The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-14
THREE NEW BISHOPS.
Bowman. Foster and Probably
Taylor to Be Retired.
TO EXTEND PASTORAL LIMiT.
Iavmen Want II Abolished Altogether
"A Proposition TO Forbid Tobsc-
co TO PrcacheFs.
TO EXTEND pastoral LIMIT.


p-o,eeeftrzx Of the Methodist conference
on account % ths failure % the commit.
tees 10 present .helr reports II about y.
an er<5 WIFE he election OF bishops ard
conference Officers. which begins tosnor-
row nso-zsng the conference VIII set down
TO real solid WORK. and the sessions from
now on are likely 10 De full OF srseress-
Following the eisctioo VIII come the SCI.
taemeut OF the time limit question: ana
there VII probably be spirited contest
over that TIE most important business
al toSay's session WAS the adoption or a
resolution changing the time of the meet
fngs OF the general conference from the
fst OF May to the first Wednesday In May.
There Was much oraroricai sparrsng
among the delegates. but the best OF
spirit prevailed throughou; the session.
Bishop Vincent vas in the char.
A resolution vas offered denouncing
m the strongest terms the Arme-
man oatraees and massacres. snd
referring to the apathy OF the Christian
governments Of Europe and Amer.ca. I,
closed bv calling on congress 20 pass Joint
resolution authorizing the president 10
enter into negotiations with the European
powers most directly interested. with
view TO interfering TO prevent massaeTes-
The resolution also provided that copy
of the resolution be sent to both houses
OF congress II was referred 10 the COM
miitee on state Of the church.
The proposition TO change the time OF
holding the general conference from May
! to the first Wednesday IN May aroused
discussion Of the point OF the conssitu-
tioEaiity OF the action Three-fourfhs OF
the annual conferences approved 1t. and
IL was approved by more than two-thirds
of the general conference. DR.. Leonard
led the opposition. The vote stood sss
yeas. 10 nays. The next general confer
ence therefore. will meet on the hrss
Wednesday in May. 1900.
A proposition was presented by Rev.
L. r. F.she, Of Detroit. to hold the gen.
eral conference each six years. Il was
referred TO the committee on state o. the
church.
Chaplain c. c. McCabe presented . con-
s,itusioGal amendment which forbids any
missionary society from appropriating any
srm In excess OF the income OF the year
previous. This was to call a halt on the
appropriations which hse been made In
excess of income
Great interest was manifested when the
committee on episcopaey was called. DR..
Buckley reported that tho committee was
unable to report At present on the num-
Der Of bishops. but he promised to do 50
the first thing In the morning.
A report In which q change Was pro-
posed n the matter OF baptism caused y
prolonged debate. The proposition was to
the effect that those who were sprfnkled
in infancy could. II desired. be immersed
when they grew older. This was opposed
by DR.. Leonard and others. on the ground
that 1t was q discrimination against In
FAINT baptism, and after a prolonged dis
cussson the report Of the committee was
recommitted.
The committee on book concern made
an adverse report on the Recommendation
To establish Methodist daily paper. Aft
er announcements had been made the
conference adjourned.
The committee on episcopacy decided to-
day to recommend to the conference that
Bishops Bowman and Foster be declared
non-efective. which is equivalent 20 re-
tirement, and that three new bishops be
elected. 1t was practically decided to take
the Ame action in regard TO Bishop Tay-
lor. OF Africa. but his speech 20 the COM
mittee induced II to defer action. All three
bishops were before the committee. and
said they were IN the hands OF the general
conference and satisfied that whatever the
conference might do would be the will OF
God. Bishop Taylor. however, explained
his peculiar relation to the work in Africa
and the success he had achieved in raising
money for II, some OF the efforts In this d.
rection being still in progress. Bishop Bow
man Is so years old. Bishop Foster rs. and
BISHOP idFfDT ID. ne committee decided
10 recommend that one Of the new bishops
be a man OF African descent. The candi-
date OF the coiored delegates is DR.. Bower.
OF Cannon Theological Institute.
The committee on itinerary viii recon-
mend that the fve-year limit may be ex-
tended one year by an appeal of the congre-
CATION to the quarterly conference. where
II must have three-quarters vote. after
which II must receive the vote OF a major
ity OF the cabinet OF presiding elders, in
cluding that presiding elder having charge
of the church. and then the bishop must
consent. This may be done year after year
for five years making the longest possible
pastorate ten years. The laity claims II
will defeat this plan tomorrow. A minority
committee report asking for the abolish
ment OF the time limit VIII be submitted
to the conference and will probably be sup
ported by the laity.
The revssal committee ordered that there
be presented 10 the conference tomorrow a
rule requiring that one OF the first qles-
tons asked In examining candidates for
licenses as local preachers must be that -
garding the use OF tobacco. so framed that
a promise 10 wholly abstain VIII be neces-
sary.