Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-05-25

openly charge JnaU parts OF Une episcopal
address were "A subtle argument intended
to influence legislation, and that
thus, though legally debarred from speak
ing in the debates, they got in u speech by
unfair means. Some Of the brethren, too,
are so little mindful of episcopal preroga
tives that they will not even consent.
without protest, to have a bishop enjoy
good cigar if he wants to. Actually re-
solution has been introduced on this sub
ject--in fact several have. 1t is supposed,
too, that these resolutions cut both ways,
having reference not only to some who
are in the Office, but to some of the outs
who want to get in, but whom some of
their more punctilious brethren think
should not be allowed to do so until as
the resolution expresses it. they swear
to forever abstain from the use of tObac
co..
The only occasion since the woman
question was settled when there has been
full house, was when Bishop Taylor re-
ported his work in Africa In appearance
THE man is tall and gauut with long pa
triarchal beard, deep set, and lustrous
eyes, and the air of man who believes
implicitly both in God and in himself.
BY multltudeS he is regarded as one of
the greatest heroes of modern times. His
pet idea is the outstanding of heather
dom on the selt-supporting plan. On this
plan he established great mission i'll In
dia and another in South America. Ow
ing to the prestige of these achievements
the last conference elected him by an al
most unanimous vote, missionary Dish
op to Africa, and in the very heart of the
dark continent he has planted missions
on the same plan. He has disdained to
use missionary money, excepting rs he
could use it without diCtalion from bead
quarters, and has refused to draw his sal
airy from the missionary treasury, though
So 600 a year have been offered him. His
iG he il
as the rest of the fellows, and that he
ought to get his pay from the same fund
He also objects to having his self-suppOrt-
ing missionary work controlled by the
regular missionary board his reason for
this being, as he Enthusiastically express
ed it in his report, that their methods
and his would no more harmonic than a
coal yard and a millinery store would
work in harmony" What the conference
will do with this heroic genius remains to
be seen. Probably, however, they will
send him back to Africa with increased
authority, though desperate effort will
be made by some to have his term of epis-
copal service brought to a speedy and in
glorious termination.
Echoes from the great debate on the ad-
mission of women are still heard occasional
ly. 1t is said that a great genius once observ-
ed to his wife, "Woman, with all thy
faults, | love thee still - but the trouble
Is mere, us IL WAS lllCIt, Jlldl NOultn won
be still nor will the Knights Grant who
have entered the lists as her champions.
1t is now alleged that the contest on this
question was a secret fight Dor third party
prohibition, in which, by the defeat OF
Miss Willard and her fellow delegates of
W. G. II. L. fame, that cause came to gIief.
1t has also alleged, on the other side, that
personal spite aud official jealousy had
much to do in Keeping the women out,
some who worked against them doing so
in settlement OF old scores cherished
against the fair applicants and others la
boring TO Keep them out for fear that if
they got in they would run off with some
of the offices, as for instance, so these peo-
pie aver, the editorship OF the New York
Christian Advocate. Really, however,
such allegations and minors are unworthy
of cIedence, and what is more, they are
Giscredltable to the side which originated
them. The status of the question now is
that to make woman's admission legal +,
the annual conferences are to pass npOn it,
But there Is 4 proposition now pending,
and likely to be adopted, which will give
the entire church au opportunity to be
heard on the subject. the plan is to allow
every member, male or female, who is
over p years OF age, to vote upon this new
departure, just dis was done when it was
proposed 10 admit laymen to this body.
The question of Methodist union is COM
handing attention. Great strides have
been made i'll this direction in recent
years. The Methodist bodies of the world
after long period OF separation, marked
by various degrees of hostility, first look
ed into one another's faces and felt the
thrOb of a common Methodist heart beat,
in lSSl, at the great Ecumencal confer
ence held in London. Shortly after that
gathering union of all the Methodist
churches of Canada was announced. Then
in 1854 came the Centennial Methodist
conference in Baltimore, affording the
American brethren another favorable OBJ
portunty of shaking hands and eXchang-
ing greetings. Since then there has been
a strong movement toward organic union
in Great Britain in fact the Irish Metho-
dists have effected such union. And
now come two three propositions before
the present conference for a union OF the
Methodist Epis copal chulchWith the body
which went Off on the slavery question
a years ago when the general conference
WAS last held IN this city, Il body which
now has fully half rs many members IS
this church. These resolutions, which
are referred to the committee on the state
OF the church, call tor the appointment of
! "A committee OF -, consisting of five lay
men and five ministers, with three bisn-
ops, to confer and act Oh this great ques-
ton with similar committee which ii is
| hoped the church South will appoint
| W hat the immediate outcome viii be,
/ is not yet apparent. 1t Is Sc tied, howev
/ er, that a second ecumenical conference
| viii be held three years hence, ana that IL
! will convene on this side the Atlantic 1t
goes without saying, too, that such gath
ering will help along this holy caus. 4
! MeJnodistic union. And meanwhile Ne
! thodists both North and South VIII rejo {
| to know that This cause Is being SeuSiOly
advanced by the wise and genial minis
| trations in private and public of Rev. =
A. Steel, ID. d., who comes from The
southern church as fraternal delegate
TO this body.
Five New bishops to he Elected-impor
tant Reports from the Committees.
NEW YORK, May l1.-Bishop Foss pre-
sided at the Methodist Episcopal confer
ence to-day. Rev. j. o. Peck of the New
York East conference conducted the devo
tional exercises. The minority report OF
judiciary stated the members were reluC
tant to dissent from the views of the ma
jority on the limit OF the bishops Office
They believed restrictive rule guards tn
} Office of episcopacy, but does not touch it
limit. and it is competent for the confer
! anna to ii Y GI1ch "A linit A tho official form