Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-18
ONE OFIiFE TENURE
Is the Term Of Office Of Bishops of the
NJ. T.. Church-Report OF Judiciary
Committed,

| Is the Term OF Office OF Bishops Of the
NJ. T.. Church-Report of Judiciary
Committee.
NEW YORK, May 1s.-Tbe active work OF
the fifteenth day. OF the General Methods,
Conference began with the report of the ju
dietary committee on certain questions re
ferred to it touching the organic law of the
church. Bishop Foss presided and the de.
votional exercises were led by Rev. J. o.
Peck. of Brooklyn. The presentation of the
Judiciary report preceded the order OF the
day-the call of conferences-by general
consent. This report was in answer to sew.
eral questions referred to the committee on
changes in the discipline.
The first question was: "May the discip-
line be so changed as TO authorize the elec.
ton of presiding elders at the annual con.
ferences?' To this the committee answered
No, as such proceeding would be viola
ton OF the third restrictive rule, which
leaves such matters solely in the hands OF
the bishops.
Question second was: "May the discip-
line be so changed as to give the presiding
elders coordinate authority with the bisl-
ops, fixing the appointment OF preachers
No, was the answer of this question also. as
the appointing of preachers rested solely
with the bishops, themselves.
The third question referred to the tenure
of the bishops offices. 1t was: Can the
term OF offices of a bishop be restricted to
6 term Of years" and was answered in the
negative, as the law of the church makes
the offices one of life long tenure.
The fourth inquiry was: "Can not the
Episcopal districts?" This was also de-
MED on the ground that Episcopacy is
general. The committee was unanimous
on all these points, except the third, re-
lating to the tenure of the bishops offices
and minority report signed by Eli f.
Ritter, NJ. B. Reese, John Lacey. w. s.
Speare and L. C. Queal, was presented.
This report dissented from the views of
the majority on the question Oh the ground
that the third restrictive rule carefully
guards the office of episcopacy and its
prerogatIves, but does not touch the tenure
of Offices The dissentors held, therefore,
that it is competent for the general confer
ence to fix such limit to the bishops official
terms as in its wisdom may be deemed
best.
For moment il looked as il these re-
ports would asitate the house for consid-
cradle time, but DIR. Buckley, by a pointed
speech, succeeded in getting both reports
tabled. He held that as the conference has
decided no speeches over five minutes
would be allowed, that matter could not
thoroughly considered in 50 few minutes.
His speech and the decision to lay on the
table were received with applause.
On motion of DIR. Swindell, of Philadel-
phia, it was decided to have the Committee
on Episcopacy report on Saturday morning
plan of districting and electing mission.
airy bishops.
DIR. Queal, of Central New York, then
asked permission to call the attention of
the conference to what he called a great
event the banishment of slavery in Brazil.
Permission was refused and then he moved
to have the rules suspended in order to
move resolution referring the matter to q
special committee to express the Joy and
gratitude of the conference on this event.
in which he succeeded amid great applause.
After much discussion, it was resolved to
receive no more petitions or memorials
after NAV 2l