Evening star., 1894-03-26
DR.. NAYLOR'S REMOVAL
The Conference With Bishop Hurst to Be
Held Tonight.
The Bishop Told One Committee That
No Change Would Be Made
The Feeling Increasing.

The conference between Bishop Hurst and
the representatives. of the various Methodist
churches in this city. arranged for Satur-
day evening, has been postponed by the
bishop until this evening at 8 o'clock. In
the meantime, it is stated, the bishop has
been busily engaged in corresponding with
the pastors of the churches which have
acted in the matter of protesting against
the removal of DR.. Naylor, and is seeking
to ascertain whether their official boards
were legally called together, and whether
those who voted for the resolutions to be
presented to Bishop Fowler, through him.
constitute a majority of their respective
bodies. 1t is also learned that the bishop
has already communicated with Bishop
Fowler and an advance opinion has been
formulated adverse to any request for the
restoration of DIR. Naylor, whether by in
dividuals or by the official bodies OF the
churches in the Washington district.
Papers to He Presented.
At the meeting this evening it is stated
that the papers to be presented are very
strong and outspoken in their sentiments
of regret at the action Of Bishop Fowler,
and in the manner and method Of his re-
moving DR.. Naylor from the Washington
district These resolutions condemn the
abuse OF power, whether by bishop or
any legislative body, that enacts unwise
laws or lays down a code that in its en-
forcement entails trouble and ill-feeling.
The committee to whom has been intrusted
the duty OF presenting the action of the
official boards held meeting on Saturday
evening and formulated letter of trans
INITIAL Wh1cn paper expresses what they
believe to be the almost universal senti-
ment of the churches in condemnation of
Bishop Fowler's action. Converse tion with
pastors and official men of some of the dis
t1xaay
alarm that exists in their membership, and,
while refraining from active participation
in the movement looking to the restoration
or Or. Naylor. they realize that a strong
feeling of regret and resentment Is abroad
among their membership toward the arbi-
trary and SO far unexplained act Of the pre-
siding bishop Of the late conference. No
tangible reason seems to have existed in
the minds OF the preachers or the laity that
would induce change in the eldership Of
the Washington district. No demand for
removal went up from any Of the churches,
but. on the contrary, quarterly conferences
at their last meeting before the annual con-
ference petitioned for DR.. MAYORS retention.
What Hishop Hurst Told One COM
mittee.
Bishop Hurst has seen one committee Of
local Methodists which represented The
missionary and womans work in the
church. He told this pody that :here would
be no change made and that DR.. Naylor
would not be restored. He said that his
own name had been connected with the af-
fair unjustly and that he was well aware
who was responsible for s'.ch gossip. The
spokesman OF the committee told Bishop
Hurst that he was mistakc en- in attributing
the connection of himself with DR.. MAYORS
removal to any one man or set of men, He
was informed that 1t was almost the unani-
nous sentiment of Methodsts in the Dis
trict that he was responsible for Lisbon
Fowlers action. Bishop Hurst warmly de-
MED the truth of this belief and exclaimed
that Bishop Fowler had made up his mind
to remove DR.. Naylor before he came here.
He did not reply to the committees in
qu1ry as to where Bishop Fowler got his
information on which TO naSe a future ac-
tion In fleld to which he was q perfect
stranger Bishop Hurst complained also Of
the publicity the newspapers have given to
the controversy, and was informed by ore
OF the committee that he had never com
piained about the publicity given to the
great body of Methodists in this district
regarded that the present discussion yas
belng held over a subject as yitalIy inn
portant to the cause Of Methodism as the
university itself.
What One Who Was at the Confer
ence Says.
The following communication was re-
ceived today from Methodist residing in
this city: Il had the pleasure of attending
the conference at Frederick, of mingling
with the ministers after the daily sessions.
and of hearing much concerning the diff
ierent appointments. and from what / could
learn, the whole cause of ali the complaint
seemed to be laid at the feet OF one of the
Baltimore elders who, for the past ten or
twelve years, has been the one man power,
that has dictated most Of the appointments
in the councils.
OF course as our ministers become some
what gray-haired,' the elders find il i'm
possible to locate then, oil,
younger ministers, and, as such is the case
frequently take 1t upon themselves to sug-
gest to the presiding bishop that they be
given very small and unimportant an
pointment, with view of eventually com
peiling them TO retire. Such action is in
deed true, and sad, for after having spent
all their lives in the ministry, and sacrificed
everything for the benefit of the church
they are cast aside and turned out into the
cold without homes or support Much of
this could be averted If the elders and not
the bishops. were disposed to be more char
liable than they are.
LAS is well known there is a small CLIQUE
of ministers in the Baltimore conference.
who want the best of the appointmen al
all times, and hence every effort is put forth
to try and secure represen tation in the
councils. SO that their individual claims
may be looked after while those not mem
bers of the Clique must take what they
have given to them. Proof of this state
ment was never more strongly shown than
in the appointment of an elder from the
West Baltimore to the East Baltimore dis
trict while our beloved DR.. Naylor is re-
moved to an unimportant charge in COM
parison to his former position.
1T Is only natural that some people
not conversant with the doings of our
conference, will rise up and attempt to
disprove this statement, but past history
cannot be effaced. and unless the members
of the churches themselves take the mat
ter in hand. and urgently protest against
this 'one-man power in the conference Ii
of ha fhA
Church will be seriously embarrassed