The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-15

adopt the majority report"
| During the debate much difficulty
was had by Bishop Mallalieu in keep
ing the delegates from applauding. He
said that the matter under discussion
was a delicate one and he hoped that
the conference would refrain from ap-
plause at lease until this particular
matter was disposed of. The substi-
tute was tabled and the report adopted
retiring Bishops Bowman and Foster.
DR.. Buckley read report No. from
the committee on Episcopacy. 1t said
that in selection Of bishops there should
be no discrimination on account of race
and that the time had now come to
elect bishop of African descent.
Rev. DIR. Brooks of Washington, a
colored delegate said: THE desire for
a colored bishop comes from all the
colored people of the church. What we
want is black bishop, not because he
is black. but black bishop neverthe-
less"
Rev. DIR. Hammond of Lexington, one
of the leading colored divines in the
church, said: "I favor the selection of
a bishop of African descent because his
work is needed among the blacks of the
country"
Rev. DR.. Wilson of Baltimore offered
the following as a substitute for the
report: THAT in the selection of
bishops the delegates should be un-
trammelled, and therefore the race or
nationality of a bishop is not a proper
subject for legislation"
Wade Fl. Thomas, colored, of North
Carolina, said; Including the eighteen
bishops, there are forty-four general
conference officers. and of the these
the 263,000 colored members have only
one representative. Is that justice?"
Rev. Madison c. B. Mason of Savan-
nah, one OF the leaders of southern
Methodism, said he hoped that there
would be nothing done to drive the
white bishops out of the south, but he
thought the time had come to elect a
colored bishop.
| The previous question was ordered
and the substitute was tabled. The
committee report was then passed.
DR. Buckley read report No. from
the committee on Episcopacy, which
declared that there should be three
more bishops elected
Rev. John D. Walsh of Kentucky
moved to amend the report by adding
another bishop, providing one of those
elected is colored man.
DR.. Little moved as a substitute that
the number of bishops to be elected be
two.
! DIR. Bristol of Chicago moved to
amend by declaring that there should
be no more bishops elected. He said
that the bishops had little work to do.
TT is to the ambition of men who
would be bishops said he, that this
report is to be credited. They have al
ready figured out when these noblemen
are to die, and are now figuring on how
they can get their places. | hope this
conference will smother this ambition,
that we may have more money for nee
essary purposes"
The previous question was ordered.
DR.. Buckley was given the floor and
said: Most of the bishops are old and
are liable to die or become incompetent
at any time. Therefore 1 hope that you
will add at least two bishops to the
| board"
The report was amended by making
the number of bishops 30 be elected
two instead Of three. The report was
then adopted The two new bishops
will be elected tomorrow morning.
Aside from the reports of the COM
mittee on 11piscopacy there was little
of interest in the conference to-day.
DR. Boadbeck of the committee on edu-
cation submitted report to the effect
that in the cases of candidates for min
isterial orders the certificates of ex-
aminations by professors of theological
seminaries be accepted by the confer
ence This would have the effect Of
making candidates eligible to deacons'
orders after two years in the schools
without the additional conference
course. Adopted.
The action of the conference in re-
ducing the number of bishops is looked
upon in some quarters as means of
getting rid of the veXed question of a
colored bishop. The colored people
may secure one or two minor confer
ence offices, but the greater portion of
their satisfaction will probably have to
be vested in that portion of the COM
mittee report which was adopted pro-
viding that the time has arrived when
the conference may with propriety elect
a bishop from among the 1.700 colored
preachers within its jurisdiction.