Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-04-22

he was dismissed from the min
istry for a season The ques-
ton the conference will be asked
to act upon In this case is the author
lty of the episcopacy. The bishops are
responsible TO this conference. not only
FOR their moral conduct and the doc.
trines they tcach, but also for their
administration or the government Of
the church, aud all decisions which
they make ON questions Of eccleslasti-
cal law The question Of the power
OF the bishops and the supremacy Of
the clergy Is no new one In the church,
and from the beginning has caused
many bitter struggles in It's councils
It WAS this question-certain obico'
tons 10 the Episcopal authority-that
caused the division In the Methodist
church In 1880. which issued at last in
the formation OF the Methodist Protest.
ant church. and It viii likely cause
trouble In the Southern church unless
something is done speedily TO leglslnte
20 the Office certain restrictive rules.
The Office stands today without a stat
ute OF limitation, ana amounts TO an
absolute monarchy in an annual CON
ference.
The Relative Position
OF clergyman and bishop could not
be compared to the lalty and ministry
before equal representation; It nnds
parallel only In the times OF villanagc
In England or days OF mastcr and
servant in the South. Rev. Sam Jones
thinks the bishops have too much au-
thorlty, and has intimated that 10 take
from them the absolute appointing
power viii soon even up things. It is
this power OF patronage used unwlt-
tingly and felt unconsciously. perhaps,
that often reduces a two thirds major
ity TO a minority passes mnny meas
ures, hastens early adiournments. and
Is responsible FOR many acts Of the an
nual conference that would otherwise
| have been cast aside. The episcopacy,
however, viii not be reduced to term.
as is expected IN the Northern church.
but It is thought step Will be taken
by the passage of resolutions delegat-
ing TO the presiding elders Of each an
nunl conference IAN equal authority
with the presiding bishop In the APP
pointment Of the ministers to their
yearly work II this becomes a law.
an attempt win be made to make the
office Of presiding elder elective. then
the questions OF transfers" election
of correctional officers 10 the general
conference" and others viii be acted
upon
| The Election of Church omcrrs.
The selection Of connectional officers
Is part OF the work OF this body or
much interest It has been intlmated
The Positions to lac Filled
Are; Book agents, at Nashville, edi-
tor, Quarterly Review; editor of tho sun
day school books md periodicals; cdi-
tor and assistant. Christian advocate:
editor Pacific Methodist; selection OF
missionary secretaries and board Of
missions; secretary. assistant and
board OF church extension; secretary OF
education, and probably Epworth lea
que secretary. To iii these important
posts the names Of many well known
ministers are heard Rev j. D. Bar
bee, d. D.. and b. NJ Smith. nre likely
10 be returned TO the management OF
the publishing house. Rev. W. p. Hnr-
rlson p d, viii probably be returned
TO the management OF the Quarterly
Review, and Rev. u. h, Hoas. d. D.,
aud Rev. r. NJ Bounds. d, D. likewise
editor aud assistant 10 the church pa
per at Nashville Rev. II C. Morrison.
H. D.. the popular and eloquent mis-
slonary secretary, II is thought win be
returned aud that Rev 8 a. Steel d.
]