Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-09-15
But He Adrioitly Turned Their
Resentment Into Laughter.
AFTER A REIcS OF CONFUSION
The Appointments for the Coni.s Year.
here the Preachers viii Preach
Yesterdays Closing Sessions
and what Was Done
In Them.

oucu u scrle WAS never Witnessed IN
the history OF Methodism.
After all business OF the Michigan
conference was enied. save tne appoint
ments for the coming year. Res. A. j.
Eldred offered resolution which
fairly took away the breath of the
ministers present. The first part read:
Resolved, That We highly appre-
ciate the great services rendered this
conference by the presiding elders, and
the labors OF Bishop Newman during
our present session. His morning lee
lures TO the Junior members OF this
body have afforded Instruction never
10 be forgotten. His return to this
conference IN the plan of future Episco-
pal visitation viii be hailed with the
warmest welcome
Bat the second resolution caused the
trouble. The exact words cannot be
given. as Secretary Cogshall was very
careiul 10 keep II away from the re
porters until after II was lost, when
he tore IL up and caused the pieces TO
disappear by throwing them 10 the
four points of the compass IL was TO
the effee5, however, tnat although 1t
caused them pain To say IL that they
deemed the Reign OF Silence, I'M
posed by the bishop. as an invasion o.
the rights of the laity and ministry;
that ne had violated the prerogatives
oi his office: and that in defense OF their
manhood and their rights as CITIZENS
that they felt 10 their duty to protes
against such despotism.
There was a loud cry OF question"
as soon as the members could puu
themselves together, but before II was
called several prominent ministers TOOK
the floor and made speeches both Tor
and against the second resolution.
Preacher. vainiy Protest
Rev. John Graham violently pro-
tested against the Reign OF Silence"
A, the name OF his manhood and Ameri-
can citizenship. One brothsv declared
that n rumor had reached him that
An private session the bishop had
obliged the presiding elders TO hold up
their hand and affirm that they would
keep secret the proceedings. DIR. Barnes
said there were many rumors afloat,
that Il woul b spok n OF in the future
as q conference OF rumors, but that
Rishop Newman had not obliged any
such thing. II was then stated by
another member that one OF the pre-
siding elders had told him. In the pres
rnce OF another presiding elder, that
stch was the ease. Ii was affirmed
Nv another that never before in the
history OF this conference had there
nren the present relations between the
nresiding elders and the ministers; that
the ministers have done just as good
therefore they have not deserved the
treatment they have received.
NJ. NJ. Callen said he had not seen his
p.esiding elder since last conference,
and he demanded his rights
Others testified that they had Deen
members OF the conference 10, ID and
e1 years. and IL was their first exper-
fence with the Reign OF Silence.
Evidently y great sense OF uneasi-
eesz concerning the appointments Tor
the coming year existed II was the
general sense OF the assembly that tEe
presiding eLlrs had seemed 20 be IN.
.giffersur a. to their preferences and
their necessities
Bs.hop Nswman's Diplomacy.
At last a division OF the question was
called Tor and the first resolution was
adopted.
,rhere was the Bishops opportun-
stv ~ laugh. knowing the fatal dis
t,ositlon OF the American to laugh, by
n lew words and a grim smIie, he soon
had the aut.ieuce IN roars OF laughter.
Had a vote on second part of the quez-
slon been taken before the Bishop char
aoferized the first resolution ~ a
..r,utson of thanksgiving, "and the
ssecmd part isn't" it looked ~ though
shs result. 50 Tor anu Toe against,
would have been different be-
fore the vote. Secretary
,.sxshail was asked to read the reso-
furton. but Secretary CoxShail had
grown very weary during the long
session ~ conference and evidently
Susad n quite irnpr-sifie TO read the
words 90 that they would he perfectly
1earr 30 all After the vote was taken
the Bishop rose and thanked the con
ference fo~ the help they had been 70
hfn, IN his labors anil after compliment
snr Them very highly. sail I" That's
whst think al yons- The speech was
received with mueh laughter and
rrpfar~e and the ministers who
n few usin1fes infore had seemed ready
~ make fs extremely interesting for
their good bishop. settled down fr
greet eornposare - listen 20 the read