great Disciplinarian
Of the Board. By strange coincidence
each of these had a prominent part in
the closing services of the conference
four years ago. Bishop Simpson made
the closing address, Bishop Wiley Of
iered the concluding prayer, and Bishop
Harris read the final hymn. Thus, the
part they took, viewed in retrospect,
seems to have been premonitory OF the
fate which awaited them. Whether
these circumstances will make the re-
naming bishops timid as to the part
which may be assigned them in the clos
ing of the present conference, remains
to be seen. 1t is certain, how
ever, that neither this nor any
thing else has had the effect OF less
ening the number OF candidates for the
Episcopal Office; nor is it anticipated,
for q moment, that any circumstance,
past or to come, will lead any of the
present or prospective bishops to resign.
There are rumors that one will ask to be
relieved Of Episcopal duties to allow Of
his taking the presidency OF IN Eastern
University, and it has been alledged
that in case OF the election OF n certain
candidate for the office, still another of
the present incumbents would want to
step down and out. But all such ru-
mors must be discounted heavily; for
whatever their excellencies otherwise,
Methodist bishops have certainly not
been noted for the virtue of resignation.
And who can blame them, when it is q
fact, as DR.. Buckley said on Monday,
that "the power held by Methodist
bishop is the greatest held by any officer
in the Protestant church" Still, there
have been two instances in which this
dignity has been declined, and by a for
tunate circumstance these cases are di-
yided between the two sections, one be-
ing the case OF DR.. Haygood, Of the
church South, and the other that OF
Wilbur Fisk Of this church.
In ecclesiastical affairs no less than in
matters culinary, the proof OF the pud-
ding must be in the eating. Hence to
Judge correctly OF the quality OF the new
bishops we must wait until we know
who they are. The conviction has been
by many that this confer
ence would put into office those only
whose characters and accomplishments
would reflect credit upon the denomina-
ton, and that it would be an improve
ment upon former conferences in keep
ing itself free from Objectionable forms
OF electioneering. If, however, some OF
its own members are to be credited, it is
but another OF the same kind with sew
eral OF its predecessors. At tany rate, we
have been treated to similar exposures
to those which have distinguished for
mer conferences.
The storm of accusation which had
been gathering for many days, broke
upon the body on Monday last. DR..
Hunter, OF Illinois, wanted one bishop
elected at time. This, he said, would
break up combinations. Every candi-
date in that case, he said, would have to
do business on his own capital, and, for
his part, il any candidate proposed to set
up a peanut stand, he didn't want him
elected. He was prepared, he said, to
sit down upon all combinations, and he
didn't care q peg whether the bishops
came from New York, Boston, st. Louis
or Peoria, so that the best man got in. /"
DR.. Buckley, agreeing substantially with
the former speaker, thought the eleC-
ton OF a bishop so important that the
vote oughtto be taken by orders. Here
was another proposed scotch upon the
wheel of struggling ambition, for when
vote is taken by orders it not only re.
quires majority OF all TO elect, but n
majority Of both the ministerial dele
gates and the lay delegates. DR., Olin, oi
New York, who is chairman OF the Com
mittee on Episcopacy, said che had been
panied and shamed with the whispers
that had stolen into his ears respecting
combinations for the office Of bishop"
DR.. Cue, OF Illinois, claimed that he had
not heard such whispers. "But think,
he said, "of the Apostle Paul going
down this aisle and moving about the
corridors Of this Opera House, asking
the members OF the conference TO vote
for him because he had call from the
Lord to be bishop"
Not only is the Episcopal Office in de.
mand, but there is great clamor from
various quarters for Episcopal resi-
dences. Among the cities who have
applied thus early tor the distinguished
honor OF having a live Methodist bishop
in their midst are Cleveland, Detroit,
Portland, Ore, and Charleston, s. G.
Detroit bats its request with the prom,
ise that the bishop sent there shall have
a good house presented to him. Texas
also wants bishop, and offers a larger
inducement than any other applicant, in
the fact that she gives the one who may
be sent the privilege OF taking his abode
anywhere he pleases in the entire State
Thus we are reminded again that, as the
Scripture says, to desire the office Of Q
bishop is to desire n good thing and {
big thing, and yet n bishops lot is moi
altogether happy one, not, at least
during general conference, for they dc
get talked to these days most Outrage
ously. One resolution, read before the
conference, and referred to com
mittee, declares their recent actor
in 'arrogating" the power to leave thI
names OF women delegates from the con
ference roll, to be Unprecedented il
history, alarming in its nature and revo
lutionary in its effects" There are those
too, who openly charge that parts Of thu
Episcopal address were subtitle argu
ment intended TO influence legislation
and that thus, though legally debarreC
from speaking in the debates, they go
in a speech by unfair means. Some o
the brethren, too, are so little mindful
OF Episcopal prerogativc that they will
not even consent, without protest, L
have a Bishop enjoy good cigar II h
wants to. Actually, resolution ha
been introduced on this subject-in fac
several have. 1t is supposed, too, tho
these resolutions cut both ways, havin
reference only to some who are in office