New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-02
:. urn, ..rvnne God with peri
s pn0ns.. 20 hs,rt Cod hear ui for our land
A STATEMENT FROM THE BISHOPS.

A STATEMENT FROM THE BlSHofo'
IN tho conclusion of the devotional services Bishop
nowman read tho following statement from the boara
of Bishops: n....no. ue
hero 10 organize General Conference OF the Methou
,t Eniscopsl Church For such organization thefe Nv
rule in the Discipline which prescrioes tne suc0es r
N be taken and custom, which sometimes HAaos i
has been variable In past and furnishes no authorvo
gu,so we arc at this hour in the presence OF new con
demonstrations which call for brief statement o.
Views Of the Bishops touching the situation PRIOR 1o
organization .,.....s o,sct
their certificates OF election with them ano each
man presented his credentials in person when the eau
made and was admitted For few sessions past Tor inc
Of economlrng time and facilitating the orgsnHa
ton the pracce has obtained Of sending certificates OF
election to Secretary Of the previous General Conner
ence in order that roll OF delegateselect might DC pre-
nared for the opening Of the General Conference Ths
pracee has received the sanction Of the General Confer
ence ana has been followed In tho preparation for the or
gsnration about 10 be Effected
In this preparation work, the duty OF the secretary OF
the previous General Conference is only clerical as nc
Official relation to the BODY aeout 70 DO con
stuted The only authority present to superinend the
oresnizoon is the Episcopacy represented by the Gen
eral Superintendent who occupies the chair He is IN
place by virtue of his Office and upon him rests .he
responsibility Of seeing that the organization is constu
uonaly effected before him the deegatcseoct ana
the constitution Of General latter De-
ing bis sole guide IN the duty Of the hour
UNUSUAL CAUTION NECESSARY.
In ordinary cases. when no one Is proposed for mem
bershp whose title questioned the sa %e'noa o.
mass without question All concerned ere there ANNA teo
By the single purpose 70 proceed with becoming soemn
and promptncss the point OF readiness for business
But information is in possession OF the Bishop IN
Trustworthy that number Of persons whose names
held 10 be ineligible and that their title TO be admitted
as delegates Will be challenged the conditions are mao'
rally changed and create, caution and more rigid aoh'
the form and substance Of the law become hecet
ssry. -,
OF the General Conference which belongs class of
sons never heretofore admitted membership in that body
and right admitted has never been determined
considered. by the supreme authority OF tho
church neither the church. the highest tribunal
known 10 her laws has expressed Judgment In re-
laton TO their eligibility. We also find some names OF
certified elected by electoral conferences In the
bounds Of which they neither reside nor hold
And furthermore md that against the admission OF al
persons protests responsby signed and taking the
form challenges of their right DO admitted have been
prepared and lodged In our hands 20 be presented
when the question OF their admission before the
Conference.
In view Of these facts Bishops fully sensible Of the
gravity Of the involved and feeling anxious that the
subject presented 10 the General Conference for action
without prejudice to the rights OF any party In the case
have agreed mature dberaton first that they have
no Jurisdiction in the matter Of the eligibility OF the classes
of question and second that tho General CON
ference which must pronounce upon the issues in tho
case only exercise its jurisdiction when duly organ
lied
oMITTING SEVERAL NAMES.
Therefore in the nature of there must be
General Conference. with quorum OF unchaengeo dele
gates before the claims Of the parties thus challenger 0
| be presented Then, inasmuch as no Eight Is put IN
jeopardy by the omission from the preliminary roea OF
the persons whose eligibility Is disputed ana 10
prejudice is created against their claims ana IN or
er 10 the utmost fairness mparay In the issue 20
he prescnted TO the General Conference IL has been 90
cided by the Bishops-he authorized interpreters Oh .c
law t the General Conference Is organized-'hat tne
names OF the parties whose eligibility Is chaehscu upon
constitutional grounds shall not be called tuI atr eoh'
sttutiona Quorum Of unchalenged delegates sha nave
heen ascertaned to be present and the boay Is ay
canzed for business 1t Will then be competent ior guy
Sonfeence 10 act upon the cases In Question Ia sun
,1av as It's sense justice and right Snail dlo'ale do
| full and expedeDt , . 80 ,ro all are
Tn the meantime brethren. aware as We az a'e
that we stand in the presence Several questions Oh
Importance and great decsoy concerning when there
dreyences OF opinion, suggest the exercise oi ~
and moderation and urge upon you the auty VI p"'e M
the nrcsence ana help Of the Divine Mas'ei, m %.
servants we are ana whose church We love- 'asy U0
e,d ~ peacs and love Himself preside over us snu
,nm,nats ana tranquillIe minds for the ou"eS DO
| fore , .. soon az vou shall
signify your readiness TO submit our Quaure
Witch we trust will be helpful 10 your denbefatohs
,rha secretary OF the last General Conference WI" NO"
..u the roll prepaed conformity to the principles ehu
,aad ana SO soon Conference shall nave eeVo
sscrets,y 10 make record OF It's proceedings we VIII p
| ssnt the names requiring your dellberanon-
Dr Neely of Philadelphia, attempted 10 SPEAK ot
Tho rcport Of the bishops, but was oeoIareo oun "
tns pa cave notice of his intention to mako state
! ment later