Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-15
METHODIST CONFERENCE Two New: Bishops to Be Elected TWO OTHERS WERE RETIRED Bishops Bowman and Foster Were Declared
 Non-Efective, After an Earnest De-
 bate+The CoForQiestion.

conference of the Methodist church met at 8:3O a. m, today, with Bishop Malla lien in the chair. It was decided that
 diplomas from the Methodist schools be accepted in lieu of the conference course of study from candidates for the minis
 try. Reports of the committee on epis- copacy werespresented by Rev. Dr. Buck ley. ReportsN No. l recommended the re-. tirement of Senior Bishop Thomas W. Bowman and of Bishop Randolph 5. Fos- ter on account of non-effectiveness. A most impressive scene followed the read ing of the report Bishop Foster arose and amid almost eathless silence said
 he wished to relieve the conference from any delicaey in acting as their judment dictated. He asked permission to retire.
 Bishop Bowman also asked to be re- tired, as T have just learned" he said, "that am non-effective."
 Bishop George H. Bridgeman offered substitute, which provided that Bishop Bowman and Bishop Foster be not re- tired, and that the board of bishops be asked to give them light work. Dr. Bridgeman said that "the report of the men that Dr. Buckley and his committee propose to say to the church, to brother churches and to the world that they are non-effective? They are those who have done most for Methodism. The majority
 report would be exceedingly hurtful to the church.
 Rev. Dr. J. F. c. Sawyer of Troy said
 that he hoped the substitute would be
 adopted. The adoption of the committee
 report would be a needless humiliation
 to those beloved bishops who have done
 so much for the church. The only ex-
 cuse that can be offered for their retire
 ment is one of expense, and in view of
 the great wealth of the Methodist church
 1t counts for nothing.
 Rev pr. James F. Chaffee of Mime
 sota said that unless the conference
 wanted to be confronted with proposi-
 tons of this kind to limit the terms of
 bishops 1t must pass something along
 this line. This is no place for sentiment.
 We must act according to our convictions
 and retire these men, painful as 1t may
 be. a'
 The discussion of the report was the,
 feature of the conference up to this time,
 and all who participated in the discuss
 sion spoke in an earnest manner.
 Rev. Dr. Kanahan of Baltimore said,
 "rhere is a great deal of honey in the
 report. The honey, however, is very
 good way to smooth the way the commit-
 tee aimed at. There are things that have
 been left out of this discussion that had
 not better be said.
 T think, sir, that the proceedings of
 this episcopal committee have been un-
 paralleled in the history of the church.
 For the honor of the church l hope 1t
 may never occur again.
 This committee has been in secret ses- sion. It was a meeting for explanation. I think that one of the dangers of our church today Is In keeping secret what ought to be published. What was to be
 said about these great men? Have they
 committee said in the presence of visitors
 that they wished to say things that
 should not be made public. I will ask
 the chairman of the committee on epis-
 copacy to say whether 1t is so or not Dr. Buckley arose and in very agl-
 tated manner said that he declined to be
 questioned, but that he would reply to
 the most singular address at its close. The previous question was ordered. pr. Buckley was given permission to reply to Dr. Kanahan. He said: our report was voted for by all of our com mittee of 130 save five members. These brethren, If they are not retired, are official residents of the great episcopali- ties.
 'We called these secret meetings that we might question these beloved bishops when not surrounded by ever-thirsty re- porters and persons totally incompetent to judge the great principles of Method ism, In the interest of the episcopal board I beseech you to adopt the majori- ty report"
 Dr. BucKley s SDeecu Was ucilNCiC III very earnest manner. During the de- bate much difficulty was had by Bishop MalIalien In keeping the delegates from applauding. He said that the matetr un- der discussion was delicate one ana ne hoped the conference would refrain from applause at least until the partlcuiar matter was disposed of.
 The substitute was tabled and the re- port adopted, retiring Bishops Bowman and Foster. Dr. Buckley read report No. 2 from the committee on episcopacy. It said that in the election of bishops there should De no discrimination on account of race ana that the time has now come to elect bishop of African descent.
 Rev. Dr. Brooks of Washington, col ored delegate, said: ''The desire TOT colored bishop comes from all the coiored people of the church. What we want IS a black bishop, not because he is black, but black bishop nevertheless. Rev. Dr. E. w.. s. Hammond of Lex ington, one of the leading colored divines in the church, said: .I favor the selec- ton of a bishop of African descent be- cause his work is. needed among the blacks of the country."sr Rev. Dr. Wilson of Baltimore offered the following as substitute for the re-. port:
 'That in the selection of bishops the delegates should be untrammeled, and therefore the race or nationality Of a bishop Is not proper subject for legisia- tion."
 Wade H. Thomas. colored, of North Carolina said Including the eighteen bishops there are forty-four general con ference officers, and of these the 263. 900 colored members have only. one repre- sentative. Is that justice2" N Rev. Madison c. B. Mason of Savadl- nah, who is one of the leaders of southern Methodsm, said he hoped that there would be nothing done to drive the white bishops out of the south but at the same time he thought the time had come to | elect colored bishop. II The previous questionfwas ordered and | the substitute tabled. n,.f The committee report was then adopt ed, rss',o- s~nH- '~r'se'
 Dr. Buckley read report No. 3, from the committee on episeopacy, which de- clared that there should be three more bishops selected.
 Rev. John D. Walsh of Kentucky moved to amend the report by adding another bishop providing one of those selected is a colored man.
 Dr. Little moved as a substitute that