National Republican., 1888-05-20
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.
A Surprising Vote on the Question of
Equal Representation.

New YORK, May l0.-The breach be-
tween the ministerial and lay delegates in
the general Methodist conference oeca-
stoned yesterday by. the recommendations
of the committee on ministerial and lay del
egates concerning the equalization of repre-
sentation was widened to-day. When Bishop
Mind called the session to order II was evil
dent that the ministers intended, IL possible,
to defeat the adoption Of the committees
report by exactly the same tactics that the
lay delegates Yesterday defeated DIR. Qucafs
substitute. Action on the matter was de-
layed somewhat by the presentation of a
report from the committee on laying the
cor2rstone of the new Methodist Book
Concern at Twentieth street and Fifth av
enue. The committee favored the laying of
the cornerstone on Wednesday, May %, at
5 O'Clock. The report was adopted without
debate.
The taking up of the report of the COM
mittee, on which the conference was at n
deadlock when the time for adjournment
came yesterday, was by unanimous con-
sent.
The several votes were changed from yes.
terday's vote, and the report was adopted
majority Of both orders voting in favor
Of it.
DIR. Kynett then moved to have rcsolu-
committee to determine what is the consti-
tuition of the church, and suggest such
changes therein as they iinu necessary,
taken up. DIR. Hunt then offered an amend
ment, suggesting the division OF the confer
ence into separate houses, which was car
ried. The conference then took up the
order of the day, which was the considera-
tion of the report of the committee on cpls-
copacy on the missionary bishopric.
The Rev. w. IL. Olin, of Wyoming, the
chairman Of the committee, read the report.
| 1t was a lengthy document, and Il very in-
teresting one, as 1t dealt with the question
whether Bishop Taylor, of the African
mission, is true bishop or not. 1t practi-
| cally settled the much-mooted question, and
| plainly said that q missionary bishop Is n
| bishop in the true sense Of the term. After
lengthy explanation the committee offered
| the following resolutions
i. That a missonory bishop is q bishop
| elected fora specified foreign mission field,
| with full episcopal powers, but with episcopal
jurisdiction limited to the foreign mission held
:. That a missionary bishop Is not, in the
meaning meaning Of the discipline general superin'
8. Thflepmissionary bishop is not subordi.
| nate tinGAe general superintendents or any OF
| them hat Is amenablc for his conduct to the
| geJwagl conference as is general superln'
4. That the election OF q missionary bishor
| carries Will II the assignment to Il specified
foreign mission, field, and that missionary
bishop cannot be made general Superintcn
| dent except by distinct election 10 that
effect.
0. That missionary bishop. his jurisdiction
| being In a foreign mission field, should receive
| his support from the friends of the Missionary
Society, as said funds have been contributed
| to sustain the workers OF the church in IL,
| foreign mission fields,
| u; That paying the salary of missionary
| bishop from the funds of the Missionary So
| ciety does not diminish or in any way affect
| his status as bishop
| !. That missionary bishop should In his
| field cooperate with the Missionary Society
| of the church in the same way that a general
| superintendent cOopcrAtcs m the lorcigl
mission field over which he has episcopal
| charge
Each of the resolutions was voted ON in
| turn, In Il very short time the first rcsolu
| tiOn was almost unanimously adopted,
| Resolution three, after much debate, wa;
amended so rs TO give bishop coordinate
authority IN the mission fields The amend
mont was passed by q vote Of 1917 to 1873
The resolution providing for the supper
of bishops also Occasioned much discussion
| The recommendations Of the committee tina
the missionary bishop he paid ont of tn,
missionary fund Were opposed ON tn,
ground that all bishops should be equal
and that being equal, performing the sumt
labors, all should be paid from the sam,
| fund. An amendment, therefore, wa
offered, providing for the paymcn
of missionary bishops salaries from
the episcopal funds, us is the rule will
other bishops. The amendment was adopted
The time was extended to permit the con
ference to finish its consideration Of tn
report on episcopacy aud the following res
OlutiOn was laid on the table and the remain
ing resolutions We're unanimously adopted
The preamble, however being inharmoniou
with the resolutions as adopted, was lai
upon the table until the report was adoptc,
rs a whole, and then 1t was recommittcd t
the committee.
After the reading of greeting from .,h