New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-20
TIE ELECTION OF METHODIST BISHOPS.

In the eyes of many delegates to the Methodist
General Conference, and the visiting preachers and
laymen this will be the most interesting week oil
the session. On Tuesday an attempt will be made
to elect five Bishops and ballotlng will continue
until they are chosen. This is an event to which
all have been looking forward. To the Church at
large the selection Of general superintendent is OF
less Importance than the methods adopted 1t is
not claimed that they belong to higher order
than the elders; their Office is purely executive,
with limited powers, and with little more influence
than their personal character and intellectual
ability command The work OF the Church
goes on about the same, whether the an
nual conferences are presided over by men Of the
first rank or the second or the third. or the
1000, 600 communicates, only thousand or so
are looking to the episcopal elections as seriously
concerning them or the church of their love.
But TO one observing the proceedings at the
Metropolitan Opera House, and wandering through
the corridors it almost seems that this Is what
the General Conference has assembled for what
the annual conferences had met to elect delegates
for: in fact very largely what the Church had
continued its existence for since the iast quaureh'
NAL meeting. The question OF the admission OF
women delegates occupied the attention OF Con-
ference for several days; it was debated on con-
stitutional and sentimental grounds, but every
where in an undertonc were heard con)ectures rs
to its effect on the election OF Bishops. Ihis Is
true Of other questions.
The method of the election OF Bishops Is Of
incaculable importance, not only to the Methodist
Church. but to all citizens who love their country,
have high hopes for its future and look to the
organized religious bodies as the chief instru-
mentalties for purifying our social and political
life IT, is not impertinent for a secular journal
70 sneak of things which are freely mentioned in
Conference open to the public and which come
70 us in our religious exchanges. Either the
dcIeQates themselves are In error, and close oD-
servers of the meeting see falsely, CT the means
which many members employ to secure the election
of their fvortes to the highest office OF the Church
whom they desire to see receive solemn ofuinh-
ton for sacred duties-are such as were unknown
until recently, and such Us cause conservative
Methodists to blush and tremble.
Combinations and slates7 are spoken OF as
freely as at q political caucus. A rule that cleo
tons shall be by two-thirds vote has been
adopted, avowedly with the object Of weakening
combinations, though some exultingy said after
its adoption that it would strengthen them.
speech was made the other day enforcing the
duty Of keeping the asles clear until after cleo
ton, so that members could pass in and out to
see men in the lobby" "A speech which was greeted
most humorous event of the session. The chief
Church organ draws picture OF the election of
early Bishops and sadly suggests a contrast with
the present time, and another Methodist paper
saws that an honored delegate was tempted to
leave tho Church when he saw the proceedings be-
fore him. Men who months ago had been in
formally selected by consensus of thinking men
I'm the Church as likely TO be chosen on account
OF their recognized fitness dropping from the
list TO make place for others who have never
had more than local popularity as smart preach
ers; and It is said Of selfmade candidates. who
hope for no more than handful Of votes at
first, that in the conflict between greater men
they may come in as " dark horses" In the three
or four preceding General Conferences there were
whispers Of wire-pulling. but friends of the candi
dates were found ready TO do all the necessary
work; now II report be true-if it be not afro.
cousy false-candidates mingle personally in the
fray, and states" are made up without conceal
ment
These are only echoes from the Conference floors
and the lobbies, from old and trusted ministers
and laymen and from the Church papers. There
may be needless alarm as to the immediate results
there cannot be as TO the tendency, We look TO
the churches TO save us from the evils existing
in the world; II will be cause OF grief 10 all
good men ard women IL they copy or adopt them
Mr. Patrick j. Sutley, who was member OF the
Democratic Committee OF this State last year, but
was defeated in his canvass for reelection, pro-
tests that he is at once good Hill man and good
Cleveland man. Why shouldn't he be7 Didn't the
Democratic State Convention handsomely indore