New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-18
TO CHOOSE FIVE BISHOPS.
SOME WISH SIX. OTHERS ONLY FOUR.
SPIRITED DyBArE IN THE CONFERENCE.-The

ton which will up Before the Conference on Bat
urNiay. Questions relating to tho election OF the new
Bishops were continually coming up before the Con
ference In some form, and the subject OF Missionary
Bishops viii be reported to the Conference on saur-
day. There was q largo attendance yesterday, and
among the visitors the Rev. DR.. John Kan, VINO
invited 20 scat on the platform with Tao
Bishops
Conference was opened with relg ious exercises ny
the Rev. Dr. j. o. Peck of Brooklyn, and Bishop Foss
presided. The first subject which came up was tho
report Of the Committee Judiciary presented by the
Rev. DR.. Upham. Among other opinions 1t hold that
annual conferences cannot elect presiding elders w
out infringing the law Of the Church; the chsfs
cannot be given equal power with the Bishops III aP-
pointing ministers. The report also held that the
Bishops elected for llfe and under the organic
law their term cannot be limited by the Conference
For the same reason the General Conference cannot
district Bishops OF the Church to any fixed place.
minority report, signed by Eli f. Ritcr, NJ. r. Reese,
John W. Lacey W. d. Speaze and l.. c. Queal, held
that while the restrictive rule guards the Episcopal
Office II does not touch the time lint and 1t Is CON-
potent for the Conference to fix such torn as 1t may
see IT. The reports were made In series OF BRIEF
answers TO the questions involved
DR.. J. NJ Buckley, who obtained tho floor, did not
favor either report. IL ridiculous, he thought,
for the Judiciary Committee to report lot of mono
syllable uterancos to this body OF the most
important questions before the Conference to DO dis
cussod In three minute speeches. 1t would have the
appearance of some school debate, and 1t utterly
impossible consider the subject properly under such
conditions He moved that the whole matter be laid
the table, which done. At later period DR..
kynett presented a resolution providing that COM
mission of one from each conference district, with
three atlarge and four Bishops be appointed by the
Conference revise tao Church law, and report to the
next General Conference This was ordered to be
printed and will be further discussed
A resolution that the Committee on EpiscOpaGy
port on Saturday morning regarding Missionary Blsh
ops and the districtng Of bishops was adopted. DIR.
Queal called attention 10 the dispatches published yes
terday stating that slavery had been abolished In
Brazil. His suggestion that committee be appointed
TO draw up resolutions approving this action was
adopted. The Rev. C. Archard addressed the Con-
ference In German on the subject Of appointing a
Missionary Bishop for Germany. His remarks were
interpreted by Bishop Hurst They in substance
that such an appointment would be of injury to
Methodist work in Germany. He did not approve Of
a resident Bishop, but beloved that the Church work
could be better carried for the present under its
existing conditions civilized country In which
Christianity bad existed for centuries was not to be
treated as heather country without giving offence.
HOW MANY BISHOPS ARR NEEDED
Tho Rev. Dr. Ollin, chairman OF tho committee, pre-
sentod a brief report stating that the Committee on
Eplscopacy had determined that FIVE new Bishops
sion followed the presentation of the report. Dr.
Lanahan offered an amendment that the number be
made four as the Bishops have recommended He
criticised the action OF the committee Of which he Is
member and stated that he had told the members that
he would not be bound by the action BY which they
arrived at this report.
Tho Rev. J. b. Scott, a colorod delegate OF Texas
said that more than five Bishops were needed In
his section Of the country many OF tho Church NOM
anFtb hal RfsbOnS
while other denominations frequently visited by
theirs.
Dr. Buckley said that large body ever elected
large number OF who were to hold Office for life
at one time II was a subject to be considered ana
executed carefully. He favored the election OF nve,
and did not think that the Board OF Bishops wore the
best judges Of the proper number.
Dr. f. b. Barnes-Dr. Buckley says that largo num-
Der OF officers arc elected by body for ls 1t is
only few years ago since General Conference Of this
Church elected eight Bishops l would Ike " knew II
any Of those the platform think a mistake was made
then. (Laughter)
The substitute and amendment were lost on tho
vote. and the report calling for five was adopted
BISHOP TAYLoRs EPISCOPAL STANDING
A subcommittee Of the Committee on Missions has
reported the result OF It's examination OF the status OK
Bishop Taylor to the committee. The report may
undergo changes before 1t Is presented To tho
Conference but as It appears the following con-
illusions have been reached;
The first question raised 10 whether Mssohsry Bshop
is true Bishop In regard matter your committee
finds that Missionary BshoS is more than what tns us
clpne denoDlnates Superintendent OF MisSiohs Such
superintendent OF mission Is appointed BY the biShop
having episcopal supervision OF the Mission whereas
Missionary Bishop elected appointed By The votes Oh
the General Conference IN session, or In the IN
terva OF sessions OF the General Conference III "ha
way the General Conference may have drec'e1 ~
ia" the duty OF the Superintendent In tue absence OF
Dfatn, t.a
TO arrange the work. and general supervision OF ho
entire Mission and represent the state OF 'ne ''
and its needs the Bishop having charge anu 70 sh0
corresponding secretaries discipline, paragraph 27b
bus Missionary Bishop has episcopal powers o''OH1
those involved In the supervision OF such sup'rhNN
emit and this distinction Is especially In the msor Oh
ordination, power which has not been oe''sa'oa " ~
Superintendent OF Missions, bu! which Is eonieIeu p
and possessed by Missionary Bishop. We cohe'uu'
therefore, that Missionary Bishop has all tho p'"'
q Bishop, and that BIS Is true Bishop
However. the doiss Of this ad ussmeh' oei'ns pOp
erly the Missionary Committee Of this 'eheIsi I'm
ference It will be necessary for Us to eoh'1or iu
that phase OF the question. Your eomm''e'' '"''''
recommend the adoption Of tho following
Resolved /. That Missionary Bi'n0r 10 p'Sno1
elected for specified foreign mission heid' VITA iu
Episcopal powers but with Episcopal juriSdie'''u n
to the foreign mission neld which he was eioc'e~
Resolved 9 That Missionary BlShop 10 "o' 80 WV
meaning OF the Dlscipliue a General Superintendent"
Resolved g. That Missionary Bishop is 'o' .
nate TO the General suporntendents or an' o
but is amenabie for his conduct 70 the oehei"-
is General Superintendent ,,.
Resolved. T. That the election OF MiSs.0nAfI p.S
with It the assignment TO speciheo i0los mn"
sion field, and that Missionary Bishop c.nno' ~ =,
General superintendent except BY oisuNS'
that ONCE.
Resolved S. That Missionary Bishop "ho'o !
ton is in foreign mission neld, should resere ~" ,
pert from the funds OF the Missionary o0ee", 80.
funds have been contributed TO sastaln tae "0' " Wv
Church In its foreign mission Ields ,
Resolved @. That paying tho salary OF = i, e". 80.
Bishop from tho funds OF the Missionary society oo n''
diminish any way aneet his status rs po~
Resolved 7. That Missionary Bishop s'ou'I 49,. -.
Held cooperate with the missionary Society OF tue Church
in the way that General superih..nu' 80.
operates In the foreign mission field o'er " "
episcopal charge Respectfully suomit'ea' -
T. D. NELLY, chairman subcommittee
The fraternal delegates Of tho Methodist EpsGSopSH