Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1893-06-15
NJ. e. SYMPOSIUM

On the Suhjuct of Presiding Elder
Ryan.
Dissatisfaction with the Methodist
appointments in the Grand Forks dis
trict is not allsyed as time goes by. The
laet issue of the Park River Gazette
Witness presents symposium on the
subject of Presiding Elder Ryan, carried
on by the paper and Rsv. W. E. Loomis.
The latter asserts that he finds no fault
with Rev. Ryan, as he is hearty, epir-
itual speaker whose utterances seem
pervaded by the influence of the Holy
Ghost and that as evidence of his good
repute the people OF jamestown regret
his being taken from them.
The Gazette.Witness says: mo one
questions his preaching ability. Had
the bishop been guided by desire to do
the greatest good to the greatest num-
ber, instead of being SO anxious to pro-
vide faithful lieutenant for Elder
Plannette, and had he consulted the
district, he would have left MI. Ryan in
jamestown. That is the burden of COM
plaint-from laymen and ministers
throughout the district-that he did not
leave we'll enough alone"
Rev. Loomis says: Now look at your
conference minutes and see who pre-
ceded him for years before. and then. 90
far a. human standards Of estimates 20,
decide who is inferior and who is
superior man. greatly dislike these
comparisons, but have not made any of
them, only giving facts for the people to
consider"
Gazette Witness" -"The point is easily
met. The consensus of the district
ministerial and lay-is that Elder Ryan
is very inferior man to Elder White,
who was removed solely to make room
for Ryan. The comparison has not been,
and does not need to be, run further back
than that"
Rev. Loomis says that the lawful
power Of presiding elder, in his own
| field, is enough to remove pastors and
the quarterly conference If found in in
subordinatlon; to keep the machinery of
the church in operation, for the power of
his Office is such, in the letter and spirit
Of the law.
Gazette -Witness.-Mr. Loomis cannot
be brought to see that this year Of grace
1893 is not in the middle ages. In the
"letter" Of the law? Possibly. But, in
such cases, the letter is better honored
in the breach than in the observance
and that is why the resistance is made.
Sensible men can hardly help laughing
at the absurdlty Of the bombastlc clam.
In the spirit Of the law? No. A greater
"bishop" than Fowler, through greater
code than even The Discipline, SAID that
"a bishop must be blsmeless as the
steward OF God." not self-willed, not
soon angry, no striker, Of modest be
hsvior, not ready to offer wrong as one
in wine, etc. But Bishop Fowler, after
humiliating White and VanVliet, said
"Well, only came to cut off one man's 3
head, but I find I have killed two"
Rev. w. E. Loomis-Brother Ryan
will receive better treatment on his
return to Park River.
Gazette Witness Methodist Her
aid, the organ Of the Methodist church
in North Dakota, says: "One theory
the traditional and constitutional, is,
that the presiding elder represents, pri-
marily, the bishop. After an annual
conference 10 adjourned, the bishop
remains, 90 to speak, in tie persons Of his
presiding elders" The cold reception Of
Elder Ryan by the churches and their
refusal to support him, are due to the
fact so clearly stated above. Ryan, as
Ryan, is 9 nonentity; but Ryan az
Fowler's alter ego, receives the heroic
treatment.
Rev. w. E. Loom;s-I could cay much
on this matter, but forbear. could tell
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