The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-05-15
The Committee On Episcopacy
Presents Its Report
THREE BISHOPS RETIRED
As Non.Eifectlve by Reason Of Their
Great Age
The Report Of the committee On Temperancd
viii Lead to Lively Debate Today.
Decisions Announced
Associated Press Special Wire


| been held yet. The long-expected report
| of the committee on episcopacy was pre-
| sented and adopted after an animated
debate. which was interspersed with In
| cidents of dramatic and pathetic inter-
| est and many parliamentary tangleS.
| The report provided for the retirement
| of the venerable bishops Bowman and
Foster on the ground of non reflective
| ness declared that the time is opportune
| for the election of a bishop of African
descent, and also provided for the cleo
| ton of but two bishops to take the place
| of those who were retired. The three
propositions in the report were agreed
to by a large majority. This action re-
lates only to the bishops In this coun-
| try and takes no account of bishops in
the missionary field, who will be consid-
cred later.
When the committee on temporary
economy was called, Secretary Monroe
| asked for suspension Of the rules,
whereby the resolution, which contem-
plated change in the discipline, could
be acted upon without being in possess
son of the conference for one day and
without being printed in the Daily Ad-
vocate.
The report of the committee on mis-
sions to increase the contingent fund
from $4,000 to $50, 1000 was adopted. The
committee also recommended the Hing
Mua mission in China. 1t was adopted.
AS tCPOit VI tlAc COlilIIlttSc OIl. GU
cation. which excuses students from
taking first examinations in branches in
which they passed satisfactory exam
nations in some Methodist school, was
adopted unanimously.
The committee on church extension
made report against extension of work
in foreign lands.
DR.. Buckley. the chairman, made re-
port of the committee on episcopacy. 1t
stated in the opinion of the commit
tee Bishops Bowman and Foster are
too old to stand the strain Of the duties
and recommended their retirement at
the end Of the conference as non-effec-
tive. In the list of bishops returned as
effective were all the other bishops with
the exception Of Taylor, whose name
was not mentioned. A generous appro-
priation was urged for them.
Bishop Foster rose and the audience
received him with great applause. He
said he simply had request to make
He knew the question was one of great
delicacy, and ne begged to be permit
ted to retire. Cries of "No.non came
from al parts OF the hall. Bishop Foster
please" 1t was q pathetic scene. Bisfl,
op Foster spoke for few moments and
the conference by rising vote granted
his request.
Bishop Bowman said he would make
tne same request, as he had just learned
tive.
DR.. Buckley moved the adoption of
the report and a hundred voices sec
onded 1t. DR.. George H. Bridgeman of
Minnesota offered substitute, which
provided that the two bishops be contin.
ued on the board, but relieved Of their
duties. Rev. ]. E. c. Sawyer spoke feel
1ngly in favor of the substitute.
AFTER stormy debate for two hours
on the substitute of DIR. Bridgeman, Dr.
Rothweiler moved to lay the substitute
on the table. The motion was almost
unanimously carried. The report of the
committee on episcopacy retiring the
two bishops was then adopted
DIR. Buckley read the report on bish-
op of African descent. The report first
stated that in the selection of bishops
there should be discrimination by rea-
son of color or nationality and recon-
mended the election Of a bishop of Afri-
can descent, as the present time is fit
and propitious for 1t.
Several colored delegates pleaded for
the selection of one bishop of African
descent, but no action was taken on their
request.
There was lively meeting of the COM
mittee on temperance this afternoon and
two reports defining the policy of the
church with respect to the temperance
question will. be submitted to the con-
ference tomorrow. The majority report
will be in line with the action of the
conference Of four years ago at Omaha,
which was to the effect that no political
party has the right to expect the support
Of Christians If that party does not de-
clare in favor of the total prohibition
of the liquor traffic. This report will
have the support of sixteen members
Of the committee and will be advocated
by DIR. Lowther of Wichita, Kas Fiji
teen members of the committee will sign
q minority report opposing the majority.
1t will urge that the adoption of the ma
jority report will commit the church to
the prohibition party and claim that
more effective temperance work
can be accomplished through the me-
dunn of the old parties.
The committee decided unanimously
to cooperate with the anti-saloon
league. The church extension commit
tee decided to recommend that here
after no assistance be given to churches
that cost more than $4,000 except by
special legislation. It was asserted that
many wealthy churches had in the past
secured aid which ought to have been
reserved for poor congregations.
The committee on book concern de-
cided to recommend the appointment of
q commission to prepare a new hymnal
for the use of the church, from which
much of the light music now in use
would be eliminated.
The committee on education took up
tHe subject OH 1ildKlnS loans TO students.
1t was decided to refuse such loans to
students in the Mexcan and South
American conferences. 1t will be sug-
gested to the conference, in view Of the
fact that 100000 has been loaned in
twenty-five years and only $4,000 of
that sum returned, that a better sys-
tenn of accounting be adopted. and all
students who are assisted be required to
waive the statute of limitations in the
notes they give as security
The two bishops who were retired will
be supported by the book concern.
Tomorrow morning the conference
will proceed to the election of two bish-
ops.
The contest is narrowing down. It ia
now conceded that Chaplain McCabe
Of New York Is In the lead. although it
Is doubtful II he yet has the two-thirds
vote required to elect. Chancellor j. R.
lay is said to have decided TO withdraw
and throw his support to Rev. Dr. J. W.
Hamilton Of Boston. Jesse A, Case OF
Pittsburg. layman, who is ambitious to
secure the election to q secretaryship
Of the Freedman's Ala society, may al
ienate certain support from DR.. Charles